dmark@acsu.buffalo.edu (David Mark) (12/20/89)
Call for Participants:
NATO ADVANCED STUDY INSTITUTE
"COGNITIVE AND LINGUISTIC ASPECTS OF GEOGRAPHIC SPACE"
July 8-20, 1989
Las Navas del Marques, Spain
The Scientific Affairs Division of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) has awarded a grant to support an Advanced Study Institute (ASI)
on the topic of "Cognitive and Linguistic Aspects of Geographic
Space". Subject to final confirmation, this ASI will be conducted
July 8-20, 1990, at Castillo-Palacio "Magalia" in Las Navas del Marques,
Provincia de Avila, Spain. The Director of the ASI is David M. Mark, of the
National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA), Buffalo,
New York, USA; the Associate Director of the Institute is Andrew Frank,
NCGIA, Orono, Maine, USA. The NCGIA is a co-Sponsor of the meeting, and
the official language of the ASI will be English.
The objective of the ASI is to provide high-level instruction and
discussion in areas of cognitive science, linguistics, mathematics, artificial
intelligence, computer science, cartography, anthropology, and behavioral
geography to scholars wishing to improve geographic information systems,
or to use GISs in their basic research on various topics. The ASI also will
provide a forum to extend the research agenda on the topic. Human
geography has a long tradition of concern for spatial cognition, and for the
ways in which mental representations of geographic space influence spatial
behavior. Spatial cognition is also of central concern to cognitive science.
Implementation of cognitively-sound models should lead to improved
geographic information systems (GIS) user interfaces, spatial query languages,
and spatial inference methods, and will require application of topology,
geometry, and artificial intelligence. Such models will be crucial in the
removal of impediments to cross-linguistic transfer of GIS technology.
The ASI will begin with introductory lectures on the workshop topic
and on Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Then, invited Lecturers will
present on specific topics. Confirmed lecturers for the ASI include: Mark
Blades, (Psychology, University of Sheffield, England); Maria Catedra Tomas
(Antropologia Social, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Spain); C. Grant Head
(Geography, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada); John Herring
(Mathematician, Intergraph Corporation, USA); Ewald Lang (Linguistics,
University of Wuppertal, Federal Republic of Germany ); and Amilcar
Sernadas (Departamento de Matematica, Instituto Superior Tecnico,
Portugal). We have tentative indications that the following will also be
lecturers: Jean-Gabriel Ganascia (Universite de Paris Sud, Orsay , France);
Reginald Golledge, (Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA);
Annette Herskovits (Computer Science, Wellesley College, Massachusetts,
USA); George Lakoff (Linguistics & Cognitive Science, University of
California, Berkeley, USA); Zenon Pylyshyn (Psychology, University of
Western Ontario, Canada); and Leonard Talmy (Cognitive Science, University
of California, Berkeley, USA).
Because of the capacity of the site, this ASI is limited to a maximum
of 60 "student" participants. (The term "student" is used by NATO to describe
all ASI participants who are neither invited lecturers nor organizers.)
Ideally, NATO prefers that ASI "students" be of recent post-Doctoral status;
however, they may include senior scholars, current post-graduate students,
or employees of government or private agencies. ASIs are governed by
NATO rules. Among these is a requirement that no more than 20 percent of
the total number of "students" may come from countries outside of NATO,
and no more than 25 percent may come from any particular NATO country.
(For NATO ASI purposes, a person's "country" is defined by current place of
residence and work or study, and not by citizenship.) Thus, we have a quota
of at most 15 additional participants from each NATO country, meaning that
competition for places among potential participants from some NATO
countries will be high. We also have a limited ability to provide financial
support (mainly in the form of living expenses) to participants from NATO
countries. There will be no registration fee for the meeting.
Because places in the ASI are strictly limited, we are proposing a
rigorous application procedure. Anyone wishing to attend the ASI should
submit an application in writing (by electronic mail, FAX, or post), so as to
arrive in Buffalo on or before February 28, 1990. Applications must contain
the following information:
(1) a one page resume or abbreviated curriculum vitae, emphasizing
experience or training relevant to the ASI topic, and including current
country of residence and highest academic degree earned, with year; and
(2) a one page statement of interest, indicating the reason for wishing to
attend the ASI, and the applicant's potential contribution to the ASI.
Persons wishing to present a research paper, which will be rigorously peer-
reviewed for possible inclusion in the ASI Proceedings, should submit with
their application:
(3) a paper title, and a one page abstract or proposal.
However, this is optional, and willingness to present a paper will NOT be a
condition for acceptance into the ASI.
Estimated living costs at "Magalia" for the 13 days of the ASI are $US 655,
including all meals. Since funds from the ASI for participants are limited,
applicants should apply for travel and living expenses other sources.
Persons wishing financial assistance directly from the organizers of the ASI
must submit with their application:
(4) a one page (or less) request for funds, with justification.
For further information, contact David M. Mark at the addresses below. Also,
submit applications to these same addresses:
Electronic Mail: geodmm@ubvms.BITNET
or geodmm@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu
TeleFAX: 716 636 2329
Telephone: 716 636 2283
Post: David M. Mark
National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis
Department of Geography
415 Fronczak Hall
State University of New York at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York 14260 USA