EPSRC grant for Refactoring and Neutrality in Genetic Programming

The School of Computing at the University of Kent has been awarded a £300,000 research grant to investigate novel methods of computer programming. The grant will fund a new project entitled Refactoring and Neutrality in Genetic Programming, and is based around using ideas taken from the theory of evolution in biology as a way of "evolving" computer programs to solve complex problems. Such approaches are becoming increasingly important as the complexity of problems solved by computers increases year-on-year.

Dr. Colin Johnson, lead researcher on the project, said:

" It is exciting to be working on a project like this that combines ideas from lots of different areas of science and technology. "

Also involved in the project are Prof. Simon Thompson, the current head of the School of Computing at Kent, Dr. Alex Freitas, and Fernando Otero, who is just finishing his PhD at the University. This will build on existing work in the School, combining areas of expertise in programming languages and in nature-inspired computing.

The grant has been awarded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and is the latest in a number of awards to the School covering topics as diverse as automated diagram layout, mathematical proofs of the correctness of computer programs, and the design of next-generation computer operating systems.

Published 8 December 2009
Contact: M.L.Bowman@kent.ac.uk