Adam Barrett

Dr. Adam Barrett is an Associate Professor in Machine Learning and Data Science within the School of Engineering and Informatics at the University of Sussex. His interdisciplinary research spans complexity science, neuroscience of consciousness, and sustainability applications across multiple domains.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Oxford (Balliol College), focusing on string theory
• Mathematical Tripos (Parts I, II, III) at St John's College, Cambridge

Dr. Barrett's research program is built around developing and applying complexity science and data science tools to fundamental questions across disciplines. His primary focus is on neuroscience of consciousness, where he develops mathematical frameworks for measuring complexity, emergence, and information integration, applying these to brain imaging data from various states including wakeful rest, anesthesia, sleep, and psychedelic states. He also applies complexity metrics to ecological systems through ecoacoustics research and explores stability in post-growth economies using Minskyan models. His environmental work includes time series analysis and machine learning applications for drought forecasting using satellite imaging data.

Analysis of Dr. Barrett's recent publications reveals a cohesive research trajectory centered on information theory and complexity metrics, with applications spanning neuroscience, ecology, and environmental science. His work demonstrates strong theoretical development alongside practical applications, with several papers receiving significant citations in the consciousness and complexity science communities.

His research has been supported by multiple grants including:

• 'Listening Below: Investigating Complexity Metrics for Ecoacoustics in Reef and Soil Ecosystems' (NERC, 2023)
• 'Toward a Measure of Soundscape Dynamical Acoustic Complexity using Causal Analysis and AI' (EPSRC, 2022-2023)
• 'Explaining Consciousness as Neural Dynamical Complexity' (EPSRC, 2013-2018)

Dr. Barrett actively contributes to academic training at Sussex as Convenor for the 'Algorithmic Data Science' (MSc) and 'Fundamentals of Machine Learning' (2nd year) modules. His research group maintains interdisciplinary collaborations across neuroscience, ecology, economics, and environmental science, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of complexity science approaches.