E-News Blog

View the winning project presentation from the U.S. Coast Guard team and other finalist projects from the 2012 Wagner Prize competition in the INFORMS Video Learning Center. The Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research showcases top-notch analysis, mathematics, and writing in using O.R. and advanced analytics to solve tough organization and societal problems. Learn from the best with this excellent member benefit. Crystal clear video and audio is accompanied by embedded slides for the best learning experience.
 

INFORMS Conference on Business Analytics & Operations Research 2013 - Submit a Presentation Today  

April 7-9, 2013, Grand Hyatt, San Antonio, Texas
http://meetings.informs.org/analytics2013

Present your work at the conference known for high-quality presentations on real-world analytics and O.R. Applications reports, case studies, best-practice examples, emerging topics and tutorials with a practice orientation are all welcome. Submit either a 50-minute oral presentation or a poster presentation. If accepted, you can receive a 35%-40% discount on conference registration. The deadline for oral presentations is December 15, 2012; the deadline for poster presentations is January 15, 2013.

INFORMS Second Conference on Healthcare - Save the Date

June 23-26, 2013, Chicago Marriott Downtown, Chicago, Illinois
Chair: Sanjay Mehrotra, Northwestern University
http://meetings.informs.org/healthcare2013

Abstract submission for this second INFORMS conference on healthcare opens Monday, November 12.  This highly-focused meeting offers a small-scale, collegial environment where high-quality talks are presented by leaders in the field. Submit an abstract now.

INFORMS Computing Society ConferenceEarly Registration by November 30

January 6-8, Eldorado Hotel, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Chair: William Hart, Sandia National Laboratories
http://www.informs.org/Community/Conferences/ICS2013

INFORMS Organization Science Winter Conference: February 7-10

Sheraton Steamboat Resort, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Chair: Dan Levinthal, dlev@wharton.upenn.edu 

Winter Simulation Conference 2012: Registration and Hotel

December 9-12, 2012, InterContinental Berlin, Berlin, Germany
http://www.wintersim.org

 
Registration
Register now for best rates. The deadline for early registration is November 16.

Hotel
Rooms at the hotel are limited. Reserve your room today.

INFORMS Meetings Calendar

Go to http://meetings.informs.org for a complete conference calendar.

Many operations researchers have quietly complained that government would function more smoothly if politicians trained in quantitative methods were in charge of public policy. Now that wish is granted. Democrat Joseph P. Kennedy III, the grandson of the late Robert F. Kennedy, won office in Massachusetts' 4th District this week. Kennedy, who succeeds Rep. Barney Frank, studied industrial engineering and management science at Stanford University.

The Annual Meeting and presidential election are both over - so why not take a few minutes to cross renewal off your list? We hope you'll stay with us in 2013. These are exciting times for our profession. With INFORMS, you'll be on the front lines of the changes to come. You may have already received your paper renewal form, but online is always the easiest and most efficient way to renew.

Due to power outages on the East Coast that accompanied Hurricane Sandy, the deadline for applications for the 2013 UPS George D. Smith Prize has been extended through tonight. Submit your application to prize chair Bob Smith of Monmouth University for this new INFORMS prize that rewards an academic department or program for the effective and innovative preparation of students to be good practitioners of OR/MS or analytics.

Guest Bloggers Add Flavor to Annual Meeting

Be sure to check the Annual Meeting website frequently to read commentary from your peers about their experiences in Phoenix. Feel free to post your own comment! Confirmed guest bloggers for 2012:

Tweet Away

All attendees are invited to share what you are seeing and doing in real time. Add hashtag #informs2012 to your tweets, and they will be displayed on the front page of Annual Meeting website and on video monitors. Be sure to pick up your "Tweeter" ribbon in INFORMS Booth #58. Follow @INFORMS2012 for official Annual Meeting Announcements.

Exhibitor Advertising Opportunities

All exhibitors for the 2012 Annual Meeting are encouraged to rent attendee email addresses for use before and after the meeting. Email addresses are competitively priced for one-time use. However, exhibitors may rent email addresses multiple times on a first-come, first-served basis. For pricing, available slots, and additional information, please contact our list rental management company:
INFOCUS Marketing
4245 Sigler Road, Warrenton, VA 20187
Phone: 800-708-5478
sales@infocusmarketing.com
www.infocusmarketing.com/datacard/informs-mtg
Exhibitors are also welcome to advertise in eNews Daily. Click here for advertising information. Payment can be made in INFORMS Booth #58.

Join Annual Meeting LinkedIn Group and Join in the Discussions

Click here to join the Annual Meeting LinkedIn Group and connect with fellow attendees and discuss key topics of the day, and set up appointments.

Find Us on Facebook

"Like" INFORMS on Facebook, and let other INFORMS members know you are attending the 2012 INFORMS Annual Meeting by RSVP'ing.

INFORMS Booth Activities

Stop by the INFORMS booth (#58) in the Exhibit Hall to receive valuable products and information:

• Speakers' Book Store  
• 50% off INFORMS books sale
• Free sample journals
• Free Community newsletters
• Membership information
• Renewal assistance
• Purchase INFORMS T-shirts
• Certification information
• Free Magazines
• Volunteer Information

Free Website Management Tools for Subdivisions - Learn How EZ Publish Can Revitalize Your Web Presence

Wednesday, October 17, 11am-12:30pm Convention Center, West 202
If you are a subdivision officer or webmaster and would like to learn more about optimizing your website, you'll want to attend INFORMS webmaster Shirley Mohr's technical session. This special training session introduces EZ Publish, a hassle-free and "EZ" tool for quickly creating and updating websites without the need for Web design experience or special software. Any Community or Subdivision that wishes to utilize a ready-made INFORMS template and intuitive tools to create and maintain its website should attend. Special features you can incorporate include blogs, forums, password-protected areas, and analytics reports about your site.

Renew 2013 Membership While in Phoenix

Stop by INFORMS Booth #58 to quickly and easily renew your membership for 2013. We want you with us in 2013. INFORMS is on the upswing, and we have many exciting projects planned for 2013 and beyond. Read the renewal letter from the INFORMS presidents who give you great reasons for continuing.

Wagner Prize Presentations

Monday, October 15, Convention Center, West 212C
To see clear, concise examples of verifiable O.R. and analytics practice success, you won't want to miss the six Wagner Prize presentations.

8-9:30am:

• A Deployed Quantal Response Based Patrol Planning System for the U.S. Coast Guard 
• The Philadelphia Districting Contest: Designing Territories for City Council Based Upon the 2010 Census

11am-12:30pm:

• Improving Patient Access to Chemotherapy Treatment at Duke Cancer Institute     
• Automated Bed Assignments in a Complex and Dynamic Hospital Environment

1:30-3pm:

• Incorporating Stochastic Lead Times into the Guaranteed Service Model of Safety Stock Optimization    
• Biological Planning for High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy: Application to Cervical Cancer Treatment

INFORMS Strategic Initiatives in Analytics

Monday, October 15, 11am-12:30pm, Convention Center, West 207
INFORMS President-Elect Anne Robinson, Vice President of Practice Activities Jack Levis, and Past President Rina Schneur will provide information about multiple INFORMS analytics-related strategic priorities and goals in this talk. Topics such as certification, continuing education, and outreach will be covered.

Bringing O.R. into the 21st Century with Social Networking and Web 2.0 Tools

Monday, 11am-12:30pm, Convention Center, North 222A
A panel of members who are active in social media will provide a "who, what, where, how, and why" on major social networking sites for operations researchers, as well as a synopsis of activity by INFORMS in social media.

2012 Innovation in Analytics Award Competition

Tuesday, October 16, Track 23 (TA, TB, TC), Convention Center, West 212C
Sponsored by the Analytics Section of INFORMS. See these finalist presentations that are being recognized for creative and unique developments, applications, or combinations of analytical techniques that provide unique insights and/or business value. Choose from among these talks:

• Ford, routing for battery electric vehicles
• MIT & Con Edison, predicting manhole events
• GfK Custom Research, analytics to set customer satisfaction priorities
• GE Global Research Center, whole-hospital operational forecasting system
• IBM, insurance agency productivity
• Texas A&M Transportation Institute, optimizing acquisition of right-of-way
• Nyenrode Business Universiteit, sustainable investment decision analysis

TutORials in Operations ResearchTalks

Attend your choice of 14 TutORial talks on Sunday - Wednesday, Convention Center, West 207. This Annual Meeting favorite features 90-minute sessions offering an in-depth look at current methodologies. See the program for a schedule of talks and exact titles.

Access to 2012 Online Volume

On October 1, the 2012 TutORials in Operations Research series volume became available online for all 2012 INFORMS Annual Meeting registrants. This year's TutORials covers topics in a broad range of applications and methodologies within operations research, including laboratory experiments in operations management, queues in service systems, dynamic optimization, and Markov decision processes.

Access the 2012 TutORials via the upgraded TutORials website and log in to view all content using your INFORMS username and password.
Print copies of the 2012 TutORials volume, as well as CDs and books from previous years, will be available for sale at INFORMS Booth #58.

General Interactive Sessions

Be sure to stop by the Interactive Sessions on Monday and Tuesday, 12:30-2:30pm in the Convention Center, West 301CD Lobby. A total of 80 posters and laptop demonstrations on diverse OR/MS topics will be on display. Authors will be on hand to describe their work during these times.

Annual Meeting Job Fair

Be a part of the largest gathering of O.R. and analytics job seekers and employers. The Job Fair is free to meeting registrants. Employers must register for the Job Placement Service to participate. Direct questions to jps@mail.informs.org for more details.
INFORMS job placement services (JPS) at the Annual Meeting connect job seekers and employers in an informal atmosphere. You can take advantage of both the Job Fair (Sunday, noon to 5pm) and the Job Placement Service (Monday and Tuesday, 9am-5pm; and Wednesday, 9am-3pm).

Here's a partial list of participating employers:

Résumé Checking Services

Sunday, October 14, 9am-12pm Hyatt, Regency Ballroom C
Have your résumé checked by members of INFORMS JPS Committee. Veteran O.R. professionals, such as Texas A&M Executive Associate Dean Bala Shetty, will review and critique your résumé to make sure it is ready for "prime time" at the Job Fair later that day.

In addition, two panel discussions focus on job search issues:

Academic Job Search Panel

Monday, October 15, 11am-12:30pm,
Convention Center, North 229A
The panel will discuss the academic interview process and do's and don'ts associated with the job search. The panel features Bala Shetty, Texas A&M University; Neil Geismar, Texas A&M University; and Eva Lee, Georgia Tech.

Industry Job Search Panel

Monday, October 15, 1:30-3pm, Convention Center, North 229A
The panel will discuss the industry interview process and do's and don'ts associated with the job search. The panel features Bala Shetty, Texas A&M University; Hossam Zaki, Zilliant; Bruce Patty, Veritec Solutions; and Irv Lustig, IBM.

Sunday, October 14  

INFORMS Online and Social Networking Reception
Sunday, 6-7pm, Hyatt, Cassidy
What's your social networking strategy for yourself or for INFORMS? We invite all contributors to IOL (the INFORMS website) and INFORMS social networking sites to come and meet face to face. Join us for refreshments and drinks - we are your INFORMS Online community!

Minority Issues Forum Reception
Sunday, 8-9pm, Hyatt, Cowboy Artists
Come meet old friends and make new ones while talking about minority issues and other intellectual issues and opportunities.
Sponsored by North Carolina State University, Edward P. Fitts Dept. of Industrial & Systems Engineering; Clemson University, Dept. of Industrial Engineering;  Cornell University, School of Operations Research & Information Engineering; Carnegie Mellon University, Heinz College; and North Carolina A&T State University, Dept. of Industrial & Systems Engineering.
 
Welcome Reception & Exhibits
Sunday, 7:30-9pm, Convention Center, Exhibit Hall, West 301
INFORMS and the Phoenix Organizing Committee welcome you to the 2012 Annual Meeting with an evening of fellowship and fun. The Welcome Reception is the perfect venue to meet with colleagues and visit the exhibits. Light snacks will be served. Soft drinks are complimentary, with a cash bar for other beverages.  

INFORMS Awards Ceremony &  
Dessert Reception
Sunday, 8:30-9:45pm (doors close at 8:45pm*), Convention Center, West 101
The INFORMS Board of Directors invites you to honor and celebrate the achievements of our colleagues at the annual Awards Ceremony. You can attend the Welcome Reception first and then take the escalators down to level 1 for the Awards Ceremony. Following the ceremony, you'll have an opportunity to congratulate the awardees at a special dessert reception.
*Please note that this reception is part of the ceremony event, open to the awardees, their friends and colleagues, and all those who attend the Award Ceremony itself. We are sorry we cannot accommodate guests to the reception who do not also attend the ceremony. Sponsored by GAMS.   

 Monday, October 15

COIN-OR Members & Users Meeting - Bag Lunch
12:30-1:15pm, Convention Center, West 212B
Anyone interested in open-source software tools, open standards, and data and model repositories for any aspect of operations research is encouraged to attend this Computational Infrastructure for OR (COIN-OR) meeting. Please bring your own lunch and ideas. For more information, visit www.coin-or.org.

Junior Faculty Interest Group Luncheon
12:30-1:30pm, Kincaid's Classic American Restaurant, 2 South Third St.  
$25 ($15 students)
A limited number of tickets may be available on-site. Go to the INFORMS registration desk for information on availability. No tickets will be sold at the door.
The winners of the 2012 JFIG Paper Competition will be presented with awards. All junior faculty are invited to participate. This event gives junior faculty in engineering and business schools the opportunity to discuss career development and exchange ideas.
Sponsored by the University of Arkansas and Wichita State University, Dept. of Industrial Engineering.

SPPSN Lunch
12:30-1:30pm, Hyatt, Regency D  
$10 section member ($15 nonmember)
A limited number of tickets may be available on-site. Go to the INFORMS registration desk for information on availability. No tickets will be sold at the door.
This lunch and business meeting is open to members of the INFORMS Section on Public Programs, Service and Needs and also those who are interested in joining the section. Sponsored by Georgia Tech, School of Industrial and Systems Engineering.
 
INFORMS Analytics Section Business Meeting & Reception
6:15-7:15pm, Convention Center, North 224B
This section is right for everyone. The Analytics Section invites all attendees to enjoy light refreshments and listen to the officers discuss recent accomplishments of the section. Get involved and help chart the course for the future of analytics at INFORMS.

CPMS Isolated Practitioner Workshop & Reception
6:15-7:15pm, Convention Center, North 225A
CPMS, The Practice Section of INFORMS, sponsors this workshop on topics of interest to isolated practitioners, the "Lone Rangers" of OR/MS. This 29th workshop will address timely issues that affect isolated practitioners. All are welcome to participate. Wine and cheese will be served.

Student Awards Ceremony & Student Reception
7:30-9pm, Hyatt, Regency A
All students registered for the meeting are invited to attend the first-ever Student Awards Ceremony. The Chapters/Fora Committee will present the winners of the Student Chapter Annual Awards and the Judith Liebman Awards. Join us to recognize the great contributions of our most dynamic student volunteers. Plan to stay for the Student Reception, which immediately follows the ceremony. The reception that follows the Awards Ceremony is open to all students - join us for an evening of food and drink, fun, and networking. Come relax after a busy day of sessions and mingle with fellow students from universities around the world. Sponsored by the Seth Bonder Foundation.

Travelling Salesman Movie
After Student Awards Ceremony, Hyatt, Regency A

 
Travelling Salesman - Official Trailer [HD]

Tuesday, October 16

Women in OR/MS Forum Luncheon
12:30-1:30pm Hyatt, Regency C
$18 ($8 students)
A limited number of tickets may be available on-site. Go to the INFORMS registration desk for information on availability. No tickets will be sold at the door. All those interested in issues related to women professionals in OR/MS are invited to join us. Sponsored by Georgia Tech, Stewart School of Industrial & Systems Engineering; SAS, Inc.; Texas A&M University, Dept. of Industrial & Systems Engineering; University of Alabama, College of Business; University of Massachusetts, Isenberg School of Business; University of Arizona, Systems & Industrial Engineering; Northwestern University, Dept. of Industrial Engineering & Management Science; Virginia Commonwealth University, Dept. of Statistical Sciences & O.R; University of Texas at Arlington; Penn State Erie; and University of Texas at Austin, Operations Research & Industrial Engineering.
 
Analytics Certification Reception  
6:15-7:15pm, Hyatt, Regency A
Members of the INFORMS Certification Task Force will make a short presentation and answer questions relating to INFORMS-conducted analytics certification to be launched in 2013.
 
General Reception, Get Your Kicks on Route 66
7:30-10pm Convention Center, North Ballroom, level 1 (street level)
You can travel the famous road yourself at our Tuesday General Reception. We'll have our own quirky and fun things to do: teepee putting, tequila bowling, tomahawk tosses, and beach ball basketball. The Rave, a classic rock band, will showcase a broad spectrum of musical styles, from pre-50s to current hits, including soul, Motown, blues, and country.  
And, of course, we'll be serving up a hearty menu that features food from stops along the highway - including St. Louis style ribs, Arizona vegetarian fajitas, New Mexican three-cheese enchiladas, Texas beef strip steaks, and California avocado salad, topped off with a great Oklahoma pecan pie!  Sponsored by Arizona State University.  
 

Make time for thought-provoking talks on diverse subjects from invited speakers.

Sunday, October 14

10-10:50am, Convention Center, West 301A
Welcome
Terry Harrison, President, INFORMS, and Penn State University; and Ronald Askin, General Chair, INFORMS Annual Meeting Phoenix, and Arizona State University
Plenary
O.R. Applications for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
Richard J. O'Lear, Defense Science Board and Sage Intelligence Associates
3:10-4pm, Convention Center, West 101
Computational and Analytical Challenges and Opportunities in Personalized Medicine
George Poste, Complex Adaptive Systems Initiative and Arizona State University
3:10-4pm, Convention Center, West 301A
Reprise of 2012 Edelman Award-Winning Presentation: Supply Chain-Wide Optimization at TNT Express
TNT Express

Monday, October 15

10-10:50am, Convention Center, West 301A
Philip McCord Morse Lecture: Analytics for a Networked World
William R. Pulleyblank, United States Military Academy
3:10-4pm, Convention Center, West 101
The Future of High Performance Computing
Alan Gara, Intel
3:10-4pm, Convention Center, West 301A
Manufacturing - Fading or Phoenix?
Wallace J. Hopp, University of Michigan

Tuesday, October 16

10-10:50am, Convention Center, West 301A
Omega Rho Distinguished Lecture: Operations Research and the Revolution in Aggregate Economics
Edward C. Prescott, Arizona State University and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
3:10-4pm, Convention Center, West 101
Principles to Successfully Navigate the Vortex of Innovation
Christopher B. Lofgren, Schneider National, Inc.
3:10-4pm, Convention Center, West 301A
IFORS Distinguished Lecture: Models and Algorithms for Passenger Railway Optimization Problems
Paolo Toth, University of Bologna
3:10-4pm, Convention Center, West 207
Reprise of 2012 UPS George D. Smith Prize Award-Winning Presentation: Excellence in Global Operations Education
Tauber Institute for Global Operations, University of Michigan

Wednesday, October 17

10-10:50am, Convention Center, West 301A
Risk and Decision Sciences to Inform Policy and Strategy at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Caryl Brzymialkiewicz, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
10-10:50am, Convention Center, West 101
Award Presentation and Winner's Reprise: 2012 Daniel H. Wagner Prize Winner Presentation
5-5:50pm, Convention Center, West 301A
Panel: What Pilots and the Airline Industry Can Teach Clinicians and Hospitals About Patient Safety
Moderator: Mark Roberts, University of Pittsburgh

Hitting town on Friday or Saturday? Check out these great pre-meeting events!

Colloquia
Friday, October 12
Combined Colloquia, Dinner, 6-8pm, Hyatt, Regency AB

Saturday, October 13
Combined Colloquia, Breakfast, 7:30-8:15am, Hyatt, Regency AB
Future Academician Colloquium, 8:15am-4:30pm, Hyatt, Regency C
Future Practitioner Colloquium, 8:15am-4:30pm, Hyatt, Sundance
Teaching Effectiveness Colloquium, 8:15am-4:30pm, Hyatt, Gilbert
Combined Colloquia, Dinner, 6:30-8:30pm, Hyatt, Atrium Terrace

Workshops
Saturday, October 13
Data Mining-Health Informatics Workshop, 9am-5:30pm, Hyatt, Remington and Russell
Vendor (Exhibitor) Workshops, 9am-5:30pm (three sessions), Hyatt, rooms variable

Conference
Saturday, October 13
Conference on Information Systems & Technology,
8:30am-5pm, Renaissance, Salons 2 and 3

Membership Meeting
Saturday, October 13, 5-6pm, Hyatt, Regency AB
Getting into town early? Stop by the INFORMS annual membership meeting to meet the Board of Directors and get a snapshot of 2012 accomplishments and 2013 strategic plans. Wine and cheese will be served.