Background
The CCNR is approaching its 10th year as an interdisciplinary research group positioned between the Sussex Centre For Neuroscience and the Sussex Evolutionary and Adaptive Systems group. The aim of the centre is to encourage a two-way flow of ideas and methods between life sciences and computer science. The benefits of a cross-disciplinary approach are reflected in the nature of the research that is carried out here. Some of the research in the Centre can be characterised as Biologically-Inspired Engineering, this includes autonomous agent research and evolutionary robotics and electronics. Other research involves the modelling and analysis of biological topics such as insect navigation, neuronal circuits and evolutionary theory.
Additionally, we have close ties with the Creative Systems lab, which grew out of work by students in the CCNR and we have collaborated with several visiting and resident artists most recently on a successful AHRB grant application entitled "Computational Intelligence, Creativity and Cognition: a multidisciplinary investigation".
The CCNR also currently holds 4 major research grants entitled "Rapid insect like learning algorithms", "Spatially Embedded Complex Systems Engineering", "Computing in non-linear media" and Bionics & Space Systems Design. The inter-disciplinary nature of all these grants reflects the ethos of the CCNR.