Complex data, model selection and bootstrap inference. The project will provide new statistical methods and associated software for the analysis and modelling of complex data, as well as quality research training. This project will benefit researchers in statistics and users of statistics who encounter the complex data considered in this project and who need to model and make inferences from these data. Since these kinds of data arise in many areas (such as medicine, genetics, chemistry etc), ....Complex data, model selection and bootstrap inference. The project will provide new statistical methods and associated software for the analysis and modelling of complex data, as well as quality research training. This project will benefit researchers in statistics and users of statistics who encounter the complex data considered in this project and who need to model and make inferences from these data. Since these kinds of data arise in many areas (such as medicine, genetics, chemistry etc), Australia and Australian industry will ultimately benefit from the proposed research. The strengthening of international link and the training of highly trained research scientists in an area of national importance will also benefit Australia.Read moreRead less
Uncertainty, Risk and Related Concepts in Machine Learning. Machine learning is the science of making sense of data. It does not and cannot remove all risk and uncertainty. This project proposes to study the foundations of how machine learning uses, represents and communicates risk and uncertainty. It aims to do so by finding new theoretical connections between diverse notions that have arisen in allied disciplines. These include risk, uncertainty, scoring rules and loss functions, divergences, ....Uncertainty, Risk and Related Concepts in Machine Learning. Machine learning is the science of making sense of data. It does not and cannot remove all risk and uncertainty. This project proposes to study the foundations of how machine learning uses, represents and communicates risk and uncertainty. It aims to do so by finding new theoretical connections between diverse notions that have arisen in allied disciplines. These include risk, uncertainty, scoring rules and loss functions, divergences, statistics and different ways of aggregating information. By building a more complete theoretical map it is expected that new machine learning methods will be developed, but more importantly that machine learning will be able to be better integrated into larger socio-technical systems.Read moreRead less
Building models for complex data. The purpose of this project is to better understand the process of building statistical models and construct new methods for building models for particular kinds of complex data. The expected outcomes include a new way of thinking about model building and practical tools which together enable us to get more value out of analysing complex data.
Novel statistical methods for data with non-Euclidean geometric structure. This project aims to develop new flexible regression models and classification algorithms, along with robust and efficient inference methods, applicable to a wide range of non-Euclidean data types which arise in many fields of science, business and technology. There are serious flaws with currently available methods of analysis for non-Euclidean data. This project expects to transform such analyses by providing new quanti ....Novel statistical methods for data with non-Euclidean geometric structure. This project aims to develop new flexible regression models and classification algorithms, along with robust and efficient inference methods, applicable to a wide range of non-Euclidean data types which arise in many fields of science, business and technology. There are serious flaws with currently available methods of analysis for non-Euclidean data. This project expects to transform such analyses by providing new quantitative tools within a unifying framework. The anticipated project outcomes will be of mathematical interest and valuable in applications such as finance (predicting Australian stock returns); modelling electroencephalography data; Australian geochemical data, relating to sediments; and Australian X-ray tumour image data. Read moreRead less
Frontiers in inference about risk. The project aims to develop new methods for robust risk evaluation and minimisation under various constraints and scenarios. Risk evaluation, estimation and prediction using past data is a central activity in diverse areas such as finance, insurance, superannuation and environmental regulation. The project aims to propose and solve innovatively robust risk optimisation problems under constraints, taking into account the time dynamics. Applications include risk ....Frontiers in inference about risk. The project aims to develop new methods for robust risk evaluation and minimisation under various constraints and scenarios. Risk evaluation, estimation and prediction using past data is a central activity in diverse areas such as finance, insurance, superannuation and environmental regulation. The project aims to propose and solve innovatively robust risk optimisation problems under constraints, taking into account the time dynamics. Applications include risk management around natural catastrophes and long-term asset investment of pension funds. The solutions and outcomes are expected to deliver optimal resource allocation proposals and better management of risk exposure in practice.Read moreRead less
Prediction, inference and their application to modelling correlated data. This project aims to create new, improved methods for prediction and making inference about predictions for a variety of correlated data types through inventing sophisticated and novel resampling schemes such as the generalised fast bootstrap and repeated partial permutation. The research will impact on both the theory and practice of statistics and on substantive fields which use mixed or compositional models to analyse d ....Prediction, inference and their application to modelling correlated data. This project aims to create new, improved methods for prediction and making inference about predictions for a variety of correlated data types through inventing sophisticated and novel resampling schemes such as the generalised fast bootstrap and repeated partial permutation. The research will impact on both the theory and practice of statistics and on substantive fields which use mixed or compositional models to analyse dependent data. This will be a significant improvement in the assessment and stability of statistical models in areas such as social, ecological and geological sciences.Read moreRead less
Dimension reduction and model selection for statistically challenging data. This project aims to develop a deep theoretical understanding of the relationship between various dimension reduction and model selection methods used in statistical model building, and then use this understanding to develop new, improved methods of model building for statistically challenging data. The research will impact on both the theory and practice of statistics, and on substantive fields which collect and analyse ....Dimension reduction and model selection for statistically challenging data. This project aims to develop a deep theoretical understanding of the relationship between various dimension reduction and model selection methods used in statistical model building, and then use this understanding to develop new, improved methods of model building for statistically challenging data. The research will impact on both the theory and practice of statistics, and on substantive fields which collect and analyse these kinds of data. This will provide a significant improvement in the statistical model building in areas such as epidemiology, chemical and ecological sciences. The project is timely because of the increasing collection of large-dimensional, complex, correlated data sets in these and many other fields.Read moreRead less
The improvement of climate change investigations by developing and applying innovative evolutionary subset time series modelling using semi-parametric sparse-patterned approaches. With an estimated US$6.98 trillion loss indicated in the Stern review, severe climate change will make world climate conditions harsher and more likely include large natural climate disasters. The health of the Australian economy is critically dependent on decisions of environmental managers. However, most problems of ....The improvement of climate change investigations by developing and applying innovative evolutionary subset time series modelling using semi-parametric sparse-patterned approaches. With an estimated US$6.98 trillion loss indicated in the Stern review, severe climate change will make world climate conditions harsher and more likely include large natural climate disasters. The health of the Australian economy is critically dependent on decisions of environmental managers. However, most problems of complexity arising in climate change involve issues on which we do not possess a deep understanding. This project draws upon a set of inter-disciplinary concepts and models centred in neural networks that enable us to advance our understanding of complexity, leading to superior quantitative tools and models to allow for improved environmental decision-making.
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Asymptotic Geometric Analysis and Learning Theory. Learning Theory is used in various real-world applications in diverse research areas, ranging from Biology (e.g. DNA sequencing) to Information Sciences. Therefore, having a deep understanding of fundamental questions in Learning Theory, and in particular, pin-pointing the parameters that make a learning problem hard would have a significant practical impact. This projects aims to achieve this goal, and in addition, we expect it would have a hig ....Asymptotic Geometric Analysis and Learning Theory. Learning Theory is used in various real-world applications in diverse research areas, ranging from Biology (e.g. DNA sequencing) to Information Sciences. Therefore, having a deep understanding of fundamental questions in Learning Theory, and in particular, pin-pointing the parameters that make a learning problem hard would have a significant practical impact. This projects aims to achieve this goal, and in addition, we expect it would have a high theoretical value, as the questions we shall address are of independent interest to pure mathematicians.Read moreRead less
Theory and Applications of Computer-Intensive Statistical Methods. The availability of powerful computing equipment has had a dramatic impact on statistical methods and thinking. It has motivated development of novel approaches to data analysis, whose conception
and appreciation, even their application, often demand sophisticated and complex theoretical methods. In this context, the project will develop new approaches to solving non-standard statistical problems. These techniques will eithe ....Theory and Applications of Computer-Intensive Statistical Methods. The availability of powerful computing equipment has had a dramatic impact on statistical methods and thinking. It has motivated development of novel approaches to data analysis, whose conception
and appreciation, even their application, often demand sophisticated and complex theoretical methods. In this context, the project will develop new approaches to solving non-standard statistical problems. These techniques will either have direct application to solving practical problems of national or community concern, or provide a better understanding of the nature of such problems.Read moreRead less