INFORMS Open Forum

  • 1.  INFORMS goes to AFROS 2018

    Posted 07-27-2018 09:47

    The African Regional O.R. Society held its first conference in early July in Tunis, Tunisia. It was well organized by the Tunisian Decision Aid Society and supported by a number of O.R. organizations, including INFORMS and INFORMS members who were invited to speak.

    Mike Trick (president of IFORS and former INFORMS president) delivered the opening plenary session on Business Analytics; Jim Cochran (University of Alabama) took part in a panel discussion on the topic 'Securing the future of O.R. in Africa', gave a plenary talk on 'Are p values the problem?', another on How to Design an Undergraduate Honors Program in O.R., and helped facilitate a doctoral workshop; Samir Elhedhli (University of Waterloo, Canada) gave a plenary talk on data-driven modeling and optimization for warehouse analytics; Hans Ittman (University of Johannesburg, South Africa) described the 'State of O.R. in Africa'; and Sue Merchant (chair of INFORMS International Activities Committee) facilitated a brainstorm session on actions that could be taken to help secure the future of O.R. in Africa.

    Seven African countries (and seven others) comprising nearly 120 delegates were represented. The enthusiasm of the delegates and organizing committee and their work moving O.R. forward in Africa was marked and greatly inspiring. In his talk, Hans Ittman gave an enthusiastic prediction that by 2023 the number of African countries with O.R. societies would rise to 20 from the current three!

    Sue Merchant

    Vice President, International Activities

    Chair, International Affairs Committee



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    Sue Merchant
    Chair
    IFORS Developing Countries Committee
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  • 2.  RE: INFORMS goes to AFROS 2018

    Posted 07-30-2018 12:21
    Hi Sue,
    Thanks for the summary and the link to the AFROS programme - it looks like you had a full and fascinating time. Congratulations to the organizers and the INFORMS team that participated!

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    Michele Fisher
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