Foundations of Computer Science

The track is devoted to the recognized core areas forming the heart of computer science, and covering many different fields. Contributions are typically distinguished by an emphasis on mathematical background techniques, but quite often with significant impact on practical applications and systems. In other words, contributions that illustrate the value of fundamental research for applications are especially welcome. Such contributions have traditionally received a lot of attention at SOFSEM conferences, since its birth in 1974.

The list of topics include (but is not limited to):

• algorithms and data structures, including sequential, parallel, distributed, approximation, and number-theoretic algorithms
• automata theory and languages
• complexity theory, both computational and structural
• concurrency theory
• discrete mathematics related to computer science
• grammars and formal models
• program semantics, logic, and verification

Computing by Nature

First, the track is devoted to standard algorithms running on standard computers, but inspired by the behaviour of processes taking place in nature, such as artificial neural networks exploring computational concepts related to some characteristics of the brain, or evolutionary genetic algorithms inspired by biological evolution. Today these areas are mature, with useful applications to optimization, machine learning and control; properties of hybrid artificial models are explored and intriguing experiments on hybrid networks are proposed, in which living neurons interact with digital model neurons. Second, this area of interest concerns algorithms that are based on "primitive procedures" or data given to us by Nature, such as quantum or DNA computing. So far, the results in this area are prevalently of theoretical interest. Nevertheless, they seem to open very promising perspectives in the applications.

The list of topics include (but is not limited to):

• ant colony optimization
• artificial immune system
• bioinformatics
• DNA computing
• evolutionary computation
• hybrid models, neural, fuzzy, or genetic
• membrane computing
• neural networks
• quantum computing
• swarm intelligence

Networks, Security, & Cryptography

The track focuses on a number of topics related to information security. First, the area of interest concerns cryptographic algorithms, protocols, and their implementation. Second, the track is devoted to architectures and protocols for communication networks, with special focus on security issues. In this context, an area of growing interest is formed by traffic analysis and privacy enhancing technologies. Finally, the track looks at issues in computer security and, in particular, trusted computing and application software security.

The list of topics include (but is not limited to):

• cryptographic algorithms and protocols
• network security
• privacy enhancing technologies
• software security
• traffic analysis
• trusted computing

Web Technologies

The track is devoted to all aspects of the World Wide Web, but primarily to methods and algorithms for building it, developing it, mining it, weaving it, and using it, as well as to methods and languages for representing and organizing it, including Semantic Web. The basis for the emerging technologies lays in the methods developed for acquiring information, representing its semantics and annotation. An important aspect is adaptation, in particular with respect to a potential user.

The list of topics include (but is not limited to):

• convergence of educational standards and the Semantic Web
• data mining and machine learning for intelligent information retrieval, classification and personalization
• design, composition and management of Web services
• information content and navigation adaptation
• information recommendation and filtering
• intelligent information retrieval
• model-driven development of Web applications
• novel browsing and navigational paradigms
• user modelling methods and techniques
• web-based collaboration and social networks

Student Research Forum

An integral part of the SOFSEM 2008 will be the Student Research Forum, organized with the aim to publish and discuss student projects in the field of theory and practice of Computer Science. The forum will offer students a unique opportunity to receive feedback on both the originality of their results and the work in progress. The papers will be reviewed and selected by the SOFSEM 2008 Program Committee. For discussion of new ideas and exchange of experience, sufficient space will be provided during the forum itself, as well as throughout the conference.

The best paper of the SOFSEM 2008 Student Research Forum will be selected by the Program Committee and published in Springer LNCS Proceedings. Moreover, the SOFSEM participants will vote for the best student presentation. To be eligible, all authors of the paper must be students, except possibly for their advisors. (However, the main author should be a student. It is also assumed that the presentation at the conference will be given by a student.)