SoCS 2020: The 13th Annual Symposium on Combinatorial Search

CALL FOR PAPERS: SoCS 2020

SoCS-20: the 13th International Symposium on Combinatorial Search
May 26-28, 2020 (co-located with CPAIOR-2020)

Heuristic Search and other forms of Combinatorial Search are very active areas of inquiry in Artificial Intelligence. Such problem solving techniques are studied in AI Planning, Robotics, Constraint Programming, Operations Research, Bioinformatics and in many other areas of Computer Science. The SoCS series of symposia aims to bring together researchers from these different communities to exchange ideas and to cross-fertilise the field.

In 2020, SoCS is co-located with the 17th International Conference on the Integration of Constraint Programming, Artificial Intelligence, and Operations Research (CPAIOR 2020). To celebrate this joint meeting we especially encourage the submission of papers that explore the boundaries between Heuristic/Combinatorial Search and discrete optimisation.

Important Dates

Abstract submission: ~~February 12, 2020~~ February 17, 2020
Paper submission: ~~February 17, 2020~~ February 23, 2020
Notification: March 27, 2020
Camera ready: April 13, 2020

TOPICS OF INTEREST

Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

Problem solving using search
Analysis of search algorithms
Automated synthesis of lower bounds
Bounding and pruning techniques
Combinatorial puzzles
Continuous problem solving
Combinatorial optimization
External-memory and parallel search
Incremental and active learning in search
Meta-reasoning and search
Adversarial search
Methodology and critiques of current practice
Model-based search
Random vs. systematic search strategy selection
Portfolios of search algorithms
Real-time search
Search in goal-directed problem solving
Search space discretization for continuous state-space problems
Self-configuring and self-tuning algorithms
Constraint search
Symmetry handling
Time, memory, and solution quality trade-offs
Search in Big Data
Search in robotics
Search-based diagnosis
Search in Boolean satisfiability
Real-life applications
Problem compilation

Papers exploring the boundaries between combinatorial search and constraint programming or operations research are particularly welcome, given the co-location with CPAIOR 2020.

PAPER SUBMISSION

We encourage researchers to submit three categories of papers to the symposium:

Technical papers. Original long (up to 8 pages plus up to one page of references) and short (up to 4 pages plus up to one page of references) papers are the standard category. We welcome technical papers that report substantial original research in search or in the related area that are not under review in other archival conference or journal.
Position papers. In addition to the main technical track we encourage authors to submit original long and short position papers discussing ideas and concepts related to Heuristic and Combinatorial Search. Examples of position papers could include thoughtful critiques or bold new perspectives of the field, historical perspectives and analysis, technical discussions of various implementation techniques, methodological contributions, and insightful reports on new and demanding applications.
Extended abstracts. To foster the exchange of ideas at SoCS, we encourage authors to submit extended abstracts of original work, work-in-progress, or work which has appeared in or is under review at other venues such as AAAI/IJCAI.

Please read the section Requirements for formatting and submission requirements.

Submission web site (EasyChair)

All submissions must be formatted in the AAAI style whose guidelines are available at the following link.

Requirements

Original Long and Short Papers (both Technical and Position)

Original papers will be rigorously peer-reviewed. SoCS 2020 will follow a double-blind review process for original papers, and hence authors of original papers are required to omit author information from their submissions and anonymize obvious self-references. Non-anonymous submissions may be rejected without review.

Long papers may be up to 8 pages in length, plus an additional page for references only. Short papers may be up to 4 pages, plus an additional page for references only. Long and short original papers should be new work which has not been published (nor currently simultaneously under review) in any other archival publication venue. Papers that do not follow these requirements will be rejected without review.

Extended Abstracts

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please submit extended abstracts that are now under review at IJCAI 2020 directly to Mauro Vallati via email. Do not register such extended abstract in easychair.

The publication of a research abstract in the SoCS 2020 proceedings generally allows publishing a full paper on the same line of research at SoCS 2021 or other venues.

The extended abstract submissions will be lightly reviewed in order to ensure that they are of interest to the SoCS community. The submitted version of the extended abstract can be up to 8 pages, plus an additional page for references only. However, if the extended abstract submission is accepted, only 2 pages (including references) will be allocated in the SoCS 2020 proceedings. The submitted version itself will not be reprinted in the proceedings.

Abstracts of papers which are under double-blind review in another conference must be anonymous (names and affiliations must not appear in the submitted PDF).

For any questions, please contact the conference chairs.

CONFERENCE CHAIRS

Daniel Harabor, Monash University, Australia, Co-Chair
daniel.harabor@monash.edu

Mauro Vallati, University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom, Co-Chair
m.vallati@hud.ac.uk