*Call for Papers* *28th International Workshop on* *Evolutionary Rule-based Machine Learning* *IWERL 2025 (formerly IWLCS)* *to be held as part of GECCO (July 14 - 18, 2025) in Málaga, Spain (online participation possible)* Modern machine learning systems offer significant potential for addressing real-world challenges. However, the decision-making process of the majority of these models is often difficult to interpret. The interpretability of decisions is critical in many real-world applications. Evolutionary rule-based machine learning (ERL) systems generate niche-based solutions, require less memory, and can be trained using comparatively small data sets. The decision-making process of the ERL systems is interpretable, which is an important step toward eXplainable AI (XAI). ERL methods have been developed using a diverse array of learning paradigms, including supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. ERL encompasses several prominent categories, such as Learning Classifier Systems, Ant-Miner, artificial immune systems, and fuzzy rule-based systems. The International Workshop on Evolutionary Rule-based Machine Learning (IWERL) is designed to provide a platform for sharing the research trends in the realm of ERL. It aims to highlight modern implementations of ERL systems for real-world applications and to show the effectiveness of ERL in creating flexible and eXplainable AI systems. The particular topics of interest of this workshop are (not exclusively): * *Advances in ERL methods* local models, problem space partitioning, rule mixing, . . . * *Applications of ERL* medical domains, bioinformatics, computer vision, games, cyber-physical systems, . . . * *State-of-the-art analysis* surveys, sound comparative experimental benchmarks, carefully crafted reproducibility studies, . . . * *Formal developments in ERL* provably optimal parametrization, time bounds, generalization, . . . * *Comprehensibility of evolved rule sets* knowledge extraction, visualization, interpretation of decisions, XAI, . . . * *Advances in ERL paradigms* Michigan/Pittsburgh style, hybrids, iterative rule learning, . . . * *Hyperparameter optimization for ERL* hyperparameter selection, online self-adaptation, . . . * *Optimizations and parallel implementations *GPU acceleration, matching algorithms, . . . * *Generative AI and LLMs in ERL *Integration of generative models and LLMs with ERL, . . . *Submission deadline:*    *March 26, 2025* Decision notification:      April 28, 2025 Camera-ready deadline:    May 5, 2025 *Why submit to IWERL ’25?* * reviews by renowned ERL experts <https://iwlcs.organic-computing.de/#h.781mdcew0850> * published as part of the *GECCO* conference companion * usually online within one month after the conference *Submissions* * This workshop accepts two types of submissions: o regular papers (up to 8 pages excl. references) on novel research o extended abstracts (up to 2 pages excl. references) summarizing, showcasing and/or highlighting your recent, already-published, work on ERL * All submissions must conform to the GECCO submission instructions <https://gecco-2024.sigevo.org/Paper-Submission-Instructions> and be submitted via GECCO’s submission system <https://ssl.linklings.net/conferences/gecco/>. *Workshop organization* * Abubakar Siddique, Wellington Institute of Technology, New Zealand * Michael Heider, University of Augsburg, Germany * Hiroki Shiraishi, Yokohama National University, Japan More information at https://iwlcs.organic-computing.de. <https://iwlcs.organic-computing.de/>