Communications of the ACM Arab World Regional Special Section CFP

Communications of the ACM (CACM), the flagship magazine of the Association for Computing Machinery, has launched Regional Special Sections to cover computing research and innovations from around the world, with roughly one such section being published every quarter. The first CACM Arab World Regional Special Section appeared in April 2021.

It is our pleasure to announce that a CACM Arab World Regional Special Section is scheduled to appear in 2025, where it will include about 10 to 15 articles, one to five pages each. This is a wonderful opportunity to tell the world about the unique and influential activities happening in the Arab world. CACM is a magazine with articles that provide an overview of broad topics, highlighting their impact and directing interested readers to more detailed articles and sources found elsewhere. 

Topics of interest include:

1. Computing research highlights: State-of-the-art computing research undertaken in the Arab world in areas including but not limited to Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, NLP, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Data Science, Quantum Computing, Networking, Security, Mobile, Sensors, HCI, and Green Computing. Articles with a theme that has special relevance to the region are likely to be more suitable than those presenting narrow research results. Descriptions of prestigious and traditional regional conferences, schools, and other research related activities are welcomed.

2. Arab world education: Significant efforts in the Arab world related to education with interesting computing aspects. 

3. Industry and startups: Opportunities and challenges in the industry and startups in the Arab world.

4. Societal impact using technology: The Arab world is home to a large number of societal challenges in many areas such as health, energy, transportation, and economic development. Examples of making a significant impact on society through the use of computing should be of interest to a global audience.

5. Government and digital technology: The Arab world has seen a number of experiments in the use of computing technologies by governments and other institutions that would empower the population at large. Experiences and learning from these efforts will be ideal to be featured in the Arab world section.

If you would like to contribute, please follow the abstract submission instructions here (*) by November 1st, 2024. Your abstract will be reviewed by a committee of experts, who will select a subset of the submitted abstracts for invitation to a full paper. The selection criteria will first consider the submission quality. Then, among high quality submissions, the reviewing committee will strive to achieve a diverse program including geographical and topic diversity. Based on topic similarity, the reviewing committee may ask several authors of different abstracts to coordinate and co-edit one full paper together. The full paper will be reviewed for a final decision by the organizing committee as well as the ACM.

Important Dates:

• Abstract submission: November 1st, 2024

• Decision and articles invited for CACM Arab World Regional Special Section: December 15th, 2024

• First draft of full articles deadline: February 1st, 2025 

• Decision on draft of full articles deadline: March 1st, 2025 

• Final draft of full articles deadline: March 7th, 2025 

CACM Arab World Regional Special Section Organizing Committee:

Moustafa Youssef, American University in Cairo, Egypt (Co-host)

Mourad Ouzzani, Qatar Computing Research Institute, HBKU, Qatar (Co-host)

Sherif G. Aly, American University in Cairo, Egypt (Co-host)

Cherif Salama, American University in Cairo, Egypt (Co-Organizer)

(*) Abstract Submission Instructions:
https://sites.google.com/aucegypt.edu/cacmarabia/submission