Bootcamp: Interplay Between Machine Learning and Optimization

The Bootcamp marks the official start of the CWI Research Semester Programme on Learning Enhanced Optimization, contributing to its overarching mission of advancing cutting-edge research in theoretical computer science, operations research and beyond.

When
1 Sep 2025 from 10:50 a.m. to 1 Sep 2025 6 p.m. CEST (GMT+0200)
Where
CWI, Euler room, Science park 125
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This one-day event brings together researchers from optimization, machine learning, and algorithm design to explore the rich and growing interface between these fields.

Through a series of accessible research talks and interactive discussions, the Bootcamp aims to provide an overview of current challenges, key techniques, and the research directions that will be explored throughout the semester. There will also be ample time for research discussions and a poster session at the end of the day.

Programme
Time Subject
10:50-11:00 Welcome, Overview RSP Events & Activities
11:00-11:30 Leo van Iersel: Reconstructing phylogenetic networks by combining cherry picking and machine learning
11:30-12:00 Guido Schäfer: Mechanism Design with Predictions
12:00-12:30 Bert Zwart: Robust Mean Estimation for Optimization: The Impact of Heavy Tails
12:30-14:00 Lunch (canteen)
14:00-14:30 Ilker Birbil: Towards Explainable Optimization: Current Research and Open Problems
14:30-15:00 Karen Aardal: Branch-and-Bound and Machine Learning
15:00-15:30 Coffee break
15:30-16:00 Leen Stougie: Error Measures for Predictions in Learning Augmented Algorithms
16:00-16:30 Antonios Antoniadis: Approximation Algorithms with Predictions
16:30-18:00 Poster Session + Drinks

Organizers

  • Karen Aardal
  • Antonios Antoniadis
  • Ilker Birbil
  • Daniel Dadush
  • Dick den Hertog
  • Ruben Hoeksma
  • Leo van Iersel
  • Etienne de Klerk
  • Monique Laurent
  • Guido Schäfer
  • Leen Stougie
  • Marc Uetz
  • Bert Zwart

Accommodation and Venue

Please be aware that hotel prices in Amsterdam can be quite steep. We strongly recommend all participants to secure their hotel reservations as early as possible!

Hotel Recommendations

From these hotels, the venue can be reached in 15-30 minutes with public transport. In all public transportation, you can check in and out with a Mastercard or Visa contactless credit card and also with Apple Pay and Google Wallet.

Venue

The conference will be held in the Euler room at the Congress Centre of Amsterdam Science Park, next to Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI).

Address: Science Park 125, 1098 XG Amsterdam

See here for location in Google Maps.

CWI Research Semester Programme

This bootcamp is part of the broader CWI Research Semester Programme on Learning Enhanced Optimization, contributing to its overarching mission of advancing cutting-edge research in theoretical computer science, operations research and beyond.

See here for more information about the whole research semester programme

Financial Support

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of CWI whose contributions helped to make this event possible.

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