Workshops and Special Sessions Workshop on Autonomous Systems and Security Chairs:   Klaus McDonald-Maier, University of Essex, UK Isabella Panella, Selex Galileo, UK Details: We invite contributions focusing on architecture and security for autonomous systems capable of independent action in dynamic, unpredictable environments.  Topics of interest include all aspects of autonomous systems and security, such as: • software architectures • sensor exploitation and localization • situational awareness • decision making and planning • information management • verification of autonomous systems • model building and learning • system  reconfiguration and adaptation • security mechanisms and solutions for autonomous systems to secure both communications and systems behavior • IC metrics and template free security systems Click here for more information.   Workshop on Biometrics Chairs:  Charlie Frowd, University of Central Lancashire, UK Svetlana Yanushkevich, University of Calgary, Canada Details: This workshop has a broad focus relating to identification system design and techniques using different aspects of human appearance or behavior. This includes the use of fingerprints, iris, ears, face, fully body information, gait, voice, and others for biometric systems for security and general applications.  Emerging techniques such as situational awareness, soft biometrics, fusion techniques, as well as single-modality techniques are welcomed. Click here for more information.   Workshop on Computer Vision Chairs:   Yumi Iwashita, Kyushu University, Japan Maria Petrou, ITI-CERTH/Greece and Imperial College London/UK Details: The Workshop on Computer Vision at EST 2012 invites contributions in computer vision, image processing, and pattern recognition. Topics of interest include all aspects of computer vision and pattern recognition, including, but not limited to: • Activity recognition • Aerial image processing • Data mining in video databases • Image processing for access control • Image processing for surveillance • Object Detection and Categorization • Object Recognition Click here for more information.   Workshop on Hardware Security Chair:  Svein Johan Knapskog, NTNU Norway Details: This workshop will address issues and approaches covering the application of various hardware technologies for implementing information and communication technology (ICT) security solutions, including, but not limited to: • FPGA design • FPGA design tools • Design optimization techniques o Throughput o Area o Power consumption o Internal resource usage • ASIC design • ASIC optimization • Air and space security • Biometric systems • Ubiquitous computing • The Internet of things Click here for more information.   Special Session on Novel Technologies for Intrusion Detection Chairs: Nacira Ghoualmi-Zine and Hassina Bensefia Networks and Systems Laboratory Badji Mokhtar University, Algeria Details:  Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are targeted toward defense of distributed, multi-user networks, databases, and other information technology (IT) infrastructure.  A variety of improvements to both passive and active intrusion detection mechanisms have been proposed, but most of these technologies and ideas still require validation in real-world configurations and use case scenarios.  This special session will focus on the following topics (contributions on related issues and problems are welcomed):  • Application based IDS • Artificial Intelligence based IDS • Attack signatures recognition • Cooperative Intrusion Detection • Data Mining based IDS • Fusion based IDS • Game Theory based IDS • IDS interoperability • IDS self-adaptation • IDS self-protection • Machine Learning based IDS • Real time intrusion detection • Scalability of intrusion detection architectures • Wireless based IDS Click here for more information.   Proposal submission of Workshops, Special Sessions and Tutorials Prospective organizers  should submit their proposals to organizers@est-2012.info with the following information included: 1. Title, summary description, key focus areas 2. Organizer's credentials and contact info Instructions for Organizers of Workshops and Special Sessions  The workshops and special sessions are an integral part of the EST conference.  The conference will be a combination of single track /plenary talks and multi-track sessions.  Most workshops will take place in parallel during the second day.  Most of the social program events will occur on the third day. Expectation for each workshop is to have 10-15 papers.  Special sessions would have 4-6 papers.  Paper presentations will be 20-30 minutes each (to be determined based on the total number of accepted papers and the final scheduling).  Invited talks could be 30-45 minutes each. Workshop Chairs can create a new dedicated page on the conference website (e-mail our web master for help) or can link to their own web site.  If hosted on this site, please include a navigation link on your pages to point back to the main conference homepage.  Otherwise, please provide the URL of the Workshop so that we can link to it from the main conference website. Special session information will appear on the EST main website. The Workshop website should include, at a minimum: • Workshop title • Organizers' names/affiliation • A short description of the workshop with a list of proposed topics to be covered Paper submissions will be through the main conference website - the submission form will allow authors to specify which workshop or special session the submission is targeted at.  Those submitting to the Workshop/Special Session will need to obtain a prior permission/invitation from the Workshop and Special Session Chair.  Otherwise, the papers in that area should be submitted to the main conference. Workshop and Special Session papers follow a similar review process, with 3 reviews per paper, but decision (threshold) for acceptance lies with the Workshop and Special Session chairs.  Accepted papers will be included in the proceedings published by  CSP.  Invited presentations are welcome even without a paper, but publication in the proceedings must follow the review process. The registration will be for the EST conference.  While participation in the entire event is expected, workshop attendees coming for the workshop session only could opt for the one day registration.