Dr Savi Maharaj

Senior Lecturer

Computing Science University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Savi Maharaj

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About me

I grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, where I graduated with a BSc in Maths and Computer Science from the University of the West Indies. After a short (but sufficient!) stint as a COBOL programmer, I came to Scotland where I did MSc and PhD degrees in Computer Science at the University of Edinburgh. My PhD was partly funded through summer jobs at what was then called AT&T Bell Labs, where I worked within an exciting research department which, sadly, no longer exists. After the PhD (phew!) I spent a year on an ERCIM fellowship which allowed me to visit the CROAP group at INRIA in France and the Department for Computation and Information at RAL in England. I then returned to Scotland to become a lecturer at the University of Stirling. I am married to Neil and we have two children, Sharda and Jamie.

Event / Presentation

A Participatory Simulation Model for Studying Attitudes to Infection Risk. Summer Computer Simulation Conference 2011 (SCSC 2011)
The Society for Modeling and Simulation International

Studying the effects of adding spatiality to a process algebra model. 8th Workshop on Process Algebra and Stochastically Timed Activities (PASTA 2009): Edinburgh, UK
Process Algebra and Stochastically Timed Activities (PASTA)

http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/pepa/group/pastaworkshop/

Omnibus Verification Policies: A Flexible, Configurable Approach to Assertion-Based Software Verification. 3rd IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering and Formal Methods

Stay at Home, Wash Your Hands: Epidemic Dynamics with Awareness of Infection. Summer Simulation Multiconference


Research (4)

I am interested in the use of simulation techniques, including agent-based simulation and virtual worlds, to understand real-world socio-economic phenomena. I also work on the use of interactive simulations and games for science communication, education, and in the development of decision support tools for diverse users. My current projects focus on applications within tree and plant health and agriculture in the UK and in India. In previous work, I investigated the use of formal, mathematical techniques for the development of critical systems. Some specific areas of interest include: the use of theorem-proving tools, particularly those based on higher-order logics and type theory, for formal reasoning about specifications, programming languages and programs; the design and semantics of formal specification languages. I collaborated with Thomas Wilson and Robert Clark, on the Omnibus project. I have also worked with Carron Shankland and Muffy Calder on studying the symbolic semantics of the LOTOS specification language; with Juan Biccaregui on formalizing VDM within the PVS theorem prover; with Elsa Gunter on formalizing the semantics of Standard ML within the HOL theorem prover; with the Lego group at Edinburgh University; and with Edward Farrell of the University of the West Indies.

Projects

Multimodal data analysis for monitoring invasive aquatic weeds in India
PI: Dr Savi Maharaj
Funded by: Royal Academy of Engineering

Protecting Food Security in SE Asian Countries by Developing Early-Warning and Ready-Response Systems for Invasive Weed Incursions
PI: Dr Savi Maharaj
Funded by: Academy of Medical Sciences

Exploiting serious games for public engagement and citizen science in plant health
PI: Dr Savi Maharaj
Funded by: Scottish Informatics & Computer Science Alliance

Gamification: scoping the use of games to engage and learn
PI: Dr Savi Maharaj
Funded by: Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs

Outputs (49)

Outputs

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Akbari V, Datta A, Bhowmik D, Marino A, Kumar S, Rupavatharam S, Prabhu GN, Kleczkowski A, R. P. Sujeetha JA & Maharaj S (2022) Multitemporal multispectral drone imagery for water hyacinth mapping in Patancheru lake, Hyderabad, India. Bostater CR (Editor) & Neyt X (Editor) Remote Sensing of the Ocean, Sea Ice, Coastal Waters, and Large Water Regions 2022, Berlin, Germany, 05.09.2022-08.09.2022. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2639004


Conference Proceeding

Simpson M, Marino A, Prabhu GN, Bhowmik D, Rupavatharam S, Datta A, Kleczkowski A, Sujeetha JARP & Maharaj S (2021) Monitoring water hyacinth in Kuttanad, India using Sentinel-1 SAR data. In: 2020 IEEE India Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (InGARSS). IEEE International India Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium 2020 (InGARSS), Online, 02.12.2020-05.12.2020. Piscataway, NJ, USA: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/InGARSS48198.2020.9358977


Conference Proceeding

Docherty C, Rutherford A, Jones G & Maharaj S (2021) Comparing a Game v. Non-Game approach for plant provenance public education. In: Gabron S (ed.) GSGS '21 - International Conference on Gamification and Serious Game Proceeding. Gamification & Serious Game Symposium. GSGS '21 - International Conference on Gamification and Serious Game, Lausanne, Switzerland, 28.06.2021-09.07.2021. Dublin: Digital Kingdom. https://gsgs.ch/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gsgs21.pdf


Conference Proceeding

Akbari V, Simpson M, Maharaj S, Marino A, Bhowmik D, Prabhu GN, Rupavatharam S, Datta A, Kleczkowski A & Sujeetha JARP (2021) Monitoring Aquatic Weeds In Indian Wetlands Using Multitemporal Remote Sensing Data With Machine Learning Techniques. In: 2021 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium IGARSS. International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), Belgium, 12.07.2021-16.07.2021. Piscataway, NJ, USA: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/IGARSS47720.2021.9553207


Review

Datta A, Maharaj S, Prabhu GN, Bhowmik D, Marino A, Akbari V, Rupavatharam S, Sujeetha JAR, Anantrao GG, Poduvattil VK, Kumar S & Kleczkowski A (2021) Monitoring the spread of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes): challenges and future developments. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9, Art. No.: 631338. Biogeography and Macroecology, Invaders on the Horizon! Scanning the Future of Invasion Science and Management. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.631338


Conference Proceeding

Ameerbakhsh O, Maharaj S, Hussain A, Paine CET & Taiksi S (2016) An exploratory case study of interactive simulation for teaching Ecology. In: 2016 15th International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and Training (ITHET). ITHET 2016: 15th International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and Training, Istanbul, Turkey, 08.09.2016-10.09.2016. Piscataway, NJ, USA: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ITHET.2016.7760725


Lecture

Maharaj S, Jones G, Greene P & Docherty C (2016) Gamification for public engagement with invasive tree pests and diseases (Presentation) First International European Citizen Science Association (ESCA) Conference 2016: Citizen Science - Innovation in Open Science, Society and Policy, Berlin, 19.05.2016-21.05.2016.


Conference Proceeding

Banerjee S & Maharaj S (2015) Strategic Interactions and Information Exchange on Networks: An Agent Based Simulation Model of Landowner Behavior in Conservation Incentive Schemes. In: Miguel F, Amblard F, Barcelo J & Madella M (eds.) Advances in Computational Social Science and Social Simulation: Proceedings of the Social Simulation Conference 2014 Barcelona, Catalunya (Spain), September 15. Social Simulation Conference, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, 01.09.2014-05.09.2014. Barcelona: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Press, pp. 42-46. http://ddd.uab.cat/pub/poncom/2014/125597/advcomsocsci_a2014.pdf


Conference Proceeding

Delaney L, Kleczkowski A, Maharaj S, Rasmussen S & Williams L (2013) Reflections on a virtual experiment addressing human behavior during epidemics. In: SummerSim '13 2013 Summer Simulation Multiconference Toronto, Canada — July 07 - 10, 2013. Simulation series, 45.11. Summer Computer Simulation Conference 2013, Toronto, Canada, 07.07.2013-10.07.2013. Vista, CA: Society for Modeling & Simulation International. http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2557732&CFID=279840820&CFTOKEN=77799498


Conference Proceeding

Maharaj S, Kleczkowski A & McCaldin T (2011) A Participatory Simulation Model for Studying Attitudes to Infection Risk. In: Proceedings of the Summer Computer Simulation Conference 2011 (SCSC 2011). Summer Computer Simulation Conference 2011 (SCSC 2011), The Hague, NL, 27.06.2011-30.06.2011. California: Society for Modeling and Simulation International Vista / ACM Digital Library, pp. 8-13.


Conference Proceeding

Kleczkowski A & Maharaj S (2010) Stay at Home, Wash Your Hands: Epidemic Dynamics with Awareness of Infection. In: SummerSim '10 2010 Summer Simulation Multiconference. Summer Simulation Multiconference, Ottawa, Canada, 01.07.2010. San Diego: Society for Computer Simulation International, pp. 141-146. http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1999432


Conference Proceeding

Maharaj S, McCaig C & Shankland C (2009) Studying the effects of adding spatiality to a process algebra model. In: Clark A & Guerriero M (eds.) 8th Workshop on Process Algebra and Stochastically Timed Activities: PASTA 2009. 8th Workshop on Process Algebra and Stochastically Timed Activities (PASTA 2009): Edinburgh, UK, Edinburgh, 26.08.2009-26.08.2009. Edinburgh, UK: University of Edinburgh, pp. 153-158. http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/pepa/group/pastaworkshop/PASTA09/proceedings.pdf


Other

Maharaj S (Editor), Shankland C (Editor) & Rattray C (Editor) (2006) Theoretical Computer Science. Theoretical Computer Science, 351 (2). http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03043975/351/2


Conference Proceeding

Wilson T, Maharaj S & Clark R (2005) Omnibus verification policies: A flexible, configurable approach to assertion-based software verification. In: Aichernig B & Beckert B (eds.) SEFM 2005: Third IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering and Formal Methods, Proceedings. 3rd IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering and Formal Methods, Koblenz, Germany, 07.09.2005-09.09.2005. Los Alamitos, CA: The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc, pp. 150-159. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/mostRecentIssue.jsp?punumber=10529


Conference Proceeding

Bujorianu ML, Bujorianu MC & Maharaj S (2005) Distributed stochastic hybrid systems. In: Zitek P (ed.) Proceedings of the 16th IFAC World Congress, 2005. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 16. 16th World Congress of the International Federation on Automation and Control (IFAC 2005), Czech Republic, 04.07.2005-08.07.2005. Amsterdam: Elsevier for International Federation of Automatic Control, pp. 158-163. http://www.ifac-papersonline.net/Detailed/27660.html


Conference Proceeding

Wilson T, Maharaj S & Clark R (2005) Omnibus: a clean language and supporting tool for integrating different assertion-based verification techniques. In: Butler M, Jones C, Romanovsky A & Troubitsyna E (eds.) Proceedings of the Workshop on Rigorous Engineering of Fault-Tolerant Systems (REFT 2005). Technical Report Series, CS-TR-915. Workshop on Rigorous Engineering of Fault-Tolerant Systems (REFT 2005), Newcastle, 19.07.2005-19.07.2005. Newcastle upon Tyne: University of Newcastle upon Tyne, pp. 43-52. http://rodin.cs.ncl.ac.uk/REFT.htm


Conference Proceeding

Rattray C, Maharaj S & Shankland C (eds.) (2004) Algebraic Methodology and Software Technology: 10th International Conference, AMAST 2004, Stirling, Scotland, UK, July 12-16, 2004. Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 3116. AMAST'2004 - 10th International Conference on Algebraic Methodology And Software Technology. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer.


Conference Proceeding

Bujorianu MC, Maharaj S & Bujorianu ML (2002) Towards a Formalization of Viewpoints Testing. In: Hierons R & Thierry J (eds.) Formal Approaches to Testing of Software: FATES’02 A Satellite Workshop of CONCUR’02, Brno, Czech Republic, August 24th 2002 Proceedings. FATES’02: A Satellite Workshop of CONCUR’02, Brno, Czech Republic, 24.08.2002-24.08.2002. Switzerland: Springer, pp. 137-151. http://kar.kent.ac.uk/13752/1/FormalRob.pdf


Conference Proceeding

Shankland C, Romijn J & Maharaj S (eds.) (2001) IEEE 1394 (Firewire) Workshop: International Workshop on Applications of Formal Methods to IEEE 1394 Standard. IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Workshop: International Workshop on Application of Formal Methods to IEEE 1394 Standard, Stirling, Scotland, 13.03.2001-13.03.2001. Stirling, Scotland: University of Stirling,Dept of Computing Science & Maths.


Conference Proceeding

Calder M, Maharaj S & Shankland C (2001) An Adequate Logic for Full LOTOS. In: Oliveira J & Zave P (eds.) FME 2001: Formal Methods for Increasing Software Productivity. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2021. International Symposium of Formal Methods Europe, Berlin, Germany, 12.03.2001-16.03.2001. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 384-395. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/3-540-45251-6_21


Conference Proceeding

Maharaj S (2001) A PVS Theory of Symbolic Transition Systems. In: Boulton R & Jackson P (eds.) Theorem Proving in Higher Order Logics, 2001, Supplemental Proceedings. Theorem Proving in Higher Order Logics: 14th International Conference, TPHOLs 2001, Edinburgh, Scotland, 03.09.2001-06.09.2001. Edinburgh, Scotland: Division of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, pp. 255-266. http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk/publications/online/0046/


Conference Proceeding

Maharaj S & Shankland C (2000) A Survey of Formal Methods applied to IEEE 1394. In: Proceedings of the IEEE TC-ECBS + TF RE and IFIP WG10.1 Workshop - Joint Workshop on Formal Specifications of Computer-Based Systems. IEEE TC-ECBS + TF RE and IFIP WG10.1: Joint Workshop on Formal Specifications of Computer-Based Systems, Edinburgh, Scotland, 06.04.2000-07.04.2000. Stirling, Scotland: University of Stirling, pp. 25-26.


Conference Proceeding

Maharaj S (1999) Towards a Method of Test Case Extraction from Correctness Proofs. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Workshop on Algebraic Development Techniques. 14th International Workshop on Algebraic Development Techniques (WADT 1999), Chateau de Bonas, France, 15.09.1999-18.09.1999. Switzerland: Springer, pp. 45-46.


Book Chapter

Agerholm S, Bicarregui J & Maharaj S (1998) On the Verification of VDM Specification and Refinement with PVS. In: Bicarregui J (ed.) Proof in VDM: Case Studies. Formal Approaches to Computing and Information Technology (FACIT). London: Springer, pp. 157-189. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4471-1532-8_6#


Conference Proceeding

Maharaj S & Bicarregui J (1997) On the verification of VDM specification and refinement with PVS. In: 12th IEEE International Conference Automated Software Engineering, 1997. Proceedings. 12th IEEE International Conference Automated Software Engineering, 1997, Incline Village, NV, USA, 01.11.1997-05.11.1997. Piscataway, NJ, USA: IEEE, pp. 280-289. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=632849&abstractAccess=no&userType=inst; https://doi.org/10.1109/ASE.1997.632849


Conference Proceeding

Maharaj S & Gunter EL (1994) Studying the ML module system in HOL. In: Melham T & Camilleri J (eds.) Higher Order Logic Theorem Proving and Its Applications: 7th International Workshop Valletta, Malta, September 19–22, 1994 Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 859. 7th International Workshop on Higher Order Logic Theorem Proving and Its Applications, Valletta, Malta, 19.09.1994-22.09.1994. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 346-361. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/3-540-58450-1_53#; https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-58450-1_53


Conference Proceeding

Maharaj S (1994) Encoding Z-style Schemas in Type Theory. In: Barendregt H & Nipkow T (eds.) Types for Proofs and Programs: International Workshop TYPES'93 Nijmegen, The Netherlands, May 24–28, 1993 Selected Papers. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 806. International Workshop TYPES'93, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 24.05.1993-28.05.1993. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 238-262. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/3-540-58085-9_79#; https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-58085-9_79


Technical Report

Jones C & Maharaj S (1993) The LEGO library. University of Edinburgh. http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/home/lego/html/release-1.2/library/newlib.html


Thesis

Maharaj S (1990) Implementing Z in LEGO. Master of Science. University of Edinburgh.


Teaching

My teaching includes introductory programming in Java, software engineering and formal methods, relational database systems, and agent-based computational modelling.