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\begin{multicols}{2}[
\chapter*{Announcements}
]
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\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{Announcements}

\noindent \textbf{Would you beat change?}\\

\noindent Help science and behave randomly! The Algorithmic Nature group
(http://algorithmicnature.org) is conducting a worldwide experiment
investigating how humans produce and perceive randomness. In all, it should not
take more than 5 minutes of your time. The organizers need your help to recruit
young people (<10y old) and senior people (60+) but everyone is invited to
participate. The organizers will send a report and an electronic paper with the
results to the people that participated and provided their email. Just go to
www.complexitycalculator.com/hrng\\


\noindent \textbf{AISB-50}\\

\noindent AISB is proud to announce that next year's convention will
commemorate both 50 years since the founding of the AISB Society, and sixty
years since the death of Alan Turing, founding father of both Computer Science
and Artificial Intelligence. It will be held at Goldsmiths, Univ. London, a
central location we hope accessible to all, from the 1\textsuperscript{st} to
the 4\textsuperscript{th} of April, 2014. The convention will follow the same
overall structure as previous conventions, with parallel symposia lasting for
one or two days, and including any type of events of academic benefit: talks,
posters, panels, discussions, demonstrations, outreach sessions, etc. Get in
touch with us if you are interested in participating, or even simply offering
your help! For more information, visit http://aisb.org.uk/events/aisb14\\


\noindent \textbf{Make your voice heard!}\\

\noindent The Q always needs fresh contributions. If you are a student, and you
are wrapping up your thesis, you may want to advertise your work, send us an
abstract.  If you would like to attend that very fine conference, and you need
a bit of help to fund your travel, speak to us about travel awards in exchange
of a one page report.  Have a look on our website for a list of books we are
sent by all major publishers, speak to us, write a review and keep the book.
If you want to reach the community and make your voice heard about a topic
close to your heart, send us an article. Make your voice heard!\\

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\chapter*{Mission Statement -- AISB Chair elect\\ \normalsize{by \emph{Dr Berndt `Bertie' M\"{u}ller} (University of South Wales)}}
\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{Mission Statement -- AISB Chair
  elect\\ \normalsize{by \emph{Dr Berndt `Bertie' M\"{u}ller} (University of South Wales)}}

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\emph{Bertie has been a member of the AISB Committee since December 2007, and Treasurer of the AISB since January 2009.}
\begin{center}
$\therefore$
\end{center}

\noindent The long-term success and reputation of AISB greatly rely upon a number of areas of engagement. We need to focus on these, over the next few years, to increase our membership base, to maintain our influence on policy making in the UK and abroad, and to serve the public by making our expertise available where appropriate.\\

%\vspace{.5mm}
\noindent The main areas I would like us to concentrate on are:

\begin{itemize}[noitemsep]
\item     being a catalyst of critical discussion and understanding in our fields of expertise;
\item         continuing support of students (e.g., conference travel awards);
\item         influencing curricular developments in schools and universities;
\item         establishing links with industry;
\item         encouraging interdisciplinary thinking.
\end{itemize}

%\noindent --     being a catalyst of critical discussion and understanding in our fields of expertise;\\
%\noindent --         continuing support of students' conference travel;\\
%\noindent --         influencing curricular developments in schools and universities;\\
%\noindent --         establishing links with industry;\\
%\noindent --         encouraging interdisciplinary thinking.\\

\noindent To achieve these goals, we must continuously strive to find new ways of engagement. Some ideas follow.\\

\noindent \textit{Sponsorships}\\

\noindent Annual sponsorship by an industrial partner or university: this could include having the partner mentioned on all AISB publications of that year, e.g. the Q, posters, web announcements. Members of the sponsoring institution could be granted access to the members-only section of the web site, could sign up for the email bulletins, and be eligible to AISB member discounts.\\

\noindent \textit{Webcasts and media presence}\\

\noindent Use of modern communication channels to promote the society; e.g., webcasts of public lectures and a special annual public lecture, possibly held at the year's sponsor's premises.\\

\noindent \textit{Public understanding and curricular developments}\\

\noindent Publication of fact sheets (in the form of attractively designed PDF pamphlets) for use by schools and universities, but also for public understanding. These could make us visible across the borders of traditional AI centres. Increased public awareness could also attract new members. We already have some material available on our web site that we can use as a starting point. Possible topics include:

\begin{itemize}[noitemsep]
\item     Turing Test
\item         Alan Turing
\item         Games AI
\item         AI and the Arts
\item         Swarm Intelligence
\item         AI and the Mind
\item         I simulate thinking, therefore I am?
\item         Natural Language Recognition
\item         Automated Negotiation
\item         AI Agents
\item         Neural Networks
\item         Knowledge-Based Systems
\item         Computers and emotion\\
\end{itemize}


%\noindent --     Turing Test\\
%\noindent --         Alan Turing\\
%\noindent --         Games AI\\
%\noindent --         AI and the Arts\\
%\noindent --         Swarm Intelligence\\
%\noindent --         AI and the Mind\\
%\noindent --         I simulate thinking, therefore I am?\\
%\noindent --         Natural Language Recognition\\
%\noindent --         Automated Negotiation\\
%\noindent --         AI Agents\\
%\noindent --         Neural Networks\\
%\noindent --         Knowledge-Based Systems\\
%\noindent --         Computers and emotion\\
%\noindent -- ...\\

%\pagebreak
\noindent \textit{Mobile App}\\

\noindent To further promote the objectives of the society, we need to use
popular channels, such as mobile device apps. An AISB mobile app could provide
members with easy access to:

\begin{itemize}[noitemsep]
\item     Members' section% (including registration for non-members)
\item         Bulletins
\item         Convention info
\item         Workshop info
\item         Access to past issues of the Q\\
\end{itemize}

%\noindent --     Members' section\\
%\noindent --         Bulletins\\
%\noindent --         Convention info\\
%\noindent --         Workshop info\\
%\noindent --         Q access\\

\noindent \textit{Electronic publications}\\

\noindent Another idea would be to make the electronic version of the Q
available on the iOS Newsstand and similar publication platforms. Hereby, we
can potentially reach a large audience that would otherwise not have become
aware of the society and to which we would not otherwise have easy access.\\

\noindent Although some of these goals are rather ambitious, I strongly believe
that the society needs to keep up with the times in order not to look dated and
to be recognised as a serious promoter of all aspects of AI, cognition,
philosophy, and neighbouring areas. Paving the way to a transition of the AISB
as we have known it for many years to a modern society with a strong presence
that can have an impact nationally and internationally is a
challenge. Remaining true to our history and tradition in this transition is
even more challenging. I am prepared to serve the society as Chairman and to
take up these challenges together with the members of the committee.\\

\noindent Dr Berndt `Bertie' M\"{u}ller (Univ. South Wales)\\
January 2014


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