complexity

Self-maintenance and self-organisation in biosystems. I am interested in general principles of self-maintenance (e.g. maintenance of the cell via a metabolic processes and pathways) in biological systems. I have collaborated with Walter Fontana on extensions to AlChemy (Algorithmic Chemistry), an artificial abstraction of chemistry, based on lambda calculus for the purposes of studying organization, in particular biological organization.

Evolutionary and theoretical biology. Currently part of the Thomson Lab studying the population genetics of the HLA (Human Leucocyte Antigen) system via a combination of modelling, simulation and data analysis. One of the major questions is whether selection is acting and where it is acting on, in this system. Also interested in other general question in mathematical biology, such as evolutionary developmental biology (morphogenesis), co-evolution, and in the formulating questions about the relative roles of natural selection and self-organisation in evolution, particularly at the molecular or cellular level.

Computational neuroscience. Models of brain structure and evolution. Previously collaborated with David Alexander formerly of the Mental Health Research Institute in Melbourne on project called Bugverse. The basic idea is to model the evolution of recursively modular neural networks within the agents inhabiting a simple ecosystem.

Complex systems.  self-organised criticality, general theories of complex systems (i.e. are there any? and could there ever be any?), autopoiesis, fitness landscapes, Boolean networks, autocatalytic sets, cellular automata, physics of self-organisation.

Neural networks and genetic algorithms.  adaptive and evolutionary learning, Rodney Brooks' subsumption architecture approach to robotics and intelligence, emergent and distributed computation.

Artificial life. Tierra-type ecological models, Craig Reynold's "Boids", Richard Dawkins' "biomorphs", agent-based simulations such as John Holland's "Echo".

Cognitive science/neuroscience. Douglas Hoftstader's "Copycat", "Jumbo" models, Minsky's "Society of Mind", models of brain functions and development.

Physics. theoretical physics, non-linear dynamical systems theory, statistical mechanics, philosophical and mathematical foundations of modern physics, quantum mechanics.

Computer graphics and visualisation. a-life simulations, along the lines of Karl Sims' and William Latham's biomorphs, applications to multimedia, art and music.