World Organisation of Sytems and Cybernetics (WOSC)Organisation and dedication of WOSC Congress

Citation

(1999), "World Organisation of Sytems and Cybernetics (WOSC)Organisation and dedication of WOSC Congress", Kybernetes, Vol. 28 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.1999.06728aab.001

World Organisation of Sytems and Cybernetics (WOSC)Organisation and dedication of WOSC Congress

World Organisation of Sytems and Cybernetics (WOSC)Organisation and dedication of WOSC Congress

Eleventh International Congress of Cybernetics and Systems

It has now been decided that the 11th International Congress of Cybernetics and Systems will be held in the UK, from Monday 23 August until Friday 27August 1999.The venue will be in West London at Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex. The congress will be dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Frank H. George, a renowned cybernetician and outstanding scientist. Professor George was a member of the Kybernetes editorial team for 26 years and a personal appreciation of his work was published in Kybernetes, Vol. 27 No. l, 1998, pp. 23-5. He was the first Professor of Cybernetics at Brunel University where he headed a talented team of scientists at what was the UK's first Department of Cybernetics.

The WOSC Congress is a triennel event and is supported by many international bodies concerned with cybernetics, computers, systems management and technology. The World Organisation has previously held its congresses at venues worldwide that have included Oxford (UK), London (UK), Mexico City (Mexico), Paris (France), Amsterdam (The Netherlands), New York (USA), New Delhi (India) and latterly at Bucharest (Romania).

An Honorary Congress Committee has been appointed which consists of eminent scientists and technologists.

Details of the congress "call for papers" are included in the Special Announcements section of this issue. It is hoped to hold special opening and closing sessions, there will be a book/journals exhibition and equipment demonstrations will be arranged. An official congress banquet is to be held as well as are numerous other social events.

Congress research and development topics

Although papers have been invited for the section meetings on specified topics in some 18 domains, the organisers have asked for suggestions for other relevant topics. Many of the sections are well established and cover areas that have provided fruitful discussions at past congresses. Some of the suggested topics give an insight into the changing shape of studies in cybernetics and systems. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will continue to be an important section, as will Automation and Robotics. Behavioural Sciences and also Biocybernetics should attract the usual high standard of contribution. Some of the other suggested topics, such as Chaos and Fractals, Cognition, Genetic Algorithms and Neural Networks should encourage presentations that will give us an overview of new strategies and methodologies.

It is hoped that because of the late Professor George's interest in Cybernetics and Philosophy this section will have a good following. Many of the other suggested domains offer intending participants excellent fayre. Sociocybernetics was the main and dominant section at the last congress at Bucharest (Romania) in 1996 and it is once again expected to contribute to the success of this prestigious event. Details about the usual deadlines and receipt of abstracts and abridged papers are included in the "call for papers" published in this issue.

Readers should note that the deadlines published in the "call for papers" for the congress published in Kybernetes, Vol. 27 Nos. 6/7, 1998, have been amended to 15 January (abstracts) and 15 May 1999 (abridged papers).

Congress Website

Details of the 11th WOSC Congress may be obtained on the Internet at the address:

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/AlexAndrew/cngrs99.htm

or by going to the standard WOSC address:

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/AlexAndrew/wosc.htm and following a link.

Congress correspondence

Readers are reminded that all correspondence concerning the congress should be sent directly to: Professeur R. Vallée, Director General ,World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics, 2, rue de Vouillé, 75015, Paris, France; Tel. and fax : +3314533 62 46.