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Call for Participation & Call for Papers (apologies for multiple copies)

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The 1st International Advanced Course & Symposium on Artificial Intelligence & Neuroscience

October 5-8, 2021 

The Wordsworth Hotel & SPA, Grasmere, Lake District, England – UK

W:  https://acain2021.artificial-intelligence-sas.org

E:  acain@artificial-intelligence-sas.org

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ACAIN.LakeDistrict/

EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE: July 15, 2021

PAPER SUBMISSION DEADLINE: April 9 2021

SCOPE & MOTIVATION:

The ACAIN 2021 is an interdisciplinary event. It will be a special opportunity to hear about cutting-edge research by leading scientists in AI and Neuroscience.

The two days of keynote talks and oral presentations (the ACAIN Symposium, 7-8 October,2021) will be preceded by lectures of leading scientists (the ACAIN Course, October 5-6,2021).

Bringing together AI and neuroscience promises to yield benefits for both fields. The future impact and progress in both AI and Neuroscience will strongly depend on a more efficient synergy and cooperation between the two research communities. These are the goals of the International Course and Symposium – ACAIN 2021, which is aimed both  at AI experts with interests in Neuroscience and at neuroscientists with an interest in AI. ACAIN 2021 will be a special opportunity to hear about cutting-edge research by leading scientists in both fields. The two days of keynote talks and oral presentations (the Symposium) will be preceded by two days of lectures  (the Course) for students and newcomers to this interdisciplinary field. Moreover, ICAN 2021 accepts rigorous research that promotes and fosters multidisciplinary interactions between artificial intelligence and neuroscience.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

LECTURERS:  

Timothy Behrens, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK

Topics: Computational Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, Decision Making, Learning Brain Connectivity

Matthew Botvinick, DeepMind, UK

Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Neuroscience, Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Science

Claudia Clopath, Computational Neuroscience Lab, Dept of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, UK

Topics: Computational Neuroscience

Karl Friston, Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK & Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging

Topics: Neuroscience

Timothy Lillicrap, Google DeepMind & UCL, UK

Topics: Computational Neuroscience

Rosalyn Moran, Department of Neuroimaging, King’s College London, UK

Topics: Computational Neuroscience 

Maneesh Sahani,Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, University College London, UK

Topics: Theoretical Neuroscience,  Machine Learning

Tutorial Speaker(s)

James C.R. Whittington, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, UK

More Speakers to be announced soon!

SYMPOSIUM CALL FOR PAPERS:

SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM COMMITTEE (partial list, confirmed members):

Submission site: hhttps://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=acain2021

SPECIAL SESSION:

“Free Will in Artificial Intelligence: What volition neuroscience says about free behaviour and implications for the design of autonomous artificial intelligence agents”

Organizer and Chair: Catalin Mitelut, Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, USA

The human capacity for free will or volitional (i.e. voluntary) behaviour has intrigued scientists and philosophers for thousands of years. Over the last few decades, neuroscientists have uncovered many neural correlates of voluntary behaviours and identified several decision stages involving specific neuroanatomy and dynamics (Haggard 2008). While a reward-optimized decision framework lies at the core of most fast decisions it is supported by slower time-course motivational systems that identify long-term needs (e.g. feeding, offspring care; Maslow 1943, Kenrick 2010). In the absence of naturally evolved motivational drives, autonomous general artificial agents will require the design of motivational systems that will pose unique challenges to our understanding of free will while offering creative opportunities.

This symposium seeks submissions focusing on extending evolutionary biology and the neuroscience of volition towards the design of internally motivated, freely behaving autonomous artificial agents.

DEADLINES:

* Paper  Submission (if you want to submit a paper for the Symposium): April 9, 2021 (Anywhere on Earth).

hhttps://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=acain2021

* Notification of Decision for Papers (Symposium): June 30, 2021

* Early Registration Deadline: July 15, 2021

* Late Registration: After July 15, 2021

* Oral/Poster Presentation Submission (if you want to submit a talk or a poster for the Course): July 15, 2021.

* Notification of Decision for Oral/Poster Presentation (Course): by July 30, 2021.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:

VENUE & ACCOMMODATION:

The Wordsworth Hotel & Spa (****)

Address: Grasmere, Ambleside, Lake District, Cumbria, LA22 9SW, England, UK

P: +44-1539-435592

E: reception@thewordsworthhotel.co.uk

W: www.thewordsworthhotel.co.uk

You need to book your accommodation at the venue and pay the amount for accommodation, meals directly to the Wordsworth Hotel & SPA. 

The Form for accommodation, all meals (all breakfasts, lunches, dinners): TBA

ACCOMMODATION:

ACTIVITIES:

WALKS:

REGISTRATION:

See you in Lake District in October!

              ACAIN 2021 Organizing Committee.

E:  acain@artificial-intelligence-sas.org

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/669587717185083/

W:  https://acain2021.artificial-intelligence-sas.org