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The 6th IEEE International Workshop on Formal Methods Integration
FMI 2018
http://www.sis.pitt.edu/iri2018/workshop_fmi.html
(Collocated with IEEE IRI 2018)
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Introduction and Scope:
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Formal Methods (FM) are mathematically based techniques to model, design, and analyze computing systems. Such techniques aim at improving the dependability of computing systems. Different techniques may be required throughout the development life cycle and to cover the different aspects of the system.
Machine learning and nowadays deep neural networks match human abilities in various tasks. Solutions based on machine learning are ubiquitous, from automated medical diagnosis and self-driving cars to security. However, machine learning does not offer guarantees or reasoning techniques to prove the dependability of the automated decisions. Such systems must be verified/validated using existing techniques or call for new techniques. Formal reasoning techniques are needed to arrive at as well as to explain deductive and even inductive conclusions.
This year's workshop is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Thouraya Bouabana-Tebibel who founded the series and organized all of the previous years. The workshop seeks contributions from researchers and practitioners interested in all aspects of integrated methods, either formal or semi-formal, for system development covering all engineering development phases from user requirements through validation/testing. The workshop encourages contributions from new initiatives building bridges between FM and machine learning, especially contributions using FM as a tool to verify safety-critical machine learning systems. Moreover, logics for learning and generalization, which are distinct from neural methods are especially welcome.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
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* Modelling uncertainty in deep learning
* Verification methodologies for machine learning
* Integration of deep learning modules for deeper learning
* Methods for, results in, and applications of auto-associative neural network
* Axiomatic and denotational semantics for provable higher-level specifications
* Predicate calculi for concept capture and resolution
* Integrated software/hardware specification and analysis
* Hybrid and embedded systems modeling and analysis
* Object and multi-agent systems modeling and analysis
* Requirement specification and analysis
* Software and hardware specification, verification, and validation
* Theorem proving and decision procedures
* Formal aspects of software evolution and maintenance
* Formal methods for re-engineering and reuse
* Randomization-based methods for simplification/optimization
* Formal languages integration
* Semi-formal (UML, SysML, …) and formal model integration
* Informal and formal language integration
* Integration of formal methods into software engineering practice
* Integrated analysis techniques
* Tools integration
* Integrated formal methods in education
* Integrated formal methods in health
* Integrated formal methods in industry
* Integrated formal methods in security

Important dates
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* Paper submission deadline: May 2nd, 2018
* Paper notification: June 1st, 2018
* Camera ready submission deadline: June 20th, 2018

Paper submission
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Submitted papers must be unpublished and not considered elsewhere for publication. Submissions will undergo a rigorous review process handled by the Technical Program Committee. Papers will be selected based on their originality, significance, relevance, and clarity of presentation. Only electronic submissions in PDF format through the EasyChair submission site https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=fmi2018 will be considered. Papers must be in English, up to 8 pages in IEEE format, including references and appendices. The IEEE LaTeX and Microsoft Word templates, as well as formatting guidelines, can be found on the paper submission instructions available at the main conference website.

Paper Publication
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At least one of the authors must register and present each accepted paper. Registered and presented papers will be published as workshop papers in the IEEE IRI conference proceedings published by IEEE Computer Society Press and included in the IEEE Xplore Digital Library. As for previous editions of the workshop, authors of best papers will be invited to expand and submit their papers for possible publication in a book of Advanced in Intelligent Systems and Computing and in a special issue of the Information Systems Frontiers journal both published by Springer [Pending approval].

Workshop Co-chairs
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* Lydia Bouzar-Benlabiod - École nationale Supérieure d'Informatique (ESI), Algeria
* Ferhat Khendek - Concordia University, Canada
* Stuart Rubin - SPAWAR SYSTEMS CENTER PACIFIC (SSC-Pacific), USA

Program Committee
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Please visit http://www.sis.pitt.edu/iri2018/workshop_fmi.html

Contact
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Lydia Bouzar-Benlabiod at l_bouzar@esi.dz