Eighth International Workshop on
                 Artificial Intelligence and Statistics

                           January 4-7, 2001
                          Key West, Florida

             EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, December 1

               http://www.ai.mit.edu/conferences/aistats2001/

PURPOSE:

This is the eighth in a series of workshops that has brought together
researchers in Artificial Intelligence and in Statistics to discuss
problems of mutual interest. The exchange has broadened research in
both fields and has strongly encouraged interdisciplinary work.

Attendance at the workshop is *not* limited to paper presenters.


TUTORIAL PROGRAM:

The three days of research presentations will be preceded by a day of
tutorials that will begin the morning of January 4th. There is an
additional registration fee for the tutorials. See the on-line
registration form for details.

The tutorial topics and presenters are

  (1) David Edwards (Novo Nordisk A/S)
      "Graphical models for mixed data :
        an introduction to the theory and practice"

  (2) Yoav Freund    (AT&T Research)
      "Predicting More --
        Assuming Less, new methodologies in statistical inference"

  (3) David MacKay  (University of Cambridge)
      "Error correcting codes and belief propagation"


TECHNICAL PROGRAM:

To encourage interaction and a broad exchange of ideas, there will be
19 discussion papers in single session meetings over three days
(Jan. 5-7). A poster session and brief plenary summaries of posters
prior to these sessions will provide the means for presenting and
discussing the remaining research papers. The full list of plenary
speakers and poster presentations is available from the conference
website

  http://www.ai.mit.edu/conferences/aistats2001/


LOCATION:

The 2001 Workshop will be held at

   Hyatt Key West
   601 Front Street
   Key West
   FL 33040
   USA

   Tel: 1-800-233-1234
          402-593-8800 (ask for reservations)

The hotel is a resort in Old Town Key West, fronted by the Gulf of
Mexico.  Available amenities include a pool, spa, beach, exercise room
and several restaurants and lounges. Snorkelling, fishing and sailing
are also possible on the property.

The Hotel is most conveniently reached from Key West International Airport
(3 miles). The Hotel is approximately four hours drive from Miami
International Airport (160 miles) on US-1 along the Florida Keys.

The Resort is holding a block of rooms at the rate of $170 US dollars
(for single/double) until Dec. 18, 2000.  Reservations should be made
before this date (the conference rate is considerably less than the
regular rate). The block is held under the name `Society for
Artificial Intelligence and Statistics'. Please contact Hyatt Central
Reservations at 1 (800) 233-1234 or +1 (402) 593-8800.


REGISTRATION DETAILS:

Registration for the Technical Program (plenary and poster sessions)
includes a copy of the proceedings, published by Morgan Kaufmann,
continental breakfasts each day of the technical program, one lunch
and one dinner. The Workshop offers student rates and an
early-registration discount until December 1.

Registration forms, a provisional program, a list of the program
committee, and other details about the conference and the Society for
Artificial Intelligence and Statistics can be found at

http://www.ai.mit.edu/conferences/aistats2001/

Best regards,

Tommi Jaakkola & Thomas Richardson
Conference Chairs