Publications

Algorithmic decision theory is a new interdisciplinary research area that aims to bring together researchers from different fields such as decision theory, discrete mathematics, theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence, in order to improve decision support in the presence of massive databases, combinatorial structures, partial and/or uncertain information and distributed, possibly interoperating, decision makers. Such problems arise in several real-world decision-making scenarios such as humanitarian logistics, epidemiology, risk assessment and management, e-government, electronic commerce, and recommender systems. This volume contains the papers presented at ADT 2009, the first International Conference on Algorithmic Decision Theory. The conference was held in San Servolo on October 20-23, 2009. The program of the conference included oral presentations, posters, invited talks, and tutorials. The topic of the papers range from computational social choice to preference modeling, from uncertainty to preference learning, from multi-criteria decision making to game theory.

Proceedings of the International Workshop “Built Heritage: Fire Loss to Historic Building”, which took place in Varna, Bulgaria on 9-11 September 2004.

The issue of corporate responsibilities has had a tumultuous history at the United Nations. When the Human Rights Council unanimously endorsed John Ruggie’s Guiding Principles in June 2011, it was the first time that the UN stated authoritatively its expectations in the area of business and human rights. This volume captures this special moment in time: a moment of taking stock of a successfully concluded UN Special Representative mandate (2005–2011) and of preparing for the massive task of following up with more operational guidance, effective governance mechanisms and sound theoretical treatments.

The 12 chapters in this collection offer an in-depth analysis of Ruggie’s reports with a special emphasis on regulatory and governance issues surrounding corporate responsibility. How does international human rights law handle corporations? Are we beginning to grasp the complexities and impacts of financial markets on human rights? What kind of corporate due diligence can make supply chains more socially sustainable? Why should parent companies act when their affiliates infringe rights? What is the potential of national human rights institutions in the area of business and human rights? What is the role of states and law in the social change process promoted by the corporate responsibility movement? How do we ‘orchestrate’ polycentric governance regimes to ensure respect for human rights?

Academics and practitioners, policymakers, business executives, civil society activists and legal professionals will find this collection useful as they embark on the difficult but exciting journey of refining and contextualising Ruggie’s foundational work.

Abstracts of the 2005 Conference on COST Action E23 “Biotechnology for Pulp and Paper Manufacture: From Tailor-Made Biocatalysts to Mill Application” which took place in Baiona (Pontevedra, Spain) on 26-29 April 2005.