Generalised quantum models of complexity with application to cognitive systems. Non-separable systems surround us. Our transportation, taxation, schooling, environmental and social policies are all interrelated, and it is increasingly recognised that we cannot consider them in isolation. Such systems are generally deemed complex, and it is often impossible to separate them from one another. Despite this, many of our most advanced modelling techniques are grounded in principles of separability a ....Generalised quantum models of complexity with application to cognitive systems. Non-separable systems surround us. Our transportation, taxation, schooling, environmental and social policies are all interrelated, and it is increasingly recognised that we cannot consider them in isolation. Such systems are generally deemed complex, and it is often impossible to separate them from one another. Despite this, many of our most advanced modelling techniques are grounded in principles of separability and non-contextuality. This project will develop a new set of models of non-separable systems and complexity that will in turn lead to new frontier technologies and theories.Read moreRead less
Investigating evidence of control system dynamics in visuomotor skill acquisition using multimodal functional magnetic resonance imaging. This project brings together mathematical and engineering methods with cognitive neuroscience in a novel way to better understand the fundamental processes associated with brain imaging, and the acquisition of motor skills. An improved understanding of the function of regions within the motor network will have a direct benefit for the rehabilitation of patient ....Investigating evidence of control system dynamics in visuomotor skill acquisition using multimodal functional magnetic resonance imaging. This project brings together mathematical and engineering methods with cognitive neuroscience in a novel way to better understand the fundamental processes associated with brain imaging, and the acquisition of motor skills. An improved understanding of the function of regions within the motor network will have a direct benefit for the rehabilitation of patients suffering motor deficits from developmental causes, following traumatic brain injuries, and after stroke and other neurodegenerative diseases. The outcomes of the research will also contribute to our understanding of the complexity of brain networks involved in motor skill acquisition.Read moreRead less
Integrating holistic processing and face-space approaches to the perception of facial identity. Recognising faces is a socially crucial task, and humans are remarkably good at it. Scientists investigating the 'software' our brains use to recognise faces have referred to two different theories -- one when explaining why we distinguish faces better than objects, and the other in explaining why we distinguish some people's faces more easily than others. The project aims to integrate these two theor ....Integrating holistic processing and face-space approaches to the perception of facial identity. Recognising faces is a socially crucial task, and humans are remarkably good at it. Scientists investigating the 'software' our brains use to recognise faces have referred to two different theories -- one when explaining why we distinguish faces better than objects, and the other in explaining why we distinguish some people's faces more easily than others. The project aims to integrate these two theories. This has two potential long-term benefits: it will give a stronger basis for understanding what goes wrong in people where face recognition does not develop normally; and, the improved knowledge from a biological system may also lead to improved computer face recognition algorithms (eg. for airport security).Read moreRead less
Options For Proofs: New Perspectives on Propositional Logic. Philosophers and logicians recognise that proof is important, but they do not agree on what proofs are. Recent research in logic has greatly expanded our notion of proof, but this research is not unified. We need a coherent, general and applicable concept of proof. This project will unify the literature on proof and bring these insights to bear in the philosophy of language. It will show how proof can help analyse many features of ....Options For Proofs: New Perspectives on Propositional Logic. Philosophers and logicians recognise that proof is important, but they do not agree on what proofs are. Recent research in logic has greatly expanded our notion of proof, but this research is not unified. We need a coherent, general and applicable concept of proof. This project will unify the literature on proof and bring these insights to bear in the philosophy of language. It will show how proof can help analyse many features of language (more than just logical constants) but that the role of inference does not justify one kind of proof in preference to others.Read moreRead less
Multiscale stochastic modelling of tumour robustness. This project will develop cutting-edge modelling methodologies of systems biology and innovative experimental techniques to investigate the principles of tumour initiation and progression, which lay at the heart of the national research priority Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries. The primary outcome will be fundamental new paradigms explaining tumour initiation, cancer disease progression and the evolut ....Multiscale stochastic modelling of tumour robustness. This project will develop cutting-edge modelling methodologies of systems biology and innovative experimental techniques to investigate the principles of tumour initiation and progression, which lay at the heart of the national research priority Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries. The primary outcome will be fundamental new paradigms explaining tumour initiation, cancer disease progression and the evolution of therapy resistance. The deep insights gained in this research have the potential for the optimal treatment strategies of cancer diseases, which is strongly relevant to promoting and maintaining good health for Australians.Read moreRead less
Economical and practical design and analysis of probabilistic distributed systems. Complex computing systems composed of communicating processes are
distributed over networks, and interact with embedded hardware
components. They routinely operate in probabilistic environments:
hardware components fail randomly, but at known rates; and tactical
randomisation resolves competition for resources. Effective
specification, development and analysis methods for these systems
is crucial, and probab ....Economical and practical design and analysis of probabilistic distributed systems. Complex computing systems composed of communicating processes are
distributed over networks, and interact with embedded hardware
components. They routinely operate in probabilistic environments:
hardware components fail randomly, but at known rates; and tactical
randomisation resolves competition for resources. Effective
specification, development and analysis methods for these systems
is crucial, and probability makes that particularly difficult.
The focus of this project is to develop new formal methods that are
economical and practical in use. Exploiting our recent advances in
probabilistic program semantics, we will add probability in a new
way to proven techniques in concurrency theory, including
refinement and hierarchical design.Read moreRead less
Algebraic reasoning for serialisability in probabilistic transaction systems. The ability to analyse complex systems is a vital part of the development of large-scale computer applications; a method that improves the quality of the analysis task would increase the competitiveness of the software industry, would attract future development work (in complex and intelligent systems) to Australia, and could contribute to national security.
The results of this project will have a direct influence ....Algebraic reasoning for serialisability in probabilistic transaction systems. The ability to analyse complex systems is a vital part of the development of large-scale computer applications; a method that improves the quality of the analysis task would increase the competitiveness of the software industry, would attract future development work (in complex and intelligent systems) to Australia, and could contribute to national security.
The results of this project will have a direct influence on currently available design tools; the fact that Australian institutions will be responsible for key theoretical results in this growing field will strengthen Australia's position worldwide as an international centre for computer science.Read moreRead less
Hidden-state modelling for modular analysis of information flow, protection and risk evaluation. Automation is increasing explosively, and the cliche is no longer that there is a cpu chip in your washing machine, television or automobile. Nowadays they are potentially in our cash cards, passports and soon on every item in our shopping baskets. Australia is a leader in adopting and developing such technology.
Security and privacy, hard enough for PCs, thus concerns smaller, more numerous devi ....Hidden-state modelling for modular analysis of information flow, protection and risk evaluation. Automation is increasing explosively, and the cliche is no longer that there is a cpu chip in your washing machine, television or automobile. Nowadays they are potentially in our cash cards, passports and soon on every item in our shopping baskets. Australia is a leader in adopting and developing such technology.
Security and privacy, hard enough for PCs, thus concerns smaller, more numerous devices that we might not even realise we are using.
Our research aims to make it easier and more effective to describe and then successfully build-in features that enforce security without adverse impact on usability.Read moreRead less
Designing software for secrecy: Security-enabled program algebra. Ensuring security and privacy, hard enough for PCs, is a critical problem in computer engineering; the frequency with which software security breaches are reported in smartcards and web applications means that new software-design techniques are urgently needed. This project aims to improve the quality of computer software by creating smart technology which will make it easier for designers to describe and then successfully build ....Designing software for secrecy: Security-enabled program algebra. Ensuring security and privacy, hard enough for PCs, is a critical problem in computer engineering; the frequency with which software security breaches are reported in smartcards and web applications means that new software-design techniques are urgently needed. This project aims to improve the quality of computer software by creating smart technology which will make it easier for designers to describe and then successfully build-in features that enforce security in software without adverse impact on usability. This research addresses National Security Priority 3, Smart technology, and will build on Australia's world-leading position in pioneering uptake of innovative technology.Read moreRead less
How do macroeconomic fluctuations affect the educational choices of young Australians? The 1990-1991 recession, recent evidence, and econometric issues. The educational choices of young people are crucial for any nation's future. The project's empirical findings will inform public policy, particularly in the areas of education and training and youth unemployment. The research will help policy makers target people who need extra support in tough times and help determine the demand for different k ....How do macroeconomic fluctuations affect the educational choices of young Australians? The 1990-1991 recession, recent evidence, and econometric issues. The educational choices of young people are crucial for any nation's future. The project's empirical findings will inform public policy, particularly in the areas of education and training and youth unemployment. The research will help policy makers target people who need extra support in tough times and help determine the demand for different kinds of education. The findings have implications for future policies aimed at reducing inequality. The project's methodological contributions will lead to better and more reliable research in economics and other fields such as biology and engineering. The findings will be suitable for the top economics journals and contribute to Australia's standing in the academic community.Read moreRead less