The 27th International Conference on Information Fusion (FUSION 2024), ISIF's premier annual event, recently concluded in the historic and picturesque city of Venice, Italy. Held from July 7th to 11th, 2024, this marked a welcome return to Italy for the conference, building on the success of the 2006 Florence edition. FUSION 2024 served as a vital gathering point for the global Information Fusion community, offering a dynamic environment to share pioneering research, exchange valuable insights, and strengthen collaborations.
Hosted at the San Giobbe Campus of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, the conference location provided a beautiful backdrop for the week's activities. Organizing a large international conference in Venice during early July presented unique logistical considerations, all of which were managed through the dedicated efforts and exceptional teamwork of the organizing committee.
A Thriving Community Gathers
FUSION 2024 was marked by significant participation, drawing 444 attendees. This strong turnout positioned the conference as the third largest in FUSION history, a testament to the event's standing and the appeal of the venue. Efforts in managing the online presence, registration, and social media were instrumental in achieving this notable attendance.
Engaging Pre-Conference Events
The conference week began on Sunday, July 7th, with two key events. The ISBA-ISIF 2024 Joint Workshop, held in coordination with the International Society for Bayesian Analysis (ISBA), featured a compelling keynote by Prof. Michael Jordan and lectures by other leading experts. Running concurrently was the 2nd Fusion Bootcamp, designed to provide a solid introduction to the field of information fusion for students and researchers new to the area or exploring adjacent disciplines.
Monday, July 8th, offered a comprehensive deep dive into advanced topics through a robust tutorial program. 13 half-day and three full-day tutorials covered a wide range of subjects, from target tracking and high-level information exploitation to quantum computing and machine learning. The day concluded with a pleasant Icebreaker Reception in the gardens of San Giobbe, providing an initial opportunity for attendees to connect.
Technical Program and Key Presentations
The core technical program unfolded from July 9th to 11th, featuring three full days packed with presentations and discussions. Each day commenced with an inspiring plenary session delivered by a world-renowned speaker: Prof. Nello Cristianini (University of Bath) spoke on machine intelligence, Simone Severini (Amazon AWS) discussed quantum technologies, and Prof. Thomas Schön (Uppsala University) presented on probabilistic inferencing.
The technical program itself was the result of a rigorous review process. Out of 357 submissions, 262 high-quality papers were accepted and presented. The program also included 11 specialized special sessions, allowing focused exploration of emerging and specific areas within Information Fusion.
Community and Social Highlights
Beyond the technical sessions, FUSION 2024 offered memorable social events that fostered community spirit. The Welcome Reception at the historic Hotel Monaco provided a relaxed setting for networking, while the Gala Dinner at the elegant Excelsior Hotel on Lido Island offered a grand evening celebration.
A traditional and much-anticipated event, the FUSION 5K race, took place with a unique setting this year on the Ponte della Libertà, offering stunning views connecting Venice to the mainland. Congratulations to the winners, Remi Carloni Gertosio and Helena de Villiers!
Recognizing Excellence
The conference celebrated outstanding contributions during the awards program at the Gala Dinner. The Jean-Pierre Le Cadre Best Paper Award was presented to Andrey Popov and Renato Zanetti, with two runner-up papers also recognized. The Tammy Blair Best Student Paper Award was awarded to Kyle Craft and Kyle DeMars, with two runner-up student papers highlighted. ISIF also presented two significant awards: the ISIF Yaakov Bar-Shalom Award for a Lifetime of Excellence in Information Fusion to Peter Willett, and the ISIF Young Investigator Award to Domenico Gaglione. The evening was further enriched by a special banquet address from Alfonso Farina.
Acknowledgements
The successful execution of FUSION 2024 was a collaborative effort. Many thanks go to the main sponsors, ISIF and IEEE AESS, as well as academic and corporate sponsors.
Most importantly, special thanks go to all the participants whose presence and contributions made FUSION 2024 a vibrant and successful conference.