This Presidential Young Investigator Award is for support of Bruce Porter at the University of Texas at Austin. Porter's research is focused on the construction and use of computer programs which are capable of learning and solving problems with considerable autonomy. Such programs are capable of acquiring significant knowledge and evolving into effective "expert systems." The significance of this research is that effective computer systems in a wide variety of applications must utilize extensive and specific knowledge about the application - not just general algorithmic or problem solving techniques. Computer systems such as those developed by Porter, capable of learning and acquiring knowledge independently, will play a key role. The Presidential Young Investigator Awards provide research funding to attract and support young researchers of the highest quality in the university environment.
