CFP EvoCOMPLEX 2014 – Evolutionary Algorithms and Complex Systems @ Evostar 2014

Introduction

Complex systems are ubiquitous in physics, economics, sociology, biology, computer science, and many other scientific areas. Typically, a complex system is composed of smaller aggregated components, whose interaction and interconnectedness are non-trivial (e.g., interactions can be high-dimensional and non-linear, and/or the connectivity can exhibit non-trivial topological features such as power-law degree distribution, and high clustering coefficient). This leads to emergent properties of the system, not anticipated by its isolated components. Furthermore, when the system behaviour is studied form a temporal perspective, self-organisation patterns typically arise.

Studying complex systems requires composite strategies that employ various different algorithms to solve a single difficult problem. Components of such strategies may solve consecutive phases leading to the main goal (for example, consider an oil deposit exploration strategy composed of a complex memetic search algorithm and of a direct FEM solver), may be used to approach particular sub-tasks from different perspectives (as, for example, in multi-scale approaches), or may solve the main problem in different ways that are aggregated to form the final solution (as, for example, in hyper-heuristics, island GAs or multi-physics approaches).

EvoCOMPLEX 2014 covers all aspects of the interaction of evolutionary algorithms -and metaheuristics in general- with complex systems. It is a part of the EvoApplications Conference, held within EvoStar, the major annual European event on evolutionary computation. EvoStar is always a very enjoyable event offering good opportunities for networking, informal contact, exchange of ideas and discussions with fellow researchers in a friendly and relaxed setting. This year it will be hosted at the Universidad Internacional de Andalucía (UNIA)

Topics

High quality papers are sought on topics related to the confluence of evolutionary algorithms and complex systems, including (but not limited to) the use of evolutionary algorithms for the analysis or design of complex systems, such as for example:

• complex networks, e.g., social networks, ecological networks, interaction networks, etc.
• chaotic systems
• self-organizing systems, such as e.g., multiagent systems, social systems, etc.
• iterated function systems and cellular automata
• multi-scale, multi-physics and multi-goal systems
• complex information systems
• other complex systems not included above.

Relevant topics also include the use of complex systems and tools thereof to model, analyse or improve the performance of evolutionary algorithms, such as for example:

• complex population structures
• synergy of component algorithms
• self-organized criticality
• emergent behaviour
• attractors
• convergence, computational complexity and stopping conditions
• other applications of complex systems to EAs.

EvoCOMPLEX Track Chairs

Carlos Cotta,
University of Málaga, Spain

Robert Schaefer,
AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland

Publication Details

Accepted papers will appear in the proceedings of Evostar, published in a volume of the Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science, which will be available at the Conference. Submissions must be original and not published elsewhere. The submissions will be peer reviewed by at least three members of the program committee. The authors of accepted papers will have to improve their paper on the basis of the reviewers’ comments and will be asked to send a camera ready version of their manuscripts. At least one author of each accepted work has to register for the conference and attend the conference and present the work. The reviewing process will be double-blind, please omit information about the authors in the submitted paper. Submit your manuscript in Springer LNCS format using the link provided in the conference webpage. The maximum length of papers is 12 pages

Important Dates

• Submission: 1 November 2013
• EvoCOMPLEX: 23-25 April 2013

Further Information

Further information on the conference and co-located events can be found in: http://www.evostar.org