As part of the TCD-UCD Innovation Alliance six post-doctoral researchers were awarded Innovation Bursaries of 5K each to tackle exciting research problems on the theme of “Sustainable Society”, thereby assisting them to establish an independent research track.
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Dr. Yann Morvan
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Popularizing the Book of Kells: A study in enhancing pictures to convey knowledge We aim to carry out research on how computer graphics can be used to promote engagement of the public with the book of Kells, as well as discovery. The book of Kells is a key marker of Irish identity, so ensuring that it is a subject of lively public interaction will contribute to sustaining Irish society. The project is collaboration between Computer Science and Art History. Its aim is to enable art historians to create online, interactive and annotated pictures of Kells folios illustrating their research. The project would involve a dialogue with art historians in designing the authoring tool, and in choosing topics to illustrate. Research in computer graphics and human-computer interfaces would be carried out in order to develop the tool. Areas of application would include tourism and teaching. The tool could provide a new way to look at the book of Kells that could enrich research. |
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Dr. Rachel McDonnell
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Face Reality: Perceptual analysis of facial performance capture Realistic virtual avatars are increasing in popularity and importance due to the growing demand for virtual presence in society. Little is known about how humans perceive these avatars, particularly when they appear very realistic. In fact, the “uncanny valley” theory hypothesises that the more realistic we make virtual avatars, the more likely it is that human observers will feel less empathy and more negativity towards them. With collaborators from neuroscience, sound engineering, computer science, and robotics, we wish to investigate this theory in order to ensure a positive response from observers to virtual avatars in online worlds. |
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Dr. R.T. James McAteer
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MobileSun: A Smart Phone Application for Scientific Data Access MobileSun is an application for smart-phones (e.g., iPhone, Android) that will enable users to access scientific data from SolarMonitor.org. MobileSun will deliver all of the functionality of SolarMonitor.org, providing information on solar activity and space weather in near real time. This project supports the idea of a "sustainable society", since space weather can affect satellites, communication systems, radio transmissions, and even power grids. MobileSun is innovative, since it represents the coupling of a large scientific data archive to an intuitive user interface. The smart-phone software that we develop will be of use to areas such as finance and meteorology. Expertise in solar and space physics, computer science, and graphic design will be required to design the application. A student will be hired to work with researchers in the Schools of Physics and Computer Science for three months. |
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Dr. Gavin Kearney
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Acoustic Measurement of Creative Arts Performance Spaces for Posterity The proposed project seeks to develop a novel framework for the capture and reproduction of music and drama performance space acoustics in interactive virtual auditory environments. Spatial impulse response measurements will be taken of significant performance spaces in the greater Dublin area for the purposes of heritage preservation. Computer graphics modelling combined with source convolution of performances with the acoustic measurements will allow future generations to experience the correct spatial and temporal properties of the soundfields as they currently exist. The framework considers the parameterization of the soundfields such that interactive walkthrough auralization is possible in virtual versions of the real spaces. Soundfield rendering for both individual listeners over headphones and large audiences is also considered. |
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Dr. Oliviero Gobbo
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The development of efficient drug delivery to the lung using Magnetic Resonance Ventilation Imaging technology One of the principles of a sustainable society is to improve the quality of human life. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Ireland and although some drugs are available to treat such tumours, their efficacy remains poor. The improvement of drug delivery in lung diseases, such as lung cancer, is therefore extremely important. The aim of the current project is use state-of-the-art technology, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, to improve the treatment of lung diseases using anti-tumor molecules already available on the market. To this end, lung imaging expertise needs to be developed in TCD: although TCD has the only animal 7T MRI scanner in Ireland, its use is dedicated to neuroscience. After a training period in a leading international centre in lung imaging, this new skill will be used to improve our understanding of the lung diseases and rapidly evaluate treatment methods against lung cancer. |
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Dr. Maria Semkovska
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Neurocognitive remediation therapy for major depression: a pilot study According to the WHO, depression will soon be the second leading contributor to global burden of disease. In Ireland, depression accounts for 10,000 hospitalisations annually and is a leading cause of suicide. While mood symptoms may recover, neurocognitive impairments in attention, memory and executive functioning often persist, preventing full return to normal social function. Neurocognitive remediation therapy (NCRT) significantly improves cognition in several neuropsychiatric disorders but has not been tested for depression. Through a unique collaboration between TCIN and the Dept. of Psychiatry, I will perform a randomised rater-blinded pilot study to evaluate computer-assisted NRCT for improving cognition in depression. Twenty depressed in-patients will be randomised to NRCT or computerised games for eight weeks with twice-weekly one-hour sessions. Main study outcomes are standardised measures for mood and cognition. This study will help develop novel therapeutic approaches for this most common disabling condition and serve to relieve its considerable societal impact. |
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