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Research

The York Cross-disciplinary Centre for Complex Analysis (YCCSA) is a wide and active collaboration across science departments (and beyond) at the University of York that has as its primary objective the development of novel mathematical and computational methods and tools for the analysis and modelling of complex systems drawn across engineering, physical, and biological sciences.

  • YCCSA, through its members, supports (both in terms of space, personnel and equipment) a wide range of research into complex systems, including novel hardware and software engineering, and modelling of physical and biological complex systems at multiple levels of detail.

For YCCSA staff publications, visit the People page and follow the Google Scholar profile links.

Members of YCCSA are also involved in the York Computational Immunology Lab (YCIL), the Biological Physical Sciences Institute (BPSI), Interdisciplinary Centre for Narrative Studies (ICNS), York Robotics Laboratory (YRL), and the Science and Technologu Studies Unit

 

MARA HERBIVORE NETWORK PROJECT

The Mara Herbivore Network Project is a collaboration between the University of Liverpool, the University of York, Kenya Wildlife Service and the Masai Mara National Reserve. The project is funded by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and supported by Fig Tree Camp.
We are interested in what drives the formation of mixed species groups and particularly the role that information transfer between species plays in this context. Our study system is the multi-species assemblages of herbivores on the African Savannah, with fieldwork taking place in the Masai Mara, Kenya. The research is focused on the 12 most common species of large herbivores, and aims to provide a deeper understanding of processes in community ecology and thereby information for conservation management.

maxfacts.ac.uk

maxfacts.uk provides information on all aspects of the discipline of oral and maxillofacial surgery,  from impacted teeth, orofacial pain, mouth ulcers, orofacial infections, trauma, to mouth and skin cancers. Some of these conditions will affect approximately 1 in 4 people in their lifetime. 
The website provides accurate information about conditions, treatment, and managing the consequences of conditions and treatment in the mouth, jaws and face. One aim is to help patients to take ownership of their conditions and help them to help themselves. However, the website is designed as a single-platform information resource for patients, carers and professionals alike.

Link to main page

  • YCCSA/BAOMS
  • 2016 - ongoing

‘Dynamic ant networks: How environmental constraints and ecological context shape 
resource transport systems’

Many ants distribute their colony members and resources across multiple nests; movement between nests is maintained by a network of persistent trails. These ant transportation systems, common among beneficial and pest species, are similar to human transportation systems in many ways. Like subway systems and road networks, their goal is to move resources and individuals quickly and efficiently from place to place. Designing an efficient and reliable transportation system at minimal cost is a difficult problem even for human engineers, who can take a system-wide perspective. Ant colonies, in contrast, build their transportation networks with no central vision or overarching plan. Certain species are nonetheless able to create systems that are remarkably reliable, efficient, and low-cost. This research will develop a new framework to explain how ant colonies create such well-functioning transportation systems via a process of gradual modification rather than design.

  • NSF
  • June 2018 - May 2022
  • $365k ~

SpInspired

SpInspired will develop a methodology for discovering and exploiting good natural computational models of material computing, and for determining appropriate basic units that are both mathematically rich (so that they can be composed and combined into higher order representations) and efficiently physically realisable (so that they can be exploited as powerful combinational devices in unconventional domains and applications).

  • EPSRC
  • October 2018- September 2021
  • Computer Science
  • £507,656

Systemic Failure in Finance 

This project aims to develop a permanent international research network investigating key issues in finance for Official Development Assistance (ODA), such as systemic failure, to improve the delivery of finance to countries in receipt of ODA, reducing the risk of failure and increasing the opportunities for sustainable development. Such network will include experts from ODA donor and recipient countries, international organisations, policy-oriented institutions, practitioners, decision makers, scholars. Coordinated by University of York academics the network will produce research outputs to support policy / decision making on finance for ODA, proposals to fund research activities and knowledge exchange opportunities (workshops, yearly conferences).

Real Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Swallowing and Speech in Patients Following Major Maxillofacial Surgery and Reconstruction

The project examines the mechanics of swallowing and speech by real-time MRI videos in order to improve the long-term post-operative quality of life of maxillofacial patients after major interventions. The first step taken in this project will establish the methodological framework in healthy volunteers.

  • Centre for Future Health (CFH) - Wellcome Trust
  • December 2018 - March 2020
  • £28,800