FastStack - evolutionary computing to stack desirable alleles in wheat. This project aims to investigate rapid development of new, high-yielding wheat varieties with appropriate disease resistance. An emerging challenge in wheat breeding is how to stack desirable alleles for disease resistance, drought, and end-use quality into new varieties with high yielding backgrounds in the shortest time. As the number of known desirable alleles for these traits increases, the number of possible crossing c ....FastStack - evolutionary computing to stack desirable alleles in wheat. This project aims to investigate rapid development of new, high-yielding wheat varieties with appropriate disease resistance. An emerging challenge in wheat breeding is how to stack desirable alleles for disease resistance, drought, and end-use quality into new varieties with high yielding backgrounds in the shortest time. As the number of known desirable alleles for these traits increases, the number of possible crossing combinations that need to be considered increases. This project aims to use evolutionary computing with speed breeding and genomic selection, in the partners breeding program, to address this challenge. Potential outcomes will lead to more profitable wheat varieties for Australian growers, and expanded exports to high value markets that require quality grain.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of piezoelectric metamaterials: Towards robotic stress sensors. This project aims to design new piezoelectric material microstructures that can enhance the measurement of complex local stress states within robotic limbs. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the achievable properties of multi-poled piezoelectric materials and develop computational tools for the analysis and structural optimisation of such materials. The designed microstructures may revolutionise piezoelec ....Optimisation of piezoelectric metamaterials: Towards robotic stress sensors. This project aims to design new piezoelectric material microstructures that can enhance the measurement of complex local stress states within robotic limbs. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the achievable properties of multi-poled piezoelectric materials and develop computational tools for the analysis and structural optimisation of such materials. The designed microstructures may revolutionise piezoelectric sensor technology. Expected outcomes include manufactured proof-of-concept sensors that enable measurement of local stress fields. This should provide significant benefits, such as improved future robot capability and reliability, and research training for next-generation Australian computational mathematicians. Read moreRead less
Stochastic majorization--minimization algorithms for data science. The changing nature of acquisition and storage data has made the process of drawing inference infeasible with traditional statistical and machine learning methods. Modern data are often acquired in real time, in an incremental nature, and are often available in too large a volume to process on conventional machinery. The project proposes to study the family of stochastic majorisation-minimisation algorithms for computation of inf ....Stochastic majorization--minimization algorithms for data science. The changing nature of acquisition and storage data has made the process of drawing inference infeasible with traditional statistical and machine learning methods. Modern data are often acquired in real time, in an incremental nature, and are often available in too large a volume to process on conventional machinery. The project proposes to study the family of stochastic majorisation-minimisation algorithms for computation of inferential quantities in an incremental manner. The proposed stochastic algorithms encompass and extend upon a wide variety of current algorithmic frameworks for fitting statistical and machine learning models, and can be used to produce feasible and practical algorithms for complex models, both current and future.
Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100923
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$348,575.00
Summary
Efficient second-order optimisation algorithms for learning from big data. This project aims to apply a diverse range of scientific computing techniques to design and implement new, second-order methods that can surpass first-order alternatives in the next generation of optimisation methods for large-scale machine learning (ML). Scalable optimisation methods are now an integral part ML in the presence of “big data”. While the development of efficient first-order methods has grown in the ML comm ....Efficient second-order optimisation algorithms for learning from big data. This project aims to apply a diverse range of scientific computing techniques to design and implement new, second-order methods that can surpass first-order alternatives in the next generation of optimisation methods for large-scale machine learning (ML). Scalable optimisation methods are now an integral part ML in the presence of “big data”. While the development of efficient first-order methods has grown in the ML community, second-order alternatives have largely been ignored. The project expects to facilitate the development of more effective ML algorithms for extraction of knowledge from large data sets.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101791
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$427,082.00
Summary
Mathematically optimal R&D for coral reef conservation. This project aims to develop mathematical methodologies for optimising Research & Development (R&D) of technologies that will secure complex and uncertain ecosystems into the future. Current conventional management approaches will not prevent the degradation of threatened ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef, so new technologies are needed. The biggest challenge in choosing these technologies is the long delay between development and depl ....Mathematically optimal R&D for coral reef conservation. This project aims to develop mathematical methodologies for optimising Research & Development (R&D) of technologies that will secure complex and uncertain ecosystems into the future. Current conventional management approaches will not prevent the degradation of threatened ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef, so new technologies are needed. The biggest challenge in choosing these technologies is the long delay between development and deployment, in which time ecosystem function may collapse and complex, dynamic ecological and social systems will change. The mathematical methods and theory developed will inform a Great Barrier Reef case study, and will be ready for rapid application to other ecosystems as the urgent need arises.Read moreRead less
Sustainable Mathematical Foundations: STEM-enriched Modelling . This longitudinal project aims to generate new knowledge on how sustainable, innovative mathematics learning can be fostered through STEM-enriched mathematical modelling across the early grades. Featuring interdisciplinary processes, including engineering and science, novel modelling sequences will prompt children to adapt their existing ways of mathematical thinking to develop conceptual innovations in solving future-oriented pr ....Sustainable Mathematical Foundations: STEM-enriched Modelling . This longitudinal project aims to generate new knowledge on how sustainable, innovative mathematics learning can be fostered through STEM-enriched mathematical modelling across the early grades. Featuring interdisciplinary processes, including engineering and science, novel modelling sequences will prompt children to adapt their existing ways of mathematical thinking to develop conceptual innovations in solving future-oriented problems. New theoretical and empirical frameworks are expected to transform our outmoded problem experiences to ones that challenge all children to reach their mathematical potential. Professional learning, informed by international collaboration, is expected to transcend existing teacher development modes.Read moreRead less
Multiliteracies for addressing disadvantage in senior school science. Multiliteracies for addressing disadvantage in senior school science. This project aims to develop discipline-specific pedagogies in senior physics, chemistry and biology to improve disadvantaged students’ engagement and achievement. Many students from disadvantaged backgrounds fail to develop the linguistic precision and symbolic representational dexterity needed to comprehend and communicate senior school science concepts. T ....Multiliteracies for addressing disadvantage in senior school science. Multiliteracies for addressing disadvantage in senior school science. This project aims to develop discipline-specific pedagogies in senior physics, chemistry and biology to improve disadvantaged students’ engagement and achievement. Many students from disadvantaged backgrounds fail to develop the linguistic precision and symbolic representational dexterity needed to comprehend and communicate senior school science concepts. These pedagogies will ‘infuse’ multiliteracies in senior school science to improve access to science-based pathways for these students, and enable them to understand progressively more complex scientific concepts and demonstrate this in examinations. This project is expected to improve student retention, arrest declining enrolments in senior school science, and increase young people working in science.Read moreRead less
Talking Maths: Bridging the gap through talk in Early Years mathematics . The study aims to address the gap in mathematical performance in Australia in relation to socioeconomic status (SES) by focusing on language and learning in mathematics. The study will design and evaluate a school-based intervention that positions language through talk as a key resource in teaching mathematics in Grades 1 and 2. Outcomes of the study will be empirical evidence of the effect of a language-based pedagogy on ....Talking Maths: Bridging the gap through talk in Early Years mathematics . The study aims to address the gap in mathematical performance in Australia in relation to socioeconomic status (SES) by focusing on language and learning in mathematics. The study will design and evaluate a school-based intervention that positions language through talk as a key resource in teaching mathematics in Grades 1 and 2. Outcomes of the study will be empirical evidence of the effect of a language-based pedagogy on young students' achievement in mathematics and further understanding of the relationship between talk and learning. These outcomes will inform policy and teacher education and have a long lasting impact on low SES students' educational and work opportunities with ultimate impact on economic and cultural prosperity.
Read moreRead less
Enabling students' critical mathematical thinking. The capacity to use mathematics critically is essential for making prudent decisions and forming balanced judgements about economic, health, environmental and other challenges facing society. Developing Critical Mathematical Thinking (CMT) in the classroom provides students with the necessary skills to address complex real-world problems. Fostering CMT, however, is difficult and teaching practices around its development are under-researched and ....Enabling students' critical mathematical thinking. The capacity to use mathematics critically is essential for making prudent decisions and forming balanced judgements about economic, health, environmental and other challenges facing society. Developing Critical Mathematical Thinking (CMT) in the classroom provides students with the necessary skills to address complex real-world problems. Fostering CMT, however, is difficult and teaching practices around its development are under-researched and under-theorised. This study aims to generate new insight into teaching practices that can promote or inhibit students' CMT development. To address this aim, we use an innovative video-based methodology that integrates researcher and teacher perspectives on students' CMT development.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101782
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$343,475.00
Summary
Enhancing critical reading with migrant and refugee-background youth. This project investigates how migrant and refugee-background youth learn to read critically in school, and in everyday, out-of-school contexts. Youth engage in the complex online worlds of websites, Apps, digital gaming and other media, posing both opportunities and risks. Their challenge is navigating learning to read English, and to read critically in English. Using qualitative methods, this study will identify the critical ....Enhancing critical reading with migrant and refugee-background youth. This project investigates how migrant and refugee-background youth learn to read critically in school, and in everyday, out-of-school contexts. Youth engage in the complex online worlds of websites, Apps, digital gaming and other media, posing both opportunities and risks. Their challenge is navigating learning to read English, and to read critically in English. Using qualitative methods, this study will identify the critical reading practices of these youth, and create resources to enhance their critical reading skills out-of-school. Drawing connections between in and out of school reading benefits migrant and refugee-background youth and teachers to strategically manage critical reading in complex, contemporary reading environments.Read moreRead less