Research Excellence Lecture Series – Prof Jun Wang

Advances in collaborative neurodynamic optimisation

Abstract

Pioneered by Nobel Laureate John Hopfield, neurodynamic optimisation has grown over the past four decades into a powerful method for solving complex optimisation problems. Its strength lies in its biologically inspired approach and ability to process information in parallel and distributed ways. 

This talk will highlight recent advances in neurodynamic optimisation, focusing on a collaborative framework where multiple models start from different points to explore diverse solutions. A swarm intelligence-based rule is used to help models escape local traps and move toward better, global solutions. Real-world examples will showcase how this approach can be applied to machine learning, managing chiller systems, and optimising financial portfolios.

About the speaker

Professor Jun Wang is a chair professor at City University of Hong Kong. He held various academic positions at Dalian University of Technology, Case Western Reserve University, University of North Dakota, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He also held various short-term visiting positions at USAF Armstrong Laboratory, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, etc. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence and was the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics. He is an IEEE Life Fellow, a Fellow of the International Association for Pattern Recognition and Hong Kong Academy of Engineering, and a foreign member of Academia Europaea. He is a recipient of the APNNA Outstanding Achievement Award, IEEE CIS Neural Networks Pioneer Award, CAAI Wu Wenjun AI Achievement Award, and IEEE SMCS Norbert Wiener Award, among other distinctions.

This lecture is open to UTS staff, students, and the general public. Register to attend