Generative Visual Pre-training on Unlabelled Big Data. This project aims to develop a generative visual pre-training of large-scale deep neural networks on unlabelled big data. Developing pre-trained visual models that are accurate, robust, and efficient for downstream tasks is a keystone of modern computer vision, but it poses challenges and knowledge gaps to existing unsupervised representation learning. Expected outcomes include new theories and algorithms for unsupervised visual pre-training ....Generative Visual Pre-training on Unlabelled Big Data. This project aims to develop a generative visual pre-training of large-scale deep neural networks on unlabelled big data. Developing pre-trained visual models that are accurate, robust, and efficient for downstream tasks is a keystone of modern computer vision, but it poses challenges and knowledge gaps to existing unsupervised representation learning. Expected outcomes include new theories and algorithms for unsupervised visual pre-training, which are anticipated to deepen our understanding of visual representation and make it easier to build and deploy computer vision applications and services. Examples of benefits include modernising machines in manufacturing and farming with visual intelligence. Read moreRead less
Exploiting Geometries of Learning for Fast, Adaptive and Robust AI. This project aims to uniquely exploit geometric manifolds in deep learning to advance the frontier of Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and applications in cybersecurity and general cognitive tasks. It expects to develop new theories, algorithms, tools, and technologies for machine learning systems that are fast, adaptive, lifelong and robust, even with limited supervision. Expected outcomes will enhance Australia's capabili ....Exploiting Geometries of Learning for Fast, Adaptive and Robust AI. This project aims to uniquely exploit geometric manifolds in deep learning to advance the frontier of Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and applications in cybersecurity and general cognitive tasks. It expects to develop new theories, algorithms, tools, and technologies for machine learning systems that are fast, adaptive, lifelong and robust, even with limited supervision. Expected outcomes will enhance Australia's capability and competitiveness in AI, and deliver robust and trustworthy learning technology. The project should provide significant benefits not only in advancing scientific and translational knowledge but also in accelerating AI innovations, safeguarding cyberspace, and reducing the burden on defence expenses in Australia.Read moreRead less
Advancing future primary teachers' engagement in science inquiry learning. Australia's challenges in regard to scientific literacy and growth of student enrolments in science need to be addressed at multiple levels, starting with the preparation of future primary teachers. Promoting children's early interest in inquiry-based science is essential, yet a challenge for many teachers. This project examines the complex and dynamic interplay of cognitive, metacognitive and emotional processes in futur ....Advancing future primary teachers' engagement in science inquiry learning. Australia's challenges in regard to scientific literacy and growth of student enrolments in science need to be addressed at multiple levels, starting with the preparation of future primary teachers. Promoting children's early interest in inquiry-based science is essential, yet a challenge for many teachers. This project examines the complex and dynamic interplay of cognitive, metacognitive and emotional processes in future primary teachers' engagement in collaborative inquiry-based science activities. A comprehensive intervention based on these insights aims to determine how scaffolding productive engagement can improve the quality of primary teachers' preparation for inquiry-based science.Read moreRead less
Individual Differences in Orientations to Risk and Uncertainty. The main goal of this research project is to extend and integrate three individual-differences approaches to predicting and explaining human judgement and decision making (JDM) and risk-taking behaviours (RTB) under uncertainty: Cognitive-capacity, preferences and dispositions, and dual cognitive process approaches. It will achieve this by studying the joint impact of cognitive style, capacities, and RTB/JDM dispositions on performa ....Individual Differences in Orientations to Risk and Uncertainty. The main goal of this research project is to extend and integrate three individual-differences approaches to predicting and explaining human judgement and decision making (JDM) and risk-taking behaviours (RTB) under uncertainty: Cognitive-capacity, preferences and dispositions, and dual cognitive process approaches. It will achieve this by studying the joint impact of cognitive style, capacities, and RTB/JDM dispositions on performance in appropriate JDM tasks. JDM and RTB are at the root of managing uncertainty, human adaptiveness and rationality. This project will also extend our knowledge of gender differences in JDM and RTB, and lay foundations for systematic cross-cultural studies on this topic.Read moreRead less
Equity and spatial reasoning in students’ mathematics development. The project aims to understand the influence of Spatial-Reasoning on school mathematics. Spatial-Reasoning skills are a significant predictor of achievement in mathematics, and will become increasingly necessary in digital and dynamic environments. Opportunities for disadvantaged students to develop such reasoning skills are limited; they are typically not taught in schools. The project investigates the role and nature of Spatial ....Equity and spatial reasoning in students’ mathematics development. The project aims to understand the influence of Spatial-Reasoning on school mathematics. Spatial-Reasoning skills are a significant predictor of achievement in mathematics, and will become increasingly necessary in digital and dynamic environments. Opportunities for disadvantaged students to develop such reasoning skills are limited; they are typically not taught in schools. The project investigates the role and nature of Spatial-Reasoning in students’ mathematics development; and substantiates the long-term effect of a spatial learning programme on educationally disadvantaged students’ mathematics performance and reasoning. This project is expected to improve disadvantaged students’ spatial reasoning and mathematics skills and their life opportunities.Read moreRead less
Face recognition: Properties and origins of whole-face processing. Humans identify other individuals almost entirely by their faces. Correspondingly, research has demonstrated a "special" style of cognitive processing that is unique to faces (at least in ordinary adults). The present project will address two major theoretical issues: (1) the exact nature of the special processing for faces, and (2) the extent to which it is innate, or learned. New progress in understanding these issues will be m ....Face recognition: Properties and origins of whole-face processing. Humans identify other individuals almost entirely by their faces. Correspondingly, research has demonstrated a "special" style of cognitive processing that is unique to faces (at least in ordinary adults). The present project will address two major theoretical issues: (1) the exact nature of the special processing for faces, and (2) the extent to which it is innate, or learned. New progress in understanding these issues will be made using a series of novel experimental techniques. These techniques isolate the specific contribution of the face recognition system, independent of contributions from object recognition, and from early visual processing.Read moreRead less
Special cognitive processing for faces: Expertise effects, and links to neural mechanisms. Humans identify other individuals primarily by their faces. Evidence from cognitive psychology indicates a special 'whole-face' (as opposed to part-based) style of processing for upright faces. This project will provide new insights into two long-standing issues about the origin of special face processing: (1) whether it derives from generic expert recognition processes or has some face-specific innate co ....Special cognitive processing for faces: Expertise effects, and links to neural mechanisms. Humans identify other individuals primarily by their faces. Evidence from cognitive psychology indicates a special 'whole-face' (as opposed to part-based) style of processing for upright faces. This project will provide new insights into two long-standing issues about the origin of special face processing: (1) whether it derives from generic expert recognition processes or has some face-specific innate component; and (2) the extent to which it can be distinguished from part-based processing at the neural level using both functional brain imaging (fMRI) and adaptation to distorted faces.Read moreRead less
Language processing in children with high functioning autism: Evidence from eye tracking. The language abilities in people with autism predict their response to intervention and their cognitive outcome. Young children with autism with poor language abilities are severely disadvantaged. Yet we understand little about what impedes their language development and their interpretation of what others say. The research findings will make a significant contribution by enriching our understanding of why ....Language processing in children with high functioning autism: Evidence from eye tracking. The language abilities in people with autism predict their response to intervention and their cognitive outcome. Young children with autism with poor language abilities are severely disadvantaged. Yet we understand little about what impedes their language development and their interpretation of what others say. The research findings will make a significant contribution by enriching our understanding of why and how comprehension may go astray, as well as helping us to identify subgroups within the autism population.Read moreRead less
Trauma memory and narrative structure in post-traumatic distress. The project enhances understanding of factors that maintain enduring distress and disability following traumatic experiences which have major social and financial costs to individuals, communities and to the nation. Better knowledge of these factors is central to improving early detection and refining prevention and early intervention for individuals and to help understand how communities can better manage their response to sever ....Trauma memory and narrative structure in post-traumatic distress. The project enhances understanding of factors that maintain enduring distress and disability following traumatic experiences which have major social and financial costs to individuals, communities and to the nation. Better knowledge of these factors is central to improving early detection and refining prevention and early intervention for individuals and to help understand how communities can better manage their response to severe traumatic events. The results may lead to significant refinements to efficacious psychological treatments involving exposure to emotional memories. The project's innovative approach to studying autobiographical memories will enhance Australia's internationally competitiveness in a key area within psychology.Read moreRead less
Processing mathematics tasks: the nature and role of visual and non-visual reasoning in digital and non-digital environments. Within the next four years, it is likely that the National Assessment Plan for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will be administered in a digital mode. This project identifies differences between the delivery of mathematics assessment in pencil-and-paper and computer-based modes. Primary students' mathematics reasoning is compared across these modes and to cohorts from Sing ....Processing mathematics tasks: the nature and role of visual and non-visual reasoning in digital and non-digital environments. Within the next four years, it is likely that the National Assessment Plan for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will be administered in a digital mode. This project identifies differences between the delivery of mathematics assessment in pencil-and-paper and computer-based modes. Primary students' mathematics reasoning is compared across these modes and to cohorts from Singapore.Read moreRead less