Theoretical Aspects of Computing – ICTAC 2014
Résumé
The International Colloquium on Theoretical Aspects of Computing
(ICTAC) was founded in 2004. In 2014, the eleventh edition of ICTAC is
organized for the first time in Europe, namely in Bucharest, Romania.
Since its early days, the study of computer science in Romania has had
a strong theoretical component, owing in part to the mathematical
orientation of some of its most notable pioneers, such as Professor
Grigore Moisil. In modern times, this legacy is proudly carried on by
several prestigious research institutions, such as the University of
Bucharest and the Romanian Academy.
A burgeoning metropolis in recent years, Bucharest is a lively,
cosmopolitan city. Featuring an eclectic mix of architectural styles
and traditions, cultural and artistic life, Bucharest is an ideal
setting for the 11th International Colloquium on Theoretical Aspects
of Computing. The Colloquium aims to bring together practitioners and
researchers from academia, industry and government, with the purpose
of encouraging the presentation of novel research directions, through
the exchange of both ideas and experience, related to current
theoretical challenges in computing, as well as practical applications
of existing theoretical results. An additional goal is that of
promoting wide-reaching forms of cooperation in research and education
between participants and their institutions, from developing and
industrial countries.
We are honored to have three distinguished guests as invited speakers:
Cristian Calude (University of Auckland, New Zealand), Jin-Song Dong
(National University of Singapore, Singapore), and Razvan Diaconescu
(Institute of Mathematics of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest). Professor
Solomon Marcus will be a special guest, providing a talk on important
differences and similarities between Theoretical Computer Science project
and the Bourbaki project in Mathematics.
Professor Cristian Calude will present a talk entitled\textit{
Probabilistic solutions to undecidable problems} which addresses the
(in)famous algorithmically undecidable halting problem. Undecidability
is everywhere: in logic, mathematics, computer science, engineering,
physics, \ldots ; the talk reveals how a probabilistic method can help
deal with undecidable problems.
Professor Jin-Son Dong will present a talk entitled \textit{Event
Analytics} in which he will describe the Process Analysis Toolkit and his
vision of \textit{event analytics}, which goes beyond \textit{data
analytics}. The event analytics research is based on applying model
checking to event planning, scheduling, prediction, strategy analysis and
decision making.
Professor Razvan Diaconescu will present a talk entitled \textit{From
Universal Logic to Computer Science, and Back}, focusing on universal
logic. He will recall some important ideas that have shaped the success of
institutional model theory in computer science. Moreover, he shows how
insights from computer science have led (through institutional model theory
theory) to a (sometimes drastic) reformulation and novel understanding of
several important concepts in logic, resulting in a set of new and
important results.