FIRST CALL FOR STUDENT ABSTRACTS

WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN IN MACHINE LEARNING
Co-located with NIPS, Vancouver, BC
December 7, 2009
http://www.wimlworkshop.org

Deadline for abstract submissions: September 1, 2009.

INTRODUCTION

Machine learning is one of the fastest growing areas of computer science
research, but the number of female researchers remains low--even compared to other areas of computer science. Most women working in machine learning rarely get the chance to interact with other female researchers, making it easy to feel isolated and hard to find role models...

... but this workshop is not about grumbling! Male and female graduate
students alike often face questions of self-doubt and career-planning; our goal is to be a force of positive change, to invigorate -- or reinvigorate, as the case may be -- excitement in high-quality machine learning research. In particular, we offer an opportunity for female graduate students to

* present their research in a friendly, positive environment while
also providing critical feedback

* hear technical presentations on the work of senior women in their
field

* participate in career-focused panel discussions with senior women
in industry and academia

* network and exchange ideas with each other and senior female
researchers.


Undergraduates who are interested in either pursuing graduate school or doing internships in machine learning are encouraged to attend.

Workshop registration is free, and the organizers aim to provide travel
subsidies to all student presenters.

WORKSHOP FORMAT

The one-day workshop will consist of talks by established researchers and
students, a poster session for students to showcase their research, and a panel discussion to discuss careers in machine learning.

STUDENT ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

We strongly encourage female students (graduates, undergraduates and postdocs) in all areas of machine learning to submit an abstract (less than 500 words) describing either new or recently published research. Authors of accepted abstracts will be asked to present their work either as an oral presentation or a poster.

Abstracts should be submitted via the workshop website:
http://www.wimlworkshop.org

IMPORTANT DATES

Abstract submission deadline: September 1, 2009
Notification of acceptance: October 1, 2009
Registration deadline: November 15, 2009
Pre-workshop dinner: December 6, 2009
Workshop: December 7, 2009

ORGANIZERS

Finale Doshi, University of Cambridge, MIT
Inmar Givoni, University of Toronto
Farheen Omar, University of Waterloo
Daphne Koller, Stanford University (faculty advisor)