Resources in Computation
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Department Name: Computer Science
Abstract
Programming is intrinsically based on the use of limited resources, such as memory and processing power of computers.
Various abstractions of resources play an important role throughout computer science, but they are conceptualised in very different, and apparently unrelated ways. In particular, there is a big gap between studies focussing on precise quantitative issues of what we can do and how efficiently we can do it with limited resources, and those which concern more conceptual aspects, which underpin modern high-level programming languages, and application-oriented programming.
In this project, building on some recent breakthrough developments which relate these different aspects, we aim to develop a unified theory of resources which will apply to all these aspects, and allow a flow of ideas between them. This will provide new tools and methods for computer scientists, and lead both to new kinds of results, and more general versions of existing ones.
Various abstractions of resources play an important role throughout computer science, but they are conceptualised in very different, and apparently unrelated ways. In particular, there is a big gap between studies focussing on precise quantitative issues of what we can do and how efficiently we can do it with limited resources, and those which concern more conceptual aspects, which underpin modern high-level programming languages, and application-oriented programming.
In this project, building on some recent breakthrough developments which relate these different aspects, we aim to develop a unified theory of resources which will apply to all these aspects, and allow a flow of ideas between them. This will provide new tools and methods for computer scientists, and lead both to new kinds of results, and more general versions of existing ones.
Organisations
- UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (Lead Research Organisation, Project Partner)
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Lab (Project Partner)
- University of Helsinki (Project Partner)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Project Partner)
- University of Paris Diderot (Paris 7) (Project Partner)
- University of Warsaw (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
Samson Abramsky (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications

Abramsky S
(2023)
Combining contextuality and causality: a game semantics approach

Abramsky S
(2022)
Comonadic semantics for hybrid logic

Abramsky S
(2024)
Combining contextuality and causality: a game semantics approach
in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences

Abramsky S
(2024)
Arboreal categories and equi-resource homomorphism preservation theorems
in Annals of Pure and Applied Logic

Abramsky S
(2021)
The Logic of Contextuality

Abramsky S
(2022)
Structure and Power: an Emerging Landscape
in Fundamenta Informaticae

Abramsky S
(2022)
Arboreal Categories and Equi-resource Homomorphism Preservation Theorems


Abramsky S
(2021)
Arboreal Categories and Resources
Description | We have made very significant advances in the program of developing mathematical tools which enable a higher-level approach to the logical methodw which play a key role in computer science. This has led in turn to novel and unexpected connections with other areas of mathematics. These can be leveraged to yield powerful new methods for applications. |
Exploitation Route | The main impact will be by academic routes through publication and talks at conferences. Members of the project are regularly invited to give talks at leading international conferences and workshops, and also publishing in prestigious venues. This working is proving influential in the research community. |
Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) |