CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

         Summer Institute on Parallel Discrete Algorithms
                Halifax - Nova Scotia - Canada
                        July 22 - 26, 1996

        (In collaboration with the French Embassy in Canada
             and the School of Computer Science of the
                Technical University of Nova Scotia)

This summer institute is intended as a working forum for researchers
in the field of parallel discrete algorithms, who would
like to explore the design of parallel algorithms in a coarse grained
setting.  The goal of the summer institute is to investigate new
techniques for parallel algorithms design that yield efficient parallel
solutions for discrete problems on existing parallel computers.

Parallel algorithms for problems involving discrete objects, such as
those found in geometric, graph and string problems have been studied
extensively. These studies have been motivated by important
application areas including computational biology, computational
geometry, geographic information systems,  image processing, finite
element mesh generation and AI/knowledge representation.  Until
recently, these studies focused almost exclusively on parallel
algorithms for highly abstract models such as PRAM or distributed
memory machines (meshes, hypercubes etc.). However, to be relevant in
practice, parallel algorithms must be developed for more realistic
models that better reflect existing parallel machines and LAN's, such
as the  BSP, LogP, C^3, and the  Coarse Grained Multicomputer (CGM)
models.

This one week summer institute will consist of 7 working sessions,
each spanning half a day. Each session will feature an overview talk
on issues arising in the design of coarse grained parallel discrete
algorithms, before participants divide into smaller working
groups for discussion and study of particular techniques/problems. In
addition, one session will be completely devoted to short talks by
participants, describing recent research advances.

The summer institute will be held in the last week of July 96 in
Halifax, Nova Scotia, known as Canada's ocean playground. Among its
best known attractions are its beautiful coast line, and abundant
seafood.

Participation will be limited, to guarantee a good working environment,
and by invitation only. If you are interested in participating in this
summer institute, please contact one of the organizers listed below. If
you would like to give a talk, please send a title and one page
abstract. Registration fee will be C$130 and will help to provide 
lunches, morning and afternoon coffee breaks, a three hour nautical 
whale watching excursion  and a lobster (or vegetarian) banquet. 
Affordable accommodation has been reserved in student housing within 
walking distance.

The following is a preliminary list of participants:
S. Aluru (Syracuse), F. Annextein (Cincinnati), E. Bampis (Paris XIII),
M.  Bender (Harvard), V. Bhavsar (UNB Fredericton), M. Cosnard (ENS 
Lyon), F.  Dehne (Carleton),  A. Ferreira (ENS Lyon), P.  Fraigniaud 
(ENS Lyon), A. Khokhar (Delaware), K. Marcus (TUNS), M.  Morvan (Paris 
VII), K.  Qiu (Acadia), S. Ranka (Florida), A. Rau-Chaplin (TUNS),
E. Santos (Lehigh), S. Ubeda (St. Etienne).

The organizers:

Afonso Ferreira                         Andrew Rau-Chaplin
CNRS - LIP (France)                     TUNS
TUNS                                    arc@tuns.ca
ferreira@bronco.vlsi.tuns.ca            fax: +(1)(902) 492-1517