Bulletin 105, Mai 99 

The Association of European Operational Research Societies within IFORS

Theme : Metaheuristics in Combinatorial Optimisation

Scope

In recent years, several metaheuristics have proved highly efficient for the solution of combinatorial optimisation problems. The EURO Winter Institute will focus on this topic, more particularly on the development and the use of local search techniques (e.g., tabu search, simulated annealing), evolutionary algorithms (e.g., genetic algorithms, scatter search) and neural networks. Applications of these metaheuristics on academic or real life problems are welcome.

EURO Summer and Winter Institutes (ESWI) are organised to encourage good social and working relationships among promising young OR scientists in Europe. One important purpose of a EURO Institute is to establish a network of promising young researchers (normally aged 25-35) who will continue to work together in future, e.g. as a working group. The participation is limited to a group of about 25. Participation is an honour and a person can be a participant in an ESWI only once in her/his career.

Applicants should submit an unpublished paper within the theme of the Institute together with their curriculum vitae to their National OR Society. Each National Society of EURO will then select one (eventually two) candidate(s) and submit the information to the chairperson of EWI XVIII. The scientific committee will make the final choice of the participants.

Activities

At the Institute there will be lectures given by invited speakers, but the main emphasis will be on the participants' presentations and on the discussion about the papers. A special issue of EJOR (European Journal of Operational Research) will be prepared based on papers presented at the Institute. EURO considers the social activities to be most important for the success of the EWI, since it is through these activities that friendships can develop and a scientific network can be established for cooperation in the future. For this purpose, the organisers of this Swiss EWI will prepare a varied social program including visits to chocolate and cheese factories.

Location and expenses

EWI XVIII will take place in Lac Noir (Schwarzsee), a lovely village of the Swiss Alps situated just near a mountain lake, in a middle of a fantastic snow landscape. The cost of stay at the EWI (scientific programme, accommodation, meals, and social activities) is covered by EURO, the Swiss OR Society, the "3e cycle romand de recherche opérationnelle" and other sponsors. The participants will have to cover the costs of travel expenses to Lac Noir. However, EURO encourages the National OR Societies to give support to their participants to cover these costs.

Schedule

Deadline for submission of papers to SVOR/ASRO : September 15, 1999.

Please send your documents directly to Marino Widmer (address : see below).

Deadline for submission of information about the candidates by the National OR Societies to EWI : October 30, 1999.

Announcement of selected participants by the Scientific Committee of the EWI : November 30, 1999.

EWI XVIII (Metaheuristics in Combinatorial Optimisation) : March 4 - 18, 2000.

Information

Information is available from the chairperson of the organising committee :

Marino Widmer
Université de Fribourg
IIUF - Regina Mundi
Rue Faucigny 2
CH-1700 Fribourg
Switzerland

tel : ++ 41 26 300 83 24
fax : ++ 41 26 300 97 26
marino.widmer@unifr.ch