Professional Qualifications:
1998 BSc PhysicsÌý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý University of DundeeÌý
1999 MSc (Distinction) Information TechnologyÌý ÌýUniversity of Abertay Dundee
2006 PhD Ecological ModellingÌý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý University of Abertay Dundee
2010 PGCERT HETÌý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý University of Abertay DundeeÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
Professional Employment History:
2017 - presentÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Head of Division: Games Technology & Maths
2014 - 2017ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Senior Lecturer in Modelling and Visualisation
2006 - 2014ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Lecturer in Modelling and Visualisation
1999 - 2006ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Teaching Fellow, School of Computing and Creative Technologies
Head of Games Technology & Mathematics Âé¶¹Ô´´
Head of CreaTech Futures, CoSTAR National Lab Ìý
Team Subject expertise: VFX, distributed computing, network rendering, 5G, game development, hardware acceleration GPU optimisations, HPC, technical art, procedural content generationÌý
Professor Ruth Falconer is Head of Department where she leads and evolves the Game and Creative Technology provision. She has a proven track record in delivering research with impact and she champions the transformative power of game technologies, realtime 3D and distributed rendering to develop interactive visual simulations to address challenges across sectors. She has > 80 peer reviewed outputs and in the last 7 years secured £9.5 million in research income. She is an Editor for the International Journal of Game Technology and an adjunct Professor at Ontario Tech University. Her wider team has expertise in game development, next generation networking technologies, virtual production and generative AI.Ìý
Ruth leads theÌý CreaTech Futures at the National Lab at Pinewood studios focusing on combining high performance graphics, AI, distributed computing and next generation networking. This convergence will deliver richer and more connected interactive virtual worlds for the future.Ìý
CMP502 Graphics Programming
GRS501 Research Methods
CMP201 Data Structures & Algorithms I
CMP202 Data Structures & Algorithms II
I also supervise Hons and MSc projects in the areas of: Procedural Content Generation, Complex Systems in Games, Parallel Programming and GPGPU applications.
I have a BSc in Physics, MSc in IT and a PhD in computation ecology. My research is interdisciplinary and initially focussed on environmental problems (e.g.using Ìýsustainablity and nexus Ìýapproaches) that involve spatio-temporal and/or other multi-dimensional complexity. Numerical modelling, simulation, analysis and visualisation are critical components of this research that I implement using scripting, native programming, API’s and “enginesâ€� (Matlab/R/C#/C/C++/DirectCompute/Unity) as appropriate to achieve project goals. My research interests include the application of games technology (using GPGPU, games engines and related infrastructure) for computation and visualisation to industry relevant and scientific problems.ÌýÌý
2023 - 2029 Principla Invetsigator (Abertay) CoSTAR National Lab. £54M. AHRC
2020 - 2022 Principal Investigator (Abertay) on SmARtview: SmARtview - An AI-powered Augmented Reality Tool for Animal Health and Productivity. Falconer, R., Sloan, R. J. S. & Szymkowiak, A.ÌýUK Research and Innovation: £75,000.00
2020 - 2022 Co-Investigator on My Cancer MAI Care (Phase 2) Kang, K. L., Bown, J. & Falconer, R.ÌýMacmillan Cancer Support: £204,033.19.
2017– 2019 Principal Investigator (Abertay) on Modelling the resilience of below-ground microbial communities. RCUK (NERC): £220K; Abertay share £25K. NE/P014208/1.
2016 – 2019 Principal Investigator (Abertay) on Modelling the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: STEPPING UP. RCUK: (EPSRC): 1.4M; Abertay share £178K. Work Package Leader. EP/N00583X/1.
2015 – PresentÌýÌýÌý Co-Investigator on Sustainable methods to supply clean water to Scotland’s rural communities. CREW: £35K.
2014 – Present ÌýÌýÌý Principal Investigator on AGRI-AP: Applied Graphics and Rendering Innovation for Agricultural Precision. TSB £17K
2013 – PresentÌýÌýÌýFalconer RE, Isaacs JP, Gilmour D & Blackwood D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýBuilding Information Models (BIM) and Interactive Visualisation. SFC - (HEFC) £10,000
2013 – PresentÌýÌýÌýFalconer RE, Isaacs JP, Gilmour D & Blackwood D.ÌýÌýÌýInvestigating web based game technologies (webGL and openCL) for generating optimized fertilizer and lime maps. SAGESÌýÌý£11,434
2013 - PresentÌýÌýÌýÌýFalconer RE, Isaacs JP, Gilmour D & Blackwood D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý3D visualization for TAYplan strategic landuse planning. TayPlan £8,000
2013 – PresentÌýÌýÌýBlackwood D, Gilmour D, Isaacs J & Falconer R.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýScottish Water Sector Overview Map for CREW (Center of Expertise for Water. CREWÌýÌý£60,000.
2013 – 2013ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýFalconer RE, Isaacs JP, Gilmour D & Blackwood DÌýÌýÌýÌýMaximising passive solar gain: A physically based simulation and rendering approach. SFC - (HEFC) £10,000
2013 – PresentÌý Co-Investigator on Development of a potato breeding interactive decision-makingÌý tool: combining sensory and consumer science data (INTERFACE-AGRICO £60,000)
2012 - PresentÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Principal Investigator on developing and testing geovisualisation approaches for understanding multiple benefits from Scottish agricultural systems. Scottish Government and UAD funded (£74,000).
2012 - PresentÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Undergraduate Carnegie scholarship -Ìý GPGPU implemenation of microbial dynamics model (£1000)
2012 - PresentÌý Nuffield scholarship - Promoting 3D quantification of microbial biomass with respect to physical Ìýarchitecture. (£1000)
2009 - Present ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator, Multiscale Modelling and Emergent Properties of Microbial Degradation of Soil Organic Matter. ANR - FranceÌý (671,902 euro).Ìý
2009 - PresentÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýPrincipal Investigator on developing an Agent based Model for the effect of land management decisions on the sustainability of urban/rural interface. Scottish Alliance of Geoscience, Environment and Society: SAGES (£50,000).
2011 - DateÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Simulation and Visualisation ofÌý St Andrews Sand Dunes, for Fife Countryside Trust (£29,000) Ìý .
2011 - DateÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Sustainability Assessment and Visualisation of the Dunfermline Edge Development, for Fife Council. (£10,000).
2009 - Present ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-investigator, Sustainability Enhancement and Visualisation of Dundee Waterfront, for Dundee City Council (£40,000).Ìý
2008 - Present ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-investigator, DC Noise – Demographic Change: New opportunities in shrinking Europe, EU Interreg project (UAD share £102,000).Ìý
2008 - PresentÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator for developing an interactive simulation and visualisation tool for urban sustainability (UAD funded, £50,000)Ìý
2008 - 2011 ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator, Phosphates Life Cycle Management, for UK Water Industry Research Limited.Ìý Lead Researchers - Consultants Atkins Ltd. (UAD share, £15,000).ÌýÌý
2007 -Ìý 2011 ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator on the EPSRC project “Biological metaphors and crisis: building self healing, emergence and resilience into critical infrastructuresâ€� (EP/E062865: £366,002).ÌýÌý
2007 -Ìý 2008ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator on investigation into fungal-inspired network protocols.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Norman Fraser Design Trust (£9,000).
2004ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý “Inside Nature using Xray micro Computed tomographyâ€�. BBSRC: £2000
Editorial, Board, Committee & Reviewer Roles
• Editor for International Journal of Computer Games Technology (Nov 2021 - present)
• Women in Games Executive Board membershipÌý (May 2018 - Present)
• CPHC: Council of Professors and Heads of Computing in UK membershipÌý (August 2017 - Present)
• Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Business and IT, at Ontario TechÌý Ìý Ìý ÌýUniversity (Oct 2020 - Oct 2023)
• Sicsa Committee: Abertay representative on SICSA committee (August 2018 - Present)
• Editorial Board Member for Scientific ReportsÌý (Jan 2015 - Present)
• Associate Editor for SSSAJ: Soil Physics (Jan 2014 – Dec 2019)
• Guest Editor Special Issue - Engineering Education on Geosciences in a Changing World - In Journal of Engineering Education (2013).
• Expert reviewer forÌý European Commission: Marie Sklodowska -Curie Innovative Training Network Grants and Individual Fellowship Grants: Engineering and Informatics Panel (2016 – present).
• Annually review 12-16 manuscripts for peer reviewed journals, 2-3 RCUK proposals and book chapters.
Invited Talks & Panel Events
External Examinations
2017 PhD external examination. Guillermo Vidal Diez de Ulzurrun of Ghent University. "Fungal growth modelling and assessment: towards a three-dimensional spatially explicit fungal growth model"
2015 PhD external examination. Rory McMullan of Ulster University. The Computational Modelling of large Scale Predator-Prey Systems.
2011 PhD transfer external examination. Steven Hopkins ofÌý Glamorgan University. A Hybrid Mathematical Model of Fungal Mycelia: Tropisms, Polarised Growth and Application to Colony Competition
2015 – 2018ÌýÌý Co-I (Abertay) on Water-Energy-Food Nexus: STEPPING UP. EPSRC. 1.4M Manchester University lead; Abertay share £178K
2015 – PresentÌýÌýÌý Co-Investigator on Sustainable methods to supply clean water to Scotland’s rural communities. CREW: £35K.
2014 – Present ÌýÌýÌý Principal Investigator on AGRI-AP: Applied Graphics and Rendering Innovation for Agricultural Precision. TSB £17K
2013 – PresentÌýÌýÌýFalconer RE, Isaacs JP, Gilmour D & Blackwood D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýBuilding Information Models (BIM) and Interactive Visualisation. SFC - (HEFC) £10,000
2013 – PresentÌýÌýÌýFalconer RE, Isaacs JP, Gilmour D & Blackwood D.ÌýÌýÌýInvestigating web based game technologies (webGL and openCL) for generating optimized fertilizer and lime maps. SAGESÌýÌý£11,434
2013 - PresentÌýÌýÌýÌýFalconer RE, Isaacs JP, Gilmour D & Blackwood D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý3D visualization for TAYplan strategic land use planning. TayPlan £8,000
2013 – PresentÌýÌýÌýBlackwood D, Gilmour D, Isaacs J & Falconer R.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýScottish Water Sector Overview Map for CREW (Center of Expertise for Water. CREWÌýÌý£60,000.
2013 – 2013ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýFalconer RE, Isaacs JP, Gilmour D & Blackwood DÌýÌýÌýÌýMaximising passive solar gain: A physically based simulation and rendering approach. SFC - (HEFC) £10,000
2013 – PresentÌý Co-Investigator on Development of a potato breeding interactive decision-makingÌý tool: combining sensory and consumer science data (INTERFACE-AGRICO £60,000)
2012 - PresentÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Principal Investigator on developing and testing geovisualisation approaches for understanding multiple benefits from Scottish agricultural systems. Scottish Government and UAD funded (£74,000).
2012 - PresentÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Undergraduate Carnegie scholarship -Ìý GPGPU implemenation of microbial dynamics model (£1000)
2012 - PresentÌý Nuffield scholarship - Promoting 3D quantification of microbial biomass with respect to physical Ìýarchitecture. (£1000)
2009 - Present ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator, Multiscale Modelling and Emergent Properties of Microbial Degradation of Soil Organic Matter. ANR - FranceÌý (671,902 euro).Ìý
2009 - PresentÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýPrincipal Investigator on developing an Agent based Model for the effect of land management decisions on the sustainability of urban/rural interface. Scottish Alliance of Geoscience, Environment and Society: SAGES (£50,000).
2011 - DateÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Simulation and Visualisation ofÌý St Andrews Sand Dunes, for Fife Countryside Trust (£29,000) Ìý .
2011 - DateÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Sustainability Assessment and Visualisation of the Dunfermline Edge Development, for Fife Council. (£10,000).
2009 - Present ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-investigator, Sustainability Enhancement and Visualisation of Dundee Waterfront, for Dundee City Council (£40,000).Ìý
2008 - Present ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-investigator, DC Noise – Demographic Change: New opportunities in shrinking Europe, EU Interreg project (UAD share £102,000).Ìý
2008 - PresentÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator for developing an interactive simulation and visualisation tool for urban sustainability (UAD funded, £50,000)Ìý
2008 - 2011 ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator, Phosphates Life Cycle Management, for UK Water Industry Research Limited.Ìý Lead Researchers - Consultants Atkins Ltd. (UAD share, £15,000).ÌýÌý
2007 -Ìý 2011 ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator on the EPSRC project “Biological metaphors and crisis: building self healing, emergence and resilience into critical infrastructuresâ€� (EP/E062865: £366,002).ÌýÌý
2007 -Ìý 2008ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator on investigation into fungal-inspired network protocols.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Norman Fraser Design Trust (£9,000).
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 2004ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý “Inside Nature using Xray micro Computed tomographyâ€�. BBSRC: £2000
2013 – PresentÌýÌýÌýFalconer RE, Isaacs JP, Gilmour D & Blackwood D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýBuilding Information Models (BIM) and Interactive Visualisation. SFC - (HEFC) £10,000
2013 – PresentÌýÌýÌýFalconer RE, Isaacs JP, Gilmour D & Blackwood D.ÌýÌýÌýInvestigating web based game technologies (webGL and openCL) for generating optimized fertilizer and lime maps. SAGESÌýÌý£11,434
2013 - PresentÌýÌýÌýÌýFalconer RE, Isaacs JP, Gilmour D & Blackwood D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý3D visualization for TAYplan strategic landuse planning. TayPlan £8,000
2013 – PresentÌýÌýÌýBlackwood D, Gilmour D, Isaacs J & Falconer R.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýScottish Water Sector Overview Map for CREW (Center of Expertise for Water. CREWÌýÌý(£60,000).
2013 – 2013ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýFalconer RE, Isaacs JP, Gilmour D & Blackwood DÌýÌýÌýÌýMaximising passive solar gain: A physically based simulation and rendering approach. SFC - (HEFC) £10,000
2013 – PresentÌý Co-Investigator on Development of a potato breeding interactive decision-makingÌý tool: combining sensory and consumer science data (INTERFACE-AGRICO £60,000)
2012 - PresentÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Principal Investigator on developing and testing geovisualisation approaches for understanding multiple benefits from Scottish agricultural systems. Scottish Government and UAD funded (£74,000).
2012 - PresentÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Undergraduate Carnegie scholarship -Ìý GPGPU implemenation of microbial dynamics model (£1000)
2012 - PresentÌý Nuffield scholarship - Promoting 3D quantification of microbial biomass with respect to physical Ìýarchitecture. (£1000)
2009 - Present ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator, Multiscale Modelling and Emergent Properties of Microbial Degradation of Soil Organic Matter. ANR - FranceÌý (¿671,902).Ìý
2009 - PresentÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýPrincipal Investigator on developing an Agent based Model for the effect of land management decisions on the sustainability of urban/rural interface. Scottish Alliance of Geoscience, Environment and Society: SAGES (£50,000).
2011 - DateÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Simulation and Visualisation ofÌý St Andrews Sand Dunes, for Fife Countryside Trust (£29,000) Ìý .
2011 - DateÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Sustainability Assessment and Visualisation of the Dunfermline Edge Development, for Fife Council. (£10,000).
2009 - Present ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-investigator, Sustainability Enhancement and Visualisation of Dundee Waterfront, for Dundee City Council (£40,000).Ìý
2008 - Present ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-investigator, DC Noise – Demographic Change: New opportunities in shrinking Europe, EU Interreg project (UAD share £102,000).Ìý
2008 - PresentÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator for developing an interactive simulation and visualisation tool for urban sustainability (UAD funded, £50,000)Ìý
2008 - 2011 ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator, Phosphates Life Cycle Management, for UK Water Industry Research Limited.Ìý Lead Researchers - Consultants Atkins Ltd. (UAD share, £15,000).ÌýÌý
2007 -Ìý 2011 ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator on the EPSRC project “Biological metaphors and crisis: building self healing, emergence and resilience into critical infrastructuresâ€� (EP/E062865: £366,002).ÌýÌý
2007 -Ìý 2008ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýCo-Investigator on investigation into fungal-inspired network protocols.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Norman Fraser Design Trust (£9,000).
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 2004ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý “Inside Nature using Xray micro Computed tomographyâ€�. BBSRC: £2000
Public understanding of science has always played a central role within my activities. This is illustrated in my involvement in activities during the UK Science week (funded by BBSRC), open days, and presentations to local schools, and café science events. For the last 5 years I have supervised Nuffield students during the summer period providing them with research experience. I also supervise Baccalaureate students. In the past I have received funding for and organised a Science week event: where 5 local schools visited Âé¶¹Ô´´ to participate in an interactive workshop on XRay CT. I have also proactively sought funding from BBSRC (local school coordinator capacity) and the Royal Institution and organised the content and speakers for two separate series of math masterclasses for secondary and primary schools.
m.bett@abertay.ac.uk
01382 308352