To deal with the increasing complexity of large-scale computer and software systems, they must manage themselves, in accordance with high-level guidance from humans – a vision that has been referred to as autonomic computing. Meeting the grand challenges of autonomic computing requires scientific and technological advances in a wide variety of fields, as well as new software and system architectures that support the effective integration of the constituent technologies.

The purpose of the 3rd International Conference on Autonomic Computing is to bring together researchers from different fields of research who are addressing aspects of self-management in computing systems. In doing so, we hope to develop and nurture a community that can work together to realize the vision of large-scale self-managing systems. Papers are solicited on a broad array of topics of relevance to autonomic computing; particularly those that bear on connections and relationships among different areas of research or report on prototype systems or experiences. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Accepted papers and posters will appear in proceedings published by IEEE Computer Society Press, which will be distributed at the conference.

A student best paper award will be presented. It will consist of a plaque, complementary student registration to the conference and an honorarium that will partially cover travel & hotel costs. A student paper is defined as one in which the principal (not sole) author is a student. The student will be required attend the conference to present the paper and receive the award.

ICAC 2006 will feature a demo and exhibit session consisting of prototypes and technology artifacts such as demonstrating autonomic software or autonomic computing principles. A separate call for demonstrations and exhibits will be issued. Entries will be judged by a separate subcommittee led by the demo/exhibit chair.

ICAC 2006 will feature tutorials on topics related to autonomic computing. Proposals for half-day (three hours) and full day tutorials are solicited. Entries will be judged by a separate subcommittee, headed by the tutorial chair.

ICAC 2006 will feature workshops on topics related to autonomic computing. The objectives of the workshops are to promote the presentation of ongoing work in the area of autonomic computing, provide a less formal forum for discussion of ideas and extend the scope of the main conference. Proposals for half-day and full day workshops are solicited. Entries will be judged by a separate subcommittee, headed by the workshop chair. Please see the conference web site for more information.