Friday, 01 December 2023
An academic from the 糖心原创 has been awarded a Consolidator grant from the , worth €2 million, to further explore an area in the intersection of computer science and mathematics.
Dr Nicolai Kraus, from the School of Computer Science, will use the grant to develop connections between type theories, formal systems that certain computer programming languages are based on.
When computer programs fail or don’t work properly, type theories allow programmers to avoid software problems. Using mathematical languages, experts can use type theories to check mathematical reasoning and check for any mistakes in programming.
Computer errors of this type in the past have caused airplanes to crash and the failure of rocket launches, so the ability to prevent these mistakes and correct them is highly beneficial.
The Consolidator Grant will allow Dr Nicolai Kraus to enable different type theories, that understand different mathematical languages, to work together effectively. It is hoped that translations between these languages will help make the technology easier to use and enable the general population to benefit from it.
He hopes that the work supported by this ERC Consolidator grant will help researchers in the field to better benefit from each other’s results and reduce the amount of work that has to be replicated.
Whilst this project is funded for five years, Dr Kraus expects that deep underlying mathematical challenges will mean that there won’t be a simple single solution to the problem. Instead, he hopes to find a collection of results that can form the basis for further future developments in the sector.
He explained: “Type theories are systems that allow computers to check and assist with formal reasoning. We can use type theories to verify mathematical theorems, or to write computer programs that come with a proof of correctness, which means that the program is guaranteed to do exactly what its specification says.
“It is a vibrant field and it is absolutely impressive what people have achieved using type theories. But people have different preferences and priorities, which is why many different type theories are used today, and it is not always easy to transport work from one to another. This is exactly the issue that my team and I will try to resolve in this project, by constructing translations and finding connections between type theories."
The ERC selected 308 researchers for , where academics are pursuing the most promising scientific ideas.
President of the European Research Council Professor Maria Leptin said: “The new Consolidator Grant winners represent some of the best of European research. It is disappointing that we cannot support every deserving project simply due to budget constraints; around 100 proposals identified as excellent in our rigorous evaluation will be left unfunded. Can Europe afford to let such talent go unrealised?"
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Nicolai Kraus on Nicolai.Kraus@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.