Democratisation of Deep Learning: Neural Architecture Search at Low Cost. The need to manually design Deep Learning-based Neural Networks (DNNs) limits their usage to AI experts and hinders the exploitation of their true potential more broadly, e.g., in farming, humanities. We aim to replace this tedious process through novel AI methods capable of generating DNNs that can perform significantly better and at a lower computational cost than manually designed DNNs. We further expand this idea to so ....Democratisation of Deep Learning: Neural Architecture Search at Low Cost. The need to manually design Deep Learning-based Neural Networks (DNNs) limits their usage to AI experts and hinders the exploitation of their true potential more broadly, e.g., in farming, humanities. We aim to replace this tedious process through novel AI methods capable of generating DNNs that can perform significantly better and at a lower computational cost than manually designed DNNs. We further expand this idea to solve complex real-world problems with both labelled and unlabelled data found in various applications including energy and climate change. The expected outcomes include the novel AI methods, highly trained AI researchers and a number of critical applications that will bring significant benefits to Australia and the world.Read moreRead less
A novel and efficient approach for optimisation involving iterative solvers. Computationally expensive simulations involving iterative solvers are increasingly being used in industry to assess performance of products and processes. Repeated use of such simulations is necessary to identify optimum solutions. Even with today's computing power, many such tasks remain computationally prohibitive. This project presents a novel approach to solve optimisation problems involving iterative solvers with l ....A novel and efficient approach for optimisation involving iterative solvers. Computationally expensive simulations involving iterative solvers are increasingly being used in industry to assess performance of products and processes. Repeated use of such simulations is necessary to identify optimum solutions. Even with today's computing power, many such tasks remain computationally prohibitive. This project presents a novel approach to solve optimisation problems involving iterative solvers with limited computing budget. A wide range of industries involved in product and process design would gain a significant competitive advantage from this unique technical innovation. In addition, this technology will be invaluable to uncover and understand complex natural phenomena.Read moreRead less
Adaptive modelling of human responses in complex interaction. This project aims to combine strengths of human cognition and evolutionary computing to efficiently solve problems which neither can do alone. The project will develop techniques combining advanced non-intrusive sensor measures of behaviour and emotional reaction in interaction tasks to enable high level computer support for human goal seeking, in complex data and design environments. This project will allow non-expert users to use to ....Adaptive modelling of human responses in complex interaction. This project aims to combine strengths of human cognition and evolutionary computing to efficiently solve problems which neither can do alone. The project will develop techniques combining advanced non-intrusive sensor measures of behaviour and emotional reaction in interaction tasks to enable high level computer support for human goal seeking, in complex data and design environments. This project will allow non-expert users to use tools normally requiring extensive training in settings where the user can 'see' when they get something they like but do not know how to instruct a computer system to show or do it. Applications of the project will include visualisation for bespoke manufacturing or for high dimensional data, generating abstract art, or improving teleconferencing systems.Read moreRead less
Hybridisation leading to lost sex: genomic and experimental insights. The project intends to apply advanced genomics to two classic Australian systems and quantitative genetics to one to address long-standing questions about why asexual reproduction is rare. It aims to test for rapid changes in genomes accompanying hybrid-origins of asexuals and whether this new diversity enables their ongoing evolution. The significance is that support for this hypothesis would challenge current theory for why ....Hybridisation leading to lost sex: genomic and experimental insights. The project intends to apply advanced genomics to two classic Australian systems and quantitative genetics to one to address long-standing questions about why asexual reproduction is rare. It aims to test for rapid changes in genomes accompanying hybrid-origins of asexuals and whether this new diversity enables their ongoing evolution. The significance is that support for this hypothesis would challenge current theory for why sex is so common. The expected outcome is to understand how variation is generated in natural populations with different ways of reproducing. Benefits would include significant contributions to global science, evolutionary training and potential applications in using hybridisation to manage threatened species or pests.Read moreRead less
Conservation genomics of a critically endangered insect. This project aims to develop tools genotyping large animal genomes, focusing on the case of the Lord Howe Island stick insect, once thought to be extinct and now critically endangered. This project expects to generate molecular tools to monitor the genetic health the insect which has a large, complex and poorly understood genome. Expected outcomes include the development of a preservation and reintroduction strategy for the insect. This pr ....Conservation genomics of a critically endangered insect. This project aims to develop tools genotyping large animal genomes, focusing on the case of the Lord Howe Island stick insect, once thought to be extinct and now critically endangered. This project expects to generate molecular tools to monitor the genetic health the insect which has a large, complex and poorly understood genome. Expected outcomes include the development of a preservation and reintroduction strategy for the insect. This project will benefit ongoing conservation efforts, and is timely given the ongoing eradication of rats from Lord Howe Island where this species once lived. Read moreRead less
Understanding climate and harvest induced changes in fish life histories. This project aims to quantify the cumulative impacts of harvest and climate change across marine fishes and ecosystems. The project expects to generate new knowledge in this area by coupling the rich biological information archived in fish ear bones, with targeted multi-generation experiments and predictive modelling. Expected outcomes include fundamental insights into how human-induced environmental change affects fish gr ....Understanding climate and harvest induced changes in fish life histories. This project aims to quantify the cumulative impacts of harvest and climate change across marine fishes and ecosystems. The project expects to generate new knowledge in this area by coupling the rich biological information archived in fish ear bones, with targeted multi-generation experiments and predictive modelling. Expected outcomes include fundamental insights into how human-induced environmental change affects fish growth and maturation, and a subsequent critical evaluation of the sensitivity of fisheries models to trends in these life-history traits. This should provide significant benefits to fisheries and ecosystem management, ensuring they remain productive and resilient in a time of rapid environmental change.Read moreRead less
Building Australia's next-generation ocean-sea ice model. Ocean and sea ice models are used for predicting future ocean and climate states, and for climate process research. This project aims to bring the next generation of ocean-sea ice models to Australia and configure the models for our local priorities. The ultimate goal is to create a new coupled ocean-sea ice model for Australia that includes surface waves and biogeochemistry. The model will be optimised and evaluated on Australian facilit ....Building Australia's next-generation ocean-sea ice model. Ocean and sea ice models are used for predicting future ocean and climate states, and for climate process research. This project aims to bring the next generation of ocean-sea ice models to Australia and configure the models for our local priorities. The ultimate goal is to create a new coupled ocean-sea ice model for Australia that includes surface waves and biogeochemistry. The model will be optimised and evaluated on Australian facilities, and released for community use. These developments underpin future ocean state forecasts, sea ice forecasts, wave forecasts, decadal climate prediction and climate process studies. The project will benefit search and rescue, Defence and shipping operations, and will enhance future climate projections.Read moreRead less
Drivers of phenotypic evolution in a vulnerable alpine ecosystem. This project aims to deliver a comprehensive, integrated understanding of the capacity for resilience and drivers of response of highly vulnerable alpine species and communities to climate change. The project aims to determine how communities of interacting alpine plants, soil invertebrates and microbes can cope with or evolve to novel climatic conditions. The mountains are water towers critical to power supply and Australia's agr ....Drivers of phenotypic evolution in a vulnerable alpine ecosystem. This project aims to deliver a comprehensive, integrated understanding of the capacity for resilience and drivers of response of highly vulnerable alpine species and communities to climate change. The project aims to determine how communities of interacting alpine plants, soil invertebrates and microbes can cope with or evolve to novel climatic conditions. The mountains are water towers critical to power supply and Australia's agricultural productivity. Understanding physiological tolerance and the potential for rapid evolutionary responses of plants, animals and communities is necessary to predict impacts of climate change on the future productivity of the vulnerable Australian Alps and to provide novel options for climate adaptation. Read moreRead less