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M.Sc. distance learning course on "Modal Logics and Description Logics", Deadline: 20 Feb 2015

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                       University of Manchester

                MSc distance learning course/module on
                 MODAL LOGICS AND DESCRIPTION LOGICS


               Registration Deadline: 20 February 2015
http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/study/professional-development/study-options/distance-learning/atcs/course-modules/comp71130/


SUMMARY
   For many applications, specific domain knowledge is required.
   Instead of coding such knowledge into a specific system in a way
   that it can never be changed (hidden in the overall implementation),
   different logic-based formalisms for representing different kinds of
   knowledge have been developed in the last 50 years. They differ in
   what kind of statements one can make using them, in what kind of
   conclusions can be drawn from them, and how computationally costly
   this drawing of conclusions is.

   In this module, we discuss some of these approaches, namely
   modal logics and description logics. Description logics are mainly
   designed to represent and reason about the terminology of an
   application domain and form the logical underpinning of the Semantic
   Web ontology language OWL.  Modal logics can be used to represent
   and reason about the behaviour of systems, for example agent based
   systems. For both logics, automated reasoning tools have been
   developed to answer queries about the knowledge representation
   explicitly. This can be used, for example, to ensure the quality of
   a knowledge base or access data in a flexible, intelligent way.

   This module provides an introduction to various modal and
   description logics, how to formalise knowledge and questions about
   this knowledge in these logics, different approaches to automated
   reasoning for these logics, and the relationship between these
   logics and first-order logic.

   The module aims to provide students with:

     * an understanding of
         - different kinds of knowledge and the logics developed to
           represent this kind of knowledge
         - syntax and semantics of various logics and standard
           reasoning problems
         - different techniques for automated reasoning for these logics
         - the relationship between modal, description, and first-order
           logic.
     * the ability to formalise knowledge within these logics, to
       translate between these logics, and to apply the reasoning
       techniques to solve standard reasoning problem, and
     * the ability to use various automated reasoning tools to reason
       about knowledge represented in these logics.

PRE-REQUISITES
   An understanding of the basic notions of discrete mathematics (sets,
   operations on sets (intersection, union, ...), relations and their
   properties (being transitive, symmetric, etc), functions, graphs,
   etc) is required. It would be helpful if you had some knowledge of
   Boolean logic (aka propositional logic) or first order logic (aka
   predicate logic), but is not a requirement. Almost any
   introductory level textbook on Artificial Intelligence, Knowledge
   Representation, Logic, Foundations of Computer Science provides an
   introduction to both.

   This module is entirely web-based, so a reliable internet connection
   is essential.

MORE INFORMATION
   A detailed module outline, learning outcomes, assessment information
   is available from the module website.

REGISTRATION
   To register please send an email to emma.flynn@manchester.ac.uk.
   Please address any questions also to this address.

   The fee for modules for the 2014/15 academic year is 1275 GBP.

IMPORTANT DATES & INFORMATION
   Registration deadline:   20 February 2015
   Course Start Date:       Week of 23 February 2015
   Duration:                16 weeks
   Required Time per Week:  8-10 hours

COURSE TEACHERS
   Uli Sattler
   Renate Schmidt