The immediate objective is to provide a forum for intellectual debate as well as a tutorial introduction for new comers to this field. The ultimate goal is to define an influential research agenda for the area as a whole and to generate advocacy for it by stimulating new research initiatives. It is the intent of the organizers to use this workshop as the seed for a new book bearing the same title as the workshop. A subset of the workshop participants will be invited to contribute chapters to the book under consideration. The selection will be based in part on the quality of the technical presentation as well as on the editorial needs of the book.
Negotiations are under way with a major publisher of computer science literature.
Submissions must be received by February 1, 1998. Authors whose position papers are relevant for the themes of the workshop will be invited to attend. An invitation to present a position paper and lead the related discussions will be extended to authors whose work and ideas promise to be influential, are thought provoking, or offer an interesting integration of existing research trends. Papers submitted for consideration may be based on previously published material or papers currently under review. Nevertheless, authors should keep in mind that the position paper should be adequate for a future book chapter on that topic.