Overview

Argumentation is a form of reasoning in which explicit attention is paid to the reasons for the conclusions that are drawn and how conflicts between reasons are resolved. Explicit consideration of the support for conclusions provides a mechanism, for example, to handle inconsistent and uncertain information. Argumentation has been studied both at the logical level, as a way of modelling defeasible inference, and at the dialogical level, as a form of agent interaction. Argumentation has long been studied in disciplines such as philosophy, and one can find approaches in computer science from the 1970s onwards that clearly owe something to the notion of an argument. Work on computational argumentation, where arguments are explicitly constructed and compared as a means of solving problems on a computer, first started appearing in the second half of the 1980s, and argumentation is now well established as an important sub-field within artificial intelligence.

We now have a good understanding of the basic requirements of argumentation systems, and there are several theoretical models that have been widely studied by researchers. We have one or two robust implementations, and the first software systems built around argumentation are beginning to appear. This, therefore, is an appropriate time to consider what these models and implementations might be used for. This symposium will provide a forum for wide-ranging discussion of the possible applications of techniques from computational argumentation. It will give special focus to strongly innovative ideas, ideas that can engage current researchers in the area and can inspire others to become researchers in the area.

We are interested in all areas relating to argumentation and computation, including, but not limited to:

• Applications of argumentation systems
• Implementations of argumentation systems
• Argumentation and inconsistent information
• Argumentation and uncertain information
• Argumentation and decision making
• Argumentation as an interaction mechanism
• Multiagent argumentation
• Formal models of argumentation

Organizing Committee

• Trevor Bench-Capon, University of Liverpool, UK.
• Simon Parsons, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, USA.
• Henry Prakken, Utrecht University and University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

Program Committee

• Leila Amgoud, IRIT, Toulouse
• Kevin Ashley, University of Pittsburgh
• Katie Atkinson, University of Liverpool
• Pietro Baroni, University of Brescia
• Trevor Bench-Capon, University of Liverpool
• Martin Caminada, University of Luxembourg
• Carlos Chesnevar, Universidad Nacional del Sur
• Sylvie Doutre, University of Toulouse 1
• Paul Dunne, University of Liverpool
• Floriana Grasso, University of Liverpool
• Nancy Green, University of North Carolina
• John Horty, University of Maryland
• Tony Hunter, University College, London
• Antononis Kakas, University of Cyprus
• Peter McBurney, University of Liverpool
• Tim Norman, University of Aberdeen
• Sanjay Modgil, Kings College, London
• Simon Parsons, Brooklyn College, City University of New York
• Henry Prakken, Utrecht University and University of Groningen.
• Iyad Rahwan, British University of Dubai
• Chris Reed, University of Dundee
• Carles Sierra, IIIA-ISIC Barcelona
• Guillermo Simari, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Blanca
• Francesca Toni, Imperial College London
• Paolo Torroni, Univerity of Bologna
• Bart Verheij, University of Groningen
• Gerard Vreeswijk, Utrecht University
• Doug Walton, University of Windsor

Important Dates

Submission Deadline:	Friday 3 July 2009
Notification of Acceptance/Rejection:	Friday 31 July 2009
Camera Ready Copy Due:	Friday 11 September 2009
Symposium:	Thursday 5 - Saturday 7 November 2009

Other Information

• Call for papers
• AAAI Fall Symposium Series 2009