In most years, a summer school and workshop are organized at Carnegie Mellon University for training and discussion of the theory. This year, there will be a European version of these events in the Spring that we would like to develop in a yearly event if there is sufficient interest. There will be a four-day spring school, and a two-day workshop.

Spring School
The spring school will take place from Monday April 12 to Thursday April 15. Participants have the choice between either following a compressed four-day version of the traditional summer school curriculum, or to carry out a project of their own with guidance from experienced ACT-R modelers. The latter option assumes some prior ACT-R experience, either through self study, or having followed an earlier ACT-R summer school.

The standard curriculum is structured as a set of six units, of which we will do four in the course of the week. Each unit lasts a day and involving a morning theory lecture, an afternoon discussion session and an assignment which participants are expected to complete during the day. Computing facilities will be provided or attendees can bring their own laptop on which the ACT-R software will be installed.

To provide an optimal learning environment, admission is limited. Prospective participants should submit by January 10 an application consisting of a curriculum vitae, a statement of purpose, and, if applicable, a description of the project they would like to do during the spring school. Demonstrated experience with a modeling formalism similar to ACT-R will strengthen the application, as well as general programming experience. Applicants will be notified of admission by January 20.

European ACT-R Workshop
The European ACT-R workshop will take place from Friday April 16 to Saturday April 17. The workshop will feature research presentations, discussion sessions and instructional tutorials. We still have to determine the exact structure of the workshop, so suggestions for the topics of the tutorials and discussion sessions are welcome. Admission to the workshop is open to all.

Registrations Fees and Housing Spring School + Workshop: Euro 150 Workshop only: Euro 100 Late fee (registration after March 12): Euro 50

Housing will be offered in the university guest house for approximately Euro 60/day (single, double rooms are around Euro 75).

Registration
To apply to the Spring School, send and email to Niels Taatgen (niels@ai.rug.nl ), and attach the requested documents, before January 10, 2010. If you would like to contribute to the workshop, please let us know as well. Further details on registering for the workshop will follow.