The SPECIES Summer School is looking for students interested in gaining evolutionary computation and general research work skills, networking with the school mentors and with other students and enjoying a nice stay by the Mediterranean!
We specially encourage women and minorities to apply for this summer school, where everyone is welcome.
Dates
August 26th (Monday) to September 1st (Sunday) 2024.
Venue
The SPECIES Summer School will be held in the town of Moraira, a cute beach resort in the South-eastern coast of Spain.
Up to 24 students will be lodged in the La Marina Youth Hostel, where the sessions will also take place.
Mentors’ team
Anikó Ekárt — Aston University, UK
Tea Tušar — Josef Stefan Institute, Slovenia
Eric Medvet — University of Trieste, Italy
J. Ignacio (Iñaki) Hidalgo — Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
Anna I Esparcia-Alcázar — SPECIES, Spain (Summer School Coordinator)
Tutorials (to be updated)
- Introduction to evolutionary algorithms (Eric)
- Team building (Anikó)
- Evolutionary optimization of embodied agents: from (developing) bodies to (plastic) brains (Eric)
- Introduction to multiobjective optimization (Tea)
- Genetic Programming based on Grammars (Iñaki)
- Ethics by design approach for genetic programming (Anikó)
- Anytime performance assessment in (multiobjective) optimization (Tea)
- Industrial applications of Evolutionary algorithms (Iñaki)
- Authoring a pretty looking paper: practical tips and tricks (Eric)
- The basics of data visualization (Tea)
- Generative AI: friend or foe for a researcher? (Anikó)
- Please do not bore me to death (Anna)
Programme (tentative)
| 26 Aug. | 27 Aug. | 28 Aug. | 29 Aug. | 30 Aug. | 31 Aug. | 1 Sep. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | 10:00 | Tutorial 3 | Tutorial 5 | Tutorial 7 | Tutorial 9 | Tutorial 11 | Closing ceremony | |
| 10:00 | 11:00 | Tutorial 4 | Tutorial 6 | Tutorial 8 | Tutorial 10 | Tutorial 12 | ||
| 11:00 | 11:30 | Break | Break | Break | Break | Break | ||
| 11:30 | 12:30 | Arrival & reception | Challenges’ Pitch | Team work | Team work | Sailing and kayaking | Team work | |
| 12:30 | 13:30 | |||||||
| 13:30 | 15:30 | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Picnic | Lunch | Farewell Lunch |
| 15:30 | 16:30 | Introduction to the summer school, presentation of the program | Splitting into groups | Team work | Team work | Outdoor activity | Team work | That’s all folks! |
| 16:30 | 17:30 | |||||||
| 17:30 | 18:30 | Tutorial 1 | Outdoor activity | Outdoor activity | Beach volley | Team work | Presentation of the Challenges’ Results | |
| 18:30 | 19:30 | Tutorial 2 | ||||||
| 19:30 | 21:00 | Welcome Reception | Dinner | Dinner | Pizzas on the beach | Dinner | Farewell dinner |
Who can apply
Students and recent graduates interested in bio-inspired computation
Fees: 350 €
Included in the fees: 6 nights accommodation (including hostel card), all meals from the Monday lunch to the Sunday lunch, outdoor activities.
The fees do not include: travel to and from the venue, visa costs (if any), insurance, optional activities.
You may book (and pay) additional nights accommodation via the hostel web page.
How to get there
Nearest airports are Alicante and Valencia.
New this year: A special bus will be arranged for people flying to and from Valencia — please let us know if you’re interested!
If you prefer to travel independently, from either airport go to the respective Estación de Autobuses, where you can take a bus (around 13.50 € one way from Valencia, 9.50€ from Alicante) to Teulada. From the same bus stop (or the one across the road) you can then take another bus to Moraira.
The times for the buses Teluada-Moraira are: 9:10, 11:15, 13:00, 17:45, 18:52 19:45 and they take 10 minutes. Then you need to walk 9 minutes to the hostel
What to bring
- Compulsory: Your own laptop to work on the projects.
- Optional: An idea for a challenge, and good reasons to convince 1-2 colleagues, plus a mentor, to work with you on it
- Recommended: swimming costume, beach towel, sun cream, hat, diving mask
The Summer School Code
Students are expected to:
- Attend the 6 days of the summer school
- Cooperatively work on a challenge and follow the standards of proper social and research behavior.
- Deliver, by the end of the school, a paper and presentation on what they have been working on during it.
Papers resulting from previous Summer School editions
How to apply
Places will be allocated on a first come-first served basis. Please, fill the form below to apply.
