Representation theory in exactly solvable systems. This project aims to develop the representation theory of Lie and generalised Lie algebras related to exactly solvable models. The project will exploit several innovative ideas on the structure of quadratic algebras, Casimir invariants, differential operator realisations, roots systems, characters and indecomposable representations. This will give fundamental mathematical insight and allow the construction of new, exactly solvable models. This w ....Representation theory in exactly solvable systems. This project aims to develop the representation theory of Lie and generalised Lie algebras related to exactly solvable models. The project will exploit several innovative ideas on the structure of quadratic algebras, Casimir invariants, differential operator realisations, roots systems, characters and indecomposable representations. This will give fundamental mathematical insight and allow the construction of new, exactly solvable models. This will have an impact on theoretical physics as exactly solvable models play a central role in our understanding of a plethora of physical phenomena.Read moreRead less
Testing the Modularity of Memory. Researchers disagree about whether verbal and visual working memory (WM) storage occurs in separate modules. Recent evidence suggests that only verbal memoranda have access to a specialised module, while visual memories make use of more general resources. This project aims to re-examine interference between verbal and visual memoranda using statistical methods specialised for assessing whether multiple latent factors underlie performance on recognition memory ta ....Testing the Modularity of Memory. Researchers disagree about whether verbal and visual working memory (WM) storage occurs in separate modules. Recent evidence suggests that only verbal memoranda have access to a specialised module, while visual memories make use of more general resources. This project aims to re-examine interference between verbal and visual memoranda using statistical methods specialised for assessing whether multiple latent factors underlie performance on recognition memory tasks, examining adult and child populations. This is expected to influence applications of WM theory in many everyday settings, resulting in improvements in educational practices, workplace procedures, and clinical treatments that depend on theoretical understandings of limits in cognition.Read moreRead less
The role of episodic memory in imagining and planning for the future. For future planning we draw on past experiences. In many cases, past experiences are used to imagine novel potential scenarios yet to be experienced. This project will examine in detail the role of memory in imagining possible futures and planning for those possibilities, drawing on our contemporary understanding of memory as captured in computational models of human memory. By controlling the information that people encode in ....The role of episodic memory in imagining and planning for the future. For future planning we draw on past experiences. In many cases, past experiences are used to imagine novel potential scenarios yet to be experienced. This project will examine in detail the role of memory in imagining possible futures and planning for those possibilities, drawing on our contemporary understanding of memory as captured in computational models of human memory. By controlling the information that people encode into memory, and thus determining the building blocks from which people build simulations of the future, this project will gain valuable data that will be used to develop a detailed and precise computational model of the role of memory mechanisms and representations in imagining and planning.Read moreRead less
Solvability and universality in stochastic processes. Exactly solvable stochastic processes are an important area of mathematical research, with cross-disciplinary links to quantum physics, quantum algebras and probability theory. These processes can be used to model a variety of real-world phenomena such as crystal growth and polymers in random media. This project aims to significantly expand our knowledge of exactly solvable stochastic processes by extending them to new algebraic frameworks. A ....Solvability and universality in stochastic processes. Exactly solvable stochastic processes are an important area of mathematical research, with cross-disciplinary links to quantum physics, quantum algebras and probability theory. These processes can be used to model a variety of real-world phenomena such as crystal growth and polymers in random media. This project aims to significantly expand our knowledge of exactly solvable stochastic processes by extending them to new algebraic frameworks. Among the outcomes of the project, we expect to identify new probabilistic structures which go beyond the famous Gaussian universality class. These theoretical developments allow better prediction of randomly growing interfaces, which encompass a range of phenomena from tumour growth to forest fires.Read moreRead less
Hearing the future: supporting Indigenous linguistic diversity. This project aims to find new ways to support the extraordinary diversity of Indigenous languages spoken in Australia. In Arnhem Land the ability to understand but not speak a language is widespread and plays a crucial role supporting linguistic diversity. This ability, receptive multilingualism, will be examined using an innovative interdisciplinary methodology, generating new understandings about the relationship between multiling ....Hearing the future: supporting Indigenous linguistic diversity. This project aims to find new ways to support the extraordinary diversity of Indigenous languages spoken in Australia. In Arnhem Land the ability to understand but not speak a language is widespread and plays a crucial role supporting linguistic diversity. This ability, receptive multilingualism, will be examined using an innovative interdisciplinary methodology, generating new understandings about the relationship between multilingualism and linguistic diversity that are crucial to tackling the global decline in Indigenous languages. The findings will help communities, educators and policymakers develop new strategies to support Australia’s Indigenous languages which are vital to Indigenous health and wellbeing.Read moreRead less
Semantic categories: Exploring the history of the Baining languages of Island Melanesia. The project adds to our knowledge of the historical, linguistic and ethnic relationships within Island Melanesia, thus contributing directly to our understanding of the complexities of this region. This regional focus expands Australia's expertise in Melanesian research, and reaffirms Australia's leading position in this area. Such expertise attracts outstanding international students and researchers to Aust ....Semantic categories: Exploring the history of the Baining languages of Island Melanesia. The project adds to our knowledge of the historical, linguistic and ethnic relationships within Island Melanesia, thus contributing directly to our understanding of the complexities of this region. This regional focus expands Australia's expertise in Melanesian research, and reaffirms Australia's leading position in this area. Such expertise attracts outstanding international students and researchers to Australia, strengthens the Australian research community, and increases the international visibility of Australian-based research. Furthermore, studying semantic categories provides a unique insight into how speakers of different languages categorise the world around and within them, thereby facilitating intercultural understanding.Read moreRead less
Understanding the sounds of Australia's Indigenous languages. Our perception of sounds in a non-native language is strongly influenced by our native language background, yet knowledge of minority and endangered language sounds is almost entirely based on the perceptions of European and Asian language speakers. This project will provide the first large-scale acoustic analyses of Australia's Indigenous languages.
Decoding the neural representation of objects in the human brain. Humans can effortlessly recognise thousands of objects in a fraction of a second. This essential capacity is an integral part of our daily lives that allows us to recognise our keys, our car, our friends and family. This project will elucidate how humans recognise objects by investigating the neural representation of objects in the brain.
A fast comparative method for historical linguistics. Linguists are able to infer ancient histories of languages by a procedure known as the Comparative Method. Its results are used in related studies of human genetic and cultural change. However, the Comparative Method is a manual-only process and thus currently is a bottleneck for the science of unravelling the human past. This project aims to overcome this limitation and significantly accelerate linguistic discovery, by combining recent advan ....A fast comparative method for historical linguistics. Linguists are able to infer ancient histories of languages by a procedure known as the Comparative Method. Its results are used in related studies of human genetic and cultural change. However, the Comparative Method is a manual-only process and thus currently is a bottleneck for the science of unravelling the human past. This project aims to overcome this limitation and significantly accelerate linguistic discovery, by combining recent advances in computational language processing, statistics and cultural-evolutionary modelling. By producing innovative mathematical means for rapidly discovering ancient language relationships, it will enable a breakthrough in our capacity to uncover human linguistic, genetic and cultural heritage worldwide.Read moreRead less
Understanding bilingual language acquisition in northern Indigenous Australia: phonological, lexical, orthographic, and family factors. Children's language outcomes are critical for health, social inclusion, education and employment. In northern Australia many Indigenous children grow up as Kriol/English bilinguals in disadvantaged communities; this research will establish the linguistic, educational, and family factors in successful language acquisition for these children.