The INFORMS Annual Meeting 2002 San Jose, set for Nov. 17-20, offers a program that covers the entire landscape of operations research and management science. With 47 tracks and more than 600 sessions to choose from, you can concentrate on one methodology or applications area, or sample the most current work from the full range of OR/MS specialties.

The scientific program is both deep and diverse with:

• more than 90 sessions on optimization-related topics;
• more than 70 sessions in the manufacturing and supply chain area;
• more than 40 sessions related to e-business and auctions;
• special sessions honoring 50 years of operations research;
• extensive tracks on "hot topics," such as data mining and knowledge discovery, e-business, financial engineering, biotechnology, health care and others;
• tutorials covering the spectrum of current topics, including bioinformatics, bioterror response, supply chain management and auctions; and
• in-depth tracks and clusters sponsored by nearly every INFORMS society, section and fora.

The meeting offers valuable opportunities to make connections, share knowledge and exchange ideas, both during the formal scientific program and informally at coffee breaks and social events.

New for San Jose are special sessions that focus on OR/MS practice and industry applications, with a special emphasis on academic-practitioner interface. Each 1 1/2-hour session offers a professionally reviewed tutorial, panel discussion or two case studies. Practitioners and academics are encouraged to attend.

Special Events


50 Years of Operations Research. Fun, food, a great jazz band and other surprises will highlight the Sunday evening (Nov. 17) welcome reception in celebration of 50 years of operations research. Meet with colleagues and participate in the festivities. Autographed copies of the 50th anniversary edition of the journal Operations Research will be raffled. A photo gallery of past presidents of ORSA and TIMS will be on display during the meeting. Two sessions feature presentations by six past presidents of ORSA.

General Reception. The Monday evening (Nov. 18) reception at the Tech Museum of Innovation will feature hands-on exhibits and live musical entertainment. Capture the essence of Silicon Valley when you explore 250 lively exhibits in five themed galleries.

New! Academic-Practitioner Interface Luncheon. Don't miss this opportunity to network with colleagues both in the practice and academic arenas on Tuesday, Nov. 19. INFORMS leaders and practice session speakers will facilitate roundtable discussions focusing on academic-practitioner collaboration.

OR in Practice Poster Display. Professionals from both the practice and academic arenas will display their work in this poster session on implemented projects. Open continuously during the meeting, the display is sponsored by the Academic-Practitioner Interface Committee.

CIST 2002. The 7th INFORMS Conference on Information Systems and Technology, Nov. 16-17, features presentations on contributed and invited research topics that deal with technical, behavioral and economic issues in the use, design and application of information systems.

2002 Combined Colloquia. Three special interest colloquia-doctoral student, teaching effectiveness and industry-combine into an integrated structure that retains the focus of each individual program while enhancing the choices and experience for all participants. Go to online at diana.gl.nps.navy.mil/colloq/ for more information.

Job Placement Services. You can find opportunities in academia, industry and government through the INFORMS Job Placement Service — now online in preparation for the San Jose meeting. Go to www.informs.org/JPS/ to register for the service and access extensive job listings, plus on-site interviews at the meeting.

CPMS Dinner. A Saturday evening CPMS reception and dinner will feature Ed Kaplan, of Yale University, as speaker.

Guest Tours. Two guest tours take you to San Francisco and the Monterey/Carmel Pacific Coast. "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" on Sunday features a day-long guided tour of San Francisco. "Under the Sea: Monterey and Carmel" on Monday features Monterey, the famed 17-mile Pacific Coast Drive, Carmel and a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Plant Tours. Plant Tours are scheduled for the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, one of the world's leading research laboratories; Solectron Corporation, a worldwide provider of electronics manufacturing services; New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) tour of passenger assembly, body and weld, stamping and truck assembly; Cisco Systems, featuring mobile office solutions and underlying technologies; and IBM Almaden Research Center, demonstrations, talks and a reception.

Register Today! www.informs.org/Conf/SanJose02/ Search the Online Program Search by keyword, author, clusters and sessions. Make Hotel Reservations Most technical sessions, subdivision meetings and special events will be held at the San Jose Convention Center and Fairmont. A small number of technical sessions will be held at the Hilton. All hotels are within walking distance of the convention center. Fairmont San Jose - Headquarters Hotel Hilton San Jose and Towers Crowne Plaza San Jose Go to www.informs.org/Conf/SanJose02/