Consortium Leader Antti Oulasvirta Awarded Prestigious ERC Grant for Pioneering Research on Computational Models of Human Behavior
Congratulations to Antti Oulasvirta, one of the consortium leaders, for receiving the esteemed ERC grant, a prestigious European funding award that enables scientists to pursue groundbreaking research visions. Oulasvirta’s work, centered on creating computational models of human behavior, thought processes, and experiences, aims to enable computers and AI to better understand their users. His ambitious vision goes beyond building functional user models; he envisions future systems where user models can interact dynamically within their operational environments, offering richer, more adaptive user experiences.
In addition to Oulasvirta’s achievement, other notable research initiatives within the consortium are breaking new ground in environmental sustainability and digital geopolitics:
- Olli Ikkala is focusing on reducing pollutants from the dye and pigment industry by developing structural colors based on light reflection. His research explores sustainable alternatives to traditional dyes. “Could it be possible in the future to change the structural colors with light? Could colors adapt like in biology?” he wonders, envisioning a future where colors might transform dynamically.
- Vili Lehdonvirta is investigating the geopolitics of digital infrastructure, a timely exploration given the shift from local data storage to hyperscale data centers. Lehdonvirta’s project seeks to map this evolving “geography of computation” and to reveal how nations are maneuvering to control and shape the digital landscape. “I seek for the first time to map this changing geography of computation and uncover how different states are attempting to shape it to their advantage,” he explains.
These projects represent cutting-edge research in both technology and social science, supported by the ERC grant to drive innovation and sustainability in fields as varied as AI, environmental science, and digital policy.
