University of Melbourne Events Calendar

Co-hosted by: MIQT and OPTIMA

Time: 16:00 – 17:00 Seminar, followed by light refreshments until 17:30

Abstract:

Over the last two decades, the travelling salesperson problem (TSP) has been used as a benchmark problem to explore the advantage of quantum computers over conventional computers. Its advantages include being easy to understand, highlighting the challenges of searching through an exponentially growing number of possible solutions, with direct applications to large-scale transportation and logistics problems in industry.

However, we argue that the TSP is not a problem well-suited to current QUBO-based quantum optimisation methods (like quantum annealing (QA) and QAOA). At what point is a call made that quantum advantage is not likely, and efforts should be focused on other problems?

This talk reviews 20 years of efforts to conclude current quantum methods are unlikely to ever be competitive with the classical state of the art for TSP and many other constrained optimisation problems. We offer mathematical arguments for why QUBO-based methods are not well suited for tackling the challenges of the TSP landscape, drawing parallels with similar observations made almost four decades ago for QUBO-based neural networks.

We discuss the numerous challenges that must be overcome for current quantum methods to handle constrained optimisation. Finally, we discuss more promising directions for quantum optimisation using non-QUBO-based hybrid approaches, where quantum search could accelerate components of conventional algorithms.

This talk is based on the following recently published paper in Quantum Science and Technology:

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2058-9565/add61d

Join us at the 2025 Mental Health Symposium featuring the Alice Barber Public Lecture, presented in collaboration between the Department of Psychiatry and the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences.

Mental Health Symposium

The event will commence with the Mental Health Symposium, featuring presentations from Christopher Winkler, Dr Andrea Putica, Dr Hope O’Brien and Professor Ben Harrison, focussing on a range of current mental health topics.

Alice Barber Public Lecture, presented by Professor Bronwyn Graham

Lecture overview

Cracking the XX code: The hidden science of how the female brain regulates fear

Women have a twice greater lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorders than men. The reasons underlying this imbalance are poorly understood. Moreover, current knowledge on anxiety and its treatment is based on studies conducted almost exclusively in males, a bias that is evident across almost all areas of biomedical research. As a consequence, the role of female-unique factors, such as differential exposure to sex hormones across the lifespan (e.g., puberty, the menstrual cycle, peri-partum, and peri-menopause, as well as exposure to synthetic hormones in contraceptives), is overlooked in the clinical care of women.

In this talk, Professor Graham will present evidence that illustrates the crucial roles of these female-unique factors in the onset of anxiety symptoms, their severity, and even the effectiveness of psychological and pharmacological treatments for anxiety. She will also highlight how recent changes to research policy and practice are propelling sex- and gender-tailored healthcare for all people.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Alice Barber Lecture, held annually at the University of Melbourne in honour of Dr Alice Barber, a pioneer in psychotherapy and a medical graduate of the university in 1906.