Search Marsden awards 2008–2017

Recipient(s): Prof JS Sigafoos | PI | Victoria University of Wellington
Dr D Sutherland | PI | University of Canterbury

Public Summary: Autism is a severe disability affecting 1 in every 150 children. Approximately 50% of these children will fail to develop speech. Without an alternative to speech, these children are significantly disadvantaged. Manual signing, picture-exchange communication, and electronic speech-generating devices have all been proposed as possible alternatives to speech. There is considerable debate, but little research, on which of these three communication options is best suited to children with autism. This project will explore the intriguing possibilities that children with autism might prefer one option to others and that accommodating such preferences will enhance the children’s communication development. The project aims to (a) develop effective procedures for assessing children’s preferences for the three different forms of alternative communication and (b) determine the effects of incorporating such preferences into the children’s communication therapy programmes. Our hypotheses are that children will show idiosyncratic preferences for different forms of alternative communication and that use of the child's most preferred option will improve the acquisition and maintenance of alternative communication skills. Confirmation of these hypotheses would pave the way for applying similar preference-enhanced approaches to other areas of child therapy, such as academic problems, conduct disorders, obesity, and phobias.

Recipient(s): Ms TH Kukutai | PI | University of Waikato
Mr VT Thompson | AI | Stanford University

Public Summary: Counting populations by ethnicity is a contentious issue in many parts of the world. Since the 1980s numerous national case-studies have scrutinised how and why governments engage in ethnic enumeration. These studies have contributed important insights into local dynamics, but have had limited relevance beyond a specific context. This research heralds a new way of thinking about ethnic classification and counting. It develops a centralised, time-series database that combines census ethnicity questions for around 200 countries with economic, social and political data. The broad goal is to increase understanding of the conditions that enhance or suppress ethnic distinctions in the census. Though international in orientation, this research has profound local relevance. New Zealand has a long and complex history of counting by ethnicity and ethnicity remains a key policy concern. Yet, research on the topic has been ad hoc and fragmented. This research will enable agencies in New Zealand to evaluate their practices within a global context, and to identify options that might generate desired processes and outcomes. By developing a deeper understanding of ethnic enumeration, this research will provide a window into fundamental questions about contemporary nation-building, national identity, and the role of ethnicity.

Recipient(s): Dr CJ Rodger | PI | University of Otago
Dr MA Clilverd | AI | British Antarctic Survey
Dr AJ McDonald | AI | University of Canterbury
Assoc Prof NR Thomson | AI | University of Otago

Public Summary: During magnetic storms in space, hot electrons rain down into the polar atmosphere ('energetic electron precipitation'). This electron precipitation has recently been linked to large variations in surface air temperature patterns at the poles. Evidence suggests the air temperature variations are due to ozone-destroying chemicals produced by the electron precipitation. These chemicals can survive for months during the polar winters. However, energetic electron precipitation has not been well measured, nor is it known how the atmospheric changes it produces are transported from altitudes of ~60-90 km down to the polar surface.

To address the knowledge gaps, first, we will combine satellite observations with ground-based radio electron precipitation data, to determine actuall electron precipitation variances over a number of years. Incorporation of this data into atmospheric models will improve our understanding of the polar surface air temperature variations.

From here, combining the enhanced modelling with new satellite data, we will have a more accurate view of how different heights of the polar atmosphere are coupled through transport.

This approach will bring us closer to determining the importance of the impact of electron precipitation on the polar atmosphere, particularly during the long dark winters.

Recipient(s): Dr JD Eccles | PI | The University of Auckland
Prof YG Li | AI | University of Southern California

Public Summary: New Zealand's transpressional plate boundary, the Alpine Fault, represents a major earthquake hazard. Establishing its structure is critical to understanding of strain localisation processes at depth in this, and other, crustal-scale faults as the hanging wall uplift permits both the shallow and deep fault processes to be studied. Our project contributes unique seismic data and interpretations to these collaborative studies.

The highly anisotropic Alpine Fault zone will be systematically modelled from the centimetre to kilometre scale using (1) geophysical well logs integrated with the results of core analyses, (2) an active-source, walk-away Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) experiment and (3) observations of Fault Zone Guided Waves (FZGW) generated from both active sources and natural seismicity. FZGW propagate along the fault’s low-velocity damage zone and provide high-resolution seismic illumination of the fault zone. Borehole-based recording of these phases through the installation of an array of seismometers into the fault zone will piggy-back off of geological-drilling scheduled for early 2011. The spatial development of brittle deformation will be numerically modelled and seismicity occurring on the main fault and secondary structures differentiated. The influence of the highly anisotropic, ductilely-deformed, rock in the hanging wall on FZGW propagation will also be explored.

Recipient(s): Prof JB Hearnshaw | PI | University of Canterbury
Dr DJ Ramm | PI | University of Canterbury
Dr SI Barnes | AI | Anglo-Australian Observatory
Dr M Endl | AI | The University of Texas at Austin

Public Summary: We will use the Hercules spectrograph at Mt John Observatory to study extrasolar planets in binary star systems using the Doppler effect. Planets can be detected by the reflex motion that they impart to the star. We will search for Earth-like planets in alpha Centauri, our nearest star. Our simulations show that Earth-mass planets in their habitable zones (where water is liquid) should be detectable in alpha Centauri after 2 to 3 years of observations using an iodine cell for zero-point calibration. We note that no Earth-mass habitable planets have yet been found beyond our solar system. We will study further nu Octantis, a bright southern binary where we have recently found a probable Jupiter-like planet, in an orbit that challenges current theory on orbital stability in binaries. This planet appears to be locked into a 5:2 resonance with the binary star orbit. Further precise observations of Doppler shift using an iodine cell should confirm the planet hypothesis and possibly allow us to measure the time evolution of the orbital parameters. Both these binary stars can be observed all year from Mt John, which is a critical advantage for observing from New Zealand.

Recipient(s): Dr XJ Nelson | PI | University of Canterbury
Dr DP Harland | AI | AgResearch
Prof RR Jackson | AI | University of Canterbury
Assoc Prof DC O'Carroll | AI | The University of Adelaide

Public Summary: With visual scenes being awash with redundant information, all visual systems face the daunting task of minimising the processing of irrelevant information. This task is especially formidable for small animals that work with few neurons and miniature brains. Research on insect vision has shown that significant information processing can occur in the sensory periphery, at or near the level of the retina, and algorithms based on what is known about insects are of considerable applied interest in the field of biorobotics. Our goal is to understand another miniature visual system, that of the jumping spider (Salticidae). These predators are famous for their exceedingly complex predatory strategies and ability to see detail in their visual world at a level more similar to that of primates than that of insects. Salticids have eight eyes. Our hypothesis is that the salticid operates with a modular, but highly coordinated, visual system (different eyes dedicated to different functions) and deploys intricate eye-movement strategies when undertaking detailed prey-classification tasks. A specialised eye tracker will be used for studying eye behaviour and neurophysiological techniques, based on newly developed methods for salticids, will be used to obtain single-cell recordings from the salticid retina.

Recipient(s): Prof B Khoussainov | PI | The University of Auckland
Prof OG Kharlampovich | PI | McGill University
Prof AG Myasnikov | PI | Stevens Institute of Technology

Public Summary: Finite state machines such as automata constitute a simple mathematical yet a powerful model of
computer programs. By automata we typically mean any of the following: finite automata, tree automata, Buchi automata, and Rabin automata. Automata possess nice algebraic properties and many algorithmic problems about automata are decidable. These make automata important in applications and theoretical studies. This project investigates limits and possibilities of automata in representation of important mathematical structures, e.g. groups and graphs. Structures that have automata representations in a certain precise sense include fragments of the arithmetic, e.g. Skolem and Presburger arithmetic, state spaces of computer programs, and fundamental groups of many 3-dimensional manifolds. Topics include: (1) finding necessary and sufficient conditions for structures to possess representations by automata with an emphasis to tree automatic structures; (2) Investigating the relationship between various definitions of automaticity for structures. Examples of such definitions are Thurston's definition of automatic group and Khoussainov-Nerode's definition of automatic structures; (3) Computing invariants of mathematical structures represented by automata; (4) Studying geometric and algorithmic properties of structures (such as groups) represented by automata. These topics have both theoretical and practical significance.

Recipient(s): Prof D Penny | PI | Massey University
Mr M Irimia | AI | University of Barcelona
Dr S Roy | AI | Stanford University

Public Summary: Eukaryotes show a tremendous diversity of lifestyles, from plants and fungi that make all necessary chemical compounds from only very basic food sources, to animals that acquire many essential amino acids and enzyme cofactors (vitamins) by consuming other organisms. But which came first?
The nature and origins of the earliest complex unicellular eukaryotes remains a mystery, and one with deep implications for the history of life on earth. We are using new genomic sequences from every group of eukaryotics to test information about the biosynthetic capabilities of two key early ancestors: (i) the last common ancestor of all modern eukaryotes; and (ii) the ancestral cell that engulfed the mitochondrion. These results will help resolve some of the most central questions of the origins of complex life. Our immediate goal is to reconstruct the biosynthetic enzymes present in early ancestors of all eukaryotes. The longer-term goal is to put real biology into genomics (or vice versa): to harness comparative genomics to yield useful information about the life history and cell biology of organisms.

Recipient(s): Dr B Martin | PI | University of Canterbury
Dr ME Bate | PI | University of York
Prof GE Roehrle | PI | Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum

Public Summary: Group theory is the branch of mathematics that deals with symmetry: whenever symmetry appears in a problem, there is usually a group involved. A group is a set of symmetries which is closed under certain natural operations. We will investigate geometric objects called spherical buildings. These are highly symmetric spaces on which many groups can act; studying the geometry of spherical buildings yields information about these groups. We will tackle a long-standing open problem called the Centre Conjecture, which concerns fixed points of symmetries of spherical buildings.

Spherical buildings admit actions by reductive groups, which are certain groups of matrices. We will apply ideas from geometry, algebra and the theory of reductive groups to probe the structure of these spherical buildings. This research will have applications to two other branches of mathematics—geometric invariant theory and the theory of complete reducibility—which in turn will lead us to a better understanding of reductive groups and their properties.

Recipient(s): Prof W Gao | PI | The University of Auckland
Dr ME Dickinson | AI | The University of Auckland

Public Summary: Tremendous effort has been made in the research of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in the last decade. One focus is to make nano-particle dispersed composites and coatings. It has been proved that nano-dispersion of hard particles in alloys or coatings can improve physical and mechanical properties. The traditional way to make nano composite coatings is to mix solid nanoparticles into an alloy matrix. However, the nanoparticles always agglomerate together to micron size due to extremely high surface energy, severely limiting strengthening effects. This is one of the most difficult problems that nanotechnology is facing.

We have discovered a new method that can avoid particle agglomeration: adding a solution containing the oxide into coating electrolyte, instead of adding solid particles. The nano-sized oxide deposited in-situ with metal, forms a truly nano-composite coating with significantly improved properties. This is a breakthrough in nano-technology. The proposed project is to understand the nano-dispersion process and its strengthening mechanisms by using detailed nano-mechanical property testing methods and electron microscopy. We will also expand this new concept to establish a wide range of alloy-oxide coating systems. This research will be an important step to bridge nanotechnology to materials engineering, and of great scientific and applied significance.