Motivation and Formation

The operations research (OR) and computer science (CS) communities have been increasingly cross-fertilizing their respective strengths in developing foundational methodological and computational tools for artificial intelligence (AI) – enabling decision-making in a broad range of use-inspired problem domains, striving to reach the full latent potential of efforts in individual fields. Combining CS capabilities that can exploit massive data-driven methods with OR models that can capture salient features of complex systems can unluck large gains in efficiency, practicality, interpretability, trustworthiness, and fairness in decision-making.

Professional communities in both fields – namely, INFORMS representing OR researchers and ACM SIGAI, representing CS researchers – convened in workshops funded by the Computing Research Association’s Computing Community Consortium. This inspired the formation of a dedicated “School” to (i) train the next generation to be dually conversant in both OR and CS methodological traditions, and (ii) pose challenge problems that are positioned to excite researchers across the CS-OR spectrum. We are grateful to the organizers of the CCC Workshops, to INFORMS, and SIGAI for the inspiration.

This is the second iteration of the AI-SCORE school, which is generously sponsored by XYZ. The previous iteration can be found here.

Modules

The modules will be jointly created thematic tutorials accompanied by curated datasets and exercises involving hands-on participation by students in cross-disciplinary teams.

Schedule

  • May 18, Day 1: Morning: AI-SCORE Opening, Keynotes, Panel; Afternoon: Contextual Optimization Module
  • May 19, Day 2: Morning: Contextual Optimization Module; Afternoon: Contextual Optimization Module
  • May 20, Day 3: Morning: Contextual Optimization Module; Afternoon: Gen AI Module
  • May 21, Day 4: Morning: Gen AI Module; Afternoon: Gen AI Module
  • May 22, Day 5: Morning: Gen AI Module; Afternoon: Summary, Feedback and Farewells

Eligibility

Ph.D. students who are currently in their first year or second year are eligible. Students from underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply. A limited number students each from the fields of OR and CS/AI will be selected due to space and funding constraints. Students will be provided food and housing. Reimbursement will be provided for travel. XYZ Please Check XYZ

How to Apply

Please apply at the Google form XYZ. The form will request the student’s CV, a one-page (maximum) statement describing the problem area at the intersection of OR and CS/AI being explored by the student as a Ph.D. topic; and a short statement from the Ph.D. advisor confirming the student is currenlty a first or second year, the student's research area is in OR/AI, and the anticipated benefit (maximum one page).

Application deadline: April 14, 2026

Organizers

Advisory Committee