The Schedule

Abstract: Recent advances in artificial intelligence have revived one of the oldest questions in cognitive science: what is intelligence, and how should we characterise it?  From predictive processing approaches in neuroscience to the success of large language models trained on next-token prediction, there is growing interest in the idea that intelligence may be grounded in the capacity to model and anticipate the world.  Yet whether prediction is sufficient to explain intelligence remains deeply contested.  In this talk, I will examine what contemporary AI really tells us about intelligence, and what it does not.  Drawing on cognitive science, the history of AI, and current machine learning, I will argue that while prediction is undoubtedly a central part of intelligent behaviour, intelligence also involves a range of other capacities, including memory, abstraction, executive control, goal-directed action, and the ability to adapt flexibly under real-world constraints.  The scientific challenge is therefore not simply to ask whether machines can perform intelligent tasks, but what kinds of mechanisms and representations make such performance possible.  The broader aim of the talk is to situate current AI within a larger intellectual context.  Rather than treating recent systems either as proof that intelligence has been solved or as empty statistical tricks, I argue that they should be understood as powerful new evidence in a much older interdisciplinary effort to understand minds, machines, and intelligence.

10:45, OA5.5/01

Coffee Break

11:15, OA4/02

Presentation Session 1

12:30, OA5.5/01

Lunch

13:15, OA4/02

Research in the School of Computing and Engineering - a PhD Journey

Prof. Paul Allen

Abstract: Presenting an overview of core research areas in the School of Computing and Engineering, together with advice and past student reflections on their PhD journey, the trials, challenges, and benefits of taking your studies to doctoral level.

Abstract: The current rise in urbanisation, combined with socio-economic drivers for increased mobility, is placing significant strain on transport infrastructure, leading to notable repercussions for emissions and air quality in urban areas. In this talk, we will focus on the application of model-based AI to urban traffic control. First, we will explore how AI can be used to optimise traffic signal control and the associated environmental benefits. Then, we will present how connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) can enable more direct traffic control and unlock further potential for reducing emissions.

11:15, OA5.5/02

Coffee Break

11:30, OA5.5/02

Presentation Session 4

12:30, OA5.5/01

Lunch

13:15, OA5.5/02

3MT Competition

14:30, Spark Jones & Haslett Building

SCE Futures 26 - Student Showcase FYP

15:15, OA5.5/01

Coffee Break

15:30, OA5.5/02

From a PhD Researcher to Impactful Solutions: Shaping the Net-Zero Future

Dr. Stavros Michailos

Abstract: This talk reflects on the journey from PhD research to contributing to real-world impact in the energy transition to net-zero. Drawing on experiences across low-carbon technologies, industry collaboration, and academic research, it highlights how a PhD can evolve beyond a thesis into a platform for innovation and influence. Emphasising both challenges and opportunities, the presentation shares key lessons on resilience, interdisciplinary thinking, multidisciplinary international research, and career development, aiming to inspire PhD students to align their research with purpose and play an active role in shaping a net-zero future.