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The Department's research activities are focussed on the following themes:

Visualization, Interaction & Graphics (VIG)

We explore the development, application and evaluation of interactive technologies in various domains, such as social sciences, engineering, education, art and entertainment. We are particularly interested in the fields of human-computer interaction, virtual and mixed reality, information visualization, visual analytics and wearable computing.

Medical Graphics

We investigate the synergy between computer science and medical practice. We are particularly interested in bringing together novel techniques and technologies in graphics, visualization and human-computer interaction in medical settings. Members of the group have expertise in research areas spanning human-computer interaction, virtual and mixed reality, haptics, medical visualization and information visualization.

Cyber Security

The cybersecurity team came together in 2015 to provide teaching and research capability, including collaboration with industry and government. The team has interests in software and system protection methods, including in hypervisors & virtualisation, containers, firmware exploitation, low-level system and firmware monitors, and underpinning intelligent or autonomic Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs), behavioural models, as well as Trustworthy Autonomic Systems, Trusted Autonomic Architectures, and Autonomic Interoperability. The team is beginning work cross-department within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and is aiming to work cross-faculty to bring in the wider areas of cyber security in law, psychology, sociology, business and management, and other aspects, in a dynamic and pervasively connected world.

Discrete Optimisation

This theme focusses on the development of mathematical modelling, meta-heuristic and hybrid approaches to NP-Hard problems. Applications currently include the structural optimisation of optical fibre networks, virtual backbones in wireless networks and combined packing and routing challenges in logistics. A current direction of interest is in the development of hybrid algorithms for problems at the lower levels of the polynomial time hierarchy."

The department offers postgraduate programmes in Computer Science and Cybersecurity. We also have opportunities for PhD students to join our research teams. The goals of our Computer Science programmes are such that they derive most benefit from applied research -  the Department encourages its academic staff to actively contribute to the development and understanding of how information and communication technology can be exploited. Staff also provide consultancy and guidance to employers on ICT related issues, particularly via the Informatics Centre