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    THE FIFTH BAYESIAN MODELLING APPLICATIONS WORKSHOP
                     DURING UAI-07

                CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
                    July 19th, 2007
                   Vancouver, BC Canada

              Special Theme:  Model Views

      Submission of contributions due: April 6th, 2007
 Inquiries and submissions to: UAIWorkshop-L AT listserv.gmu.edu


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OBJECTIVE
---------

As in previous years, the workshop will  provide a focused
but informal forum for exchanges among theorists,
practitioners and tool developers. Discussions may cover
research questions and insights, methodologies, techniques,
and experiences with applications of Bayesian models to
particular domains.  Proceedings of the workshop will be
published in the CEUR Workshop Proceedings series
(http://ceur-ws.org).  In addition, the intention is to
publish a subset of the papers in a special issue of an
appropriate journal.


WORKSHOP THEME
--------------

This year we are especially encouraging contributions that address
the theme

  BAYESIAN MODEL VIEWS

In software and information systems engineering, it is often
useful to make an explicit separation between the model
and the user interface.  Separation facilitates system maintenance
and extensibility, because changes can be made to the model without
affecting the user interface, and vice versa.  Another reason to
separate the model from the interface is that different categories
of users may interact with the model in different ways.  Examples
include users with different degrees of technical sophistication,
users having different access privileges, users in different
geographic areas, and users who are responsible for different
aspects of the problem domain.  It is often desirable to tailor
the user interface to these different categories of user.
In many domains, there are common domain-specific communication
patterns, such as maps, equipment diagrams, or standard tabular
charts.  In such cases, it may be desirable to provide model views
based on these standard patterns.  Finally, model views that are
useful for building, testing and maintaining a model may be very
different from the most appropriate views for end users.

We encourage papers that focus on issues relating to model views
in applications of Bayesian networks.  Examples include, but are
not restricted to, the following issues.

Different uses of a model may require different levels of granularity
and resolution.  Papers are encouraged that discuss how model views
can be used to present results and/or accept inputs at different
granularities and resolution.

Metadata and ontologies may be used to support definition and
and management of model views.  Examples of useful metadata may
include information about who is invoking the model, what is
their role/task, what is their background, where are they
located, or what is the degree of time pressure.  A formal
ontology of tasks and users may be useful for reasoning about
the most appropriate model view in the given circumstances.

Applications of Bayesian networks are usually tailored to a particular
real-world setting, or in some cases, a small collection of real-world
settings.  Users must invoke the model, provide data (e.g., evidence,
queries, contextual data), examine outputs, evaluate the quality
of outputs, and make use of the outputs in some decision context.
How do model views support the process of interacting with and making
use of a model?  Which model views are most appropriate for which kinds
of interactions?

Model views may also be appropriate for knowledge engineering. Papers
are encouraged that address model views that are useful for acquiring
information from experts.


GENERAL FOCUS
-------------

The emphasis of this year's workshop is on issues of model views
in developing and using Bayesian models.  Submissions
are encouraged that address fundamental issues, present
concrete solutions, describe experiments, or analyze open problems,
within a broad range of application areas involving diagnosis,
optimization, temporal reasoning, spatial reasoning, and forecasting.

In addition to submissions addressing model views, we also welcome
contributions relevant to the overall focus of Bayesian modelling.
Submissions addressing novel applications are particularly encouraged.


FORMAT
------

The workshop will take place on Thursday, July 19th, the day of the
UAI tutorials.  The workshop will begin with each participant giving
a short introduction to themselves and their work.  These brief
introductions will be followed by sessions devoted to
issues in developing and using Bayesian models, consisting of
presentations and open discussions.  We will conclude with a plenary
panel discussion which will summarize the issues raised during the
day and consider plans for next year.


ARRANGEMENTS
------------

The workshop will be co-located with the general UAI conference.
A registration fee for the workshop will be required in addition to
the main conference registration.


TO CONTRIBUTE
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Submissions of 3-8 pages, preferably in the same format as for
the overall conference) are solicited, along with a short statement
of interest. The statement of interest should explain the
contributors' backgrounds, the application on which they have
worked, and the characteristics of that application domain.
The contribution should raise questions and offer results that
participants can discuss. All participants will be expected
to have material to present for the workshop.  Participants are
encouraged to apply jointly with members of other disciplines with
whom they have collaborated. Submissions and inquires should be
addressed to UAIWorkshop-L AT listserv.gmu.edu.

Participation will be limited to 30 individuals.  All members of the
workshop committee who would like to attend are expected to qualify as
participants.  Contributors will be selected by the committee to
achieve a mix of individuals who are likely to generate the most
constructive presentations and discussions.


WORKSHOP COMMITTEE
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Kathryn Blackmond Laskey, George Mason University, Co-chair
Suzanne M. Mahoney, Innovative Decisions, Inc., Co-chair
Judy Goldsmith, University of Kentucky, Co-chair

John Mark Agosta, Intel Corporation
Russell Almond, Educational Testing Service
Marek Druzdzel, University of Pittsburgh
Sean Gaurino, Charles River Analytics
James H. Jones, Ferris State University
Oscar Kipersztok, The Boeing Company
Linda van der Gaag, Utrecht University, Chair emeritus
Edward J. Wright, Information Extraction and Transport, Inc.


IMPORTANT DATES
---------------

Submission of contributions:                      April   6, 2007
Notification of selections by the organizing
committee:                                        May    11, 2007
Deadline for contributions to the proceedings:    June    8, 2007
Date of the workshop:                             July   19, 2006