Local Search Special Interest Group

During the 1990’s, there has been a growing interest in local search. OR practitioners are finding local search to be a useful technique for tackling a wide range of problems. Moreover, researchers are designing new local search methods and improving existing methods. The Local Search Special Interest Group was established in 1999 to provide a forum through which these groups of practitioners and researchers can meet.

The Special Interest Group covers local search in its broadest sense. Thus, in addition to the classical local search techniques such as simulated annealing, tabu search and genetic algorithms, related methods such as constraint satisfaction and neural networks also lie within the range of interests of the Special Interest Group.

The aims of the Special Interest Group are:

1. To stimulate the development and application of local search methods through meetings attended by academics and operational research practitioners.
2. To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on local search.
3. To inform members of the latest developments in local search.

There will be a regular series of meetings. Although many of these will be based in London, a significant number are to be held at other locations. Some meetings will be joint with regional societies or with other special interest Groups.

For the latest on the Local Search Special Interest Group, why not join the emailing list. Receive the news by email and circulate any messages of your own.