Faculty Member, School of Computing
Head of Subject & Reader in Intelligent Systems
About
My primary research interest is agency. As a computer science researcher I am motivated to explore how agency can be modelled and implemented within complex distributed computer systems. The characteristics of agency, or more specifically a multi-agent system (MAS) of interacting intelligent agents, enables systems to possess autonomy and be self-adaptive, accommodating unforeseen changes in the external environment. I am particularly interested in the implementation of Agent-Oriented (AO) approaches, specifically the modelling, representation and communication of organisational knowledge through Belief Desire and Intention (BDI) architectures.
As a professional academic I am interested in how agency and multi-agent systems can serve as a model for both leading and coordinating the activities of systems and individuals within complex organisations such as Higher Education institutions. From an abstract perspective there is a clear alignment between the technical and organisational aspects of agency; my work so far implementing intelligent systems using MAS has served to inform my understanding of emergent organisational models and how the individual human agents may cooperate to achieve goals. Equally, my interest in the organisational view of a MAS has also informed my understanding of normative behaviour in autonomous, intelligent systems implementation. Thus the two themes are complementary and represent the basis of my research activities.
