Dr Scott Bolland

Experience

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  School of Psychology, the University of Queensland

  Jan 1994 - Dec 1999

  Research Assistant / Programmer

  Over this time period, I played a varied role in helping design experiments, generate stimuli, creating testing software, and aiding analysis mainly in the field of human memory research for Professor Michael Humphreys.

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  School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, the University of Queensland

  Jan 1997 - Dec 2002

  In this position I taught cognitive modelling to students, spanning a range of psychological phenomena (from memory and problem-solving, through to visual processing and learning). This position involved researching and writing the training and tutorial material from scratch, as well as working as a lecturer and tutor. Some of this work was turned into a workshop for the general community called “An Introduction to Cognitive Modelling using Matlab” that generated income for my research group. During this time I was also:* Head Tutor for COMP1500 (Java Programming) at the University of Queensland* Workshop presenter for “Data Mining using Clementine” – a data mining package developed by SPSS. Show less

  • Lecturer in Cognitive Computing

    Jan 2001 - Dec 2002

  • Research Assistant / Programmer

    Jan 1997 - Dec 2001
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  Key Centre for Human Factors and Applied Cognitive Psychology, the University of Queensland

  Jan 2002 - Dec 2004

  Research Assistant / Programmer / Trainer

  This work involved programming (algorithms and interfaces in Java) for Leximancer – a commercial text mining package. This package aids the understanding of large corpora of text, automatically extracting the main concepts and how they are related, and visually depicting them on an interactive map. I was also responsible for writing the training material and delivering workshops across Australia.

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  School of Psychology, the University of Queensland

  Jan 2003 - Dec 2003

  Programmer

  This position required me to implement an online interactive treatment program for anxiety (the Online Anxiety Prevention Program), consisting of psychoeducation, relaxation training, interoceptive exposure, cognitive restructuring and relapse prevention. Step-by-step instructions were provided for various exercises and users could track how often they practiced these exercises using an online daily practice schedule.

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  School of Psychology, the University of Queensland

  Jan 2005 - Dec 2008

  Postdoctoral Research Fellow

  In this position, I worked for the Key Centre for Human Factors and Applied Cognitive Psychology. Our group worked closely with Airservices Australia in creating computer simulations for air-traffic controller behaviour, to predict how much mental workload a controller would be under given a particular situation and sector configuration. I was personally involved in developing computational models of air traffic controller problem solving, as well as writing airspace simulations.During this time I also supervised students in a diverse range of projects involving such topics as motivation, problem-solving and personality. Show less

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  The University of Queensland

  Jul 2008 - Jul 2011

  Senior Research Fellow

  For 3 years I led the Fluid Analogies Research Group at the University of Queensland. This group was fully funded by entrepreneur Sean Howard (the founder of OzEmail and PC magazine), and was aimed at computationally modelling the processes underlying human learning, problem solving, reasoning and creativity. This research also explored the neurological mechanisms underlying intrinsic motivation (i.e. pleasure), and how they lead to the emergence of competence.Over time the focus of this research shifted into the area of eLearning, exploring ways that we could use our systems to create interactive learning platforms. Our main prototype, iKnow, was a finalist in the University of Queensland's commercialisation competition, Trailblazer. Show less

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  The Science of Happiness

  Jun 2011 - Feb 2012

  Founder

  The aim of this consultancy group was to train corporate groups in positive psychology - the science of human flourishing. Corporate clients included Queensland Health (as part of their resilience training program), Financial Technology, and the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

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  The Graduate School of Business - QUT

  Jan 2012 - Dec 2014

  Corporate Educator

  For 3 years I worked as a corporate educator in the Graduate School of Business, specialising in leadership and high-performance team development, designing and delivering workshops for their EMBA and corporate programs. The position required me to review the relevant literature in psychology, neuroscience, leadership and management, and translate it into practical advice that could be embedded in the workplace or in other areas of people's lives. This work covered a diverse range of topics from stress-reduction and meditation, through to active listening, conflict-resolution, values, and individual and team motivation. Show less

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  New Dawn Technologies

  Jan 2015 - now

  Co-founder

  New Dawn Technologies is a high-tech software company aiming to help revolutionise education through the use of artificial intelligence.Currently around 63% of students are disengaged at school, meaning that they withdrawal either physically or mentally before they have mastered the skills that are required to flourish in later life. My current role at New Dawn is in the development of a new e-learning platform called "iKnow" aimed at making education fun, effective (i.e. based on neuroscientific principles of learning) and accessible to all. We all have an innate desire to learn, master our environments and be the best we can be. Children and adults constantly learn through self-directed exploration, experimentation and play. This is why we watch television, read newspapers, check facebook, and interact with others - the brain loves to learn. Unfortunately the current school system is based around archaic principles of learning that are not well-aligned with how the brain naturally learns. As a result, many children are left behind and are not living up to their full potential. IKnow is hopefully a step in the right direction, augmenting the current educational system with personalised e-learning modules where students can explore and progress at their own pace in a fun, safe and social environment. This is a long-term project that will continually grow, integrating the latest advances in technology (such as AI, telecommunications and gamification) with the insights gained from the scientific community around effective learning, motivation and self-actualisation. Show less

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  AHA Entertainment Australia

  Jan 2015 - now

  Co-Founder

  ahaentertainment.com.auLEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT COACHING AND EVENTS THAT CHALLENGE THE MIND AND INSPIRE THE SOULEXECUTIVE COACHING IN LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENTIn the article “Lessons from the Geese” written by Dr Robert McNeish in 1972, he states that birds flying in V formation can travel 71% further than birds flying alone, due to the “uplift” created by the preceding birds. The main take-home message from this analogy is that people can achieve more in a group that shares a common direction than they would be able to alone.The role of coaching is to offer you support in achieving your goals, allowing you to achieve more than what you might be able to alone. It is a dedicated space where together we can explore your goals and the kind of life you want to be living, look at the research for insights into what options may be most useful, and actively experiment to find out what approaches work best for you. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in a free coaching session to learn more.WORKSHOPS/SEMINARSLooking for something different and memorable in your leadership and personal development events and courses? AHA Entertainment specialises in corporate and personal development training featuring Queensland’s finest performance coaches and musicians to challenge the mind and inspire the soul.Why music? For change to be effective… you must want to change. Such motivation is fuelled by emotion, not just logic. In our events, we present the latest information from the field of positive psychology, but heightened with an emotional narrative using a range of popular music from Buble to Broadway and modern pop anthems. It is an experience you won’t quickly forget. Feel free to contact me to see our show reel, and learn more about what we can do for your organisation. "Wow!!! What can I say? This session was excellent and absolutely blew everyone at my table away. It was one of my most favourite presentations ever!" Show less

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  TEDxSouthBank

  Jan 2016 - Jan 2016

  Speaker
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  An Extraordinary Life Podcast

  Jun 2022 - now

  Co-Founder
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  Cavendish University Zambia

  Oct 2024 - now

  Visiting Professor

  Happy to be accepting a role as a Visiting Professor of Information Technology at Cavendish University, Zambia.The role integrates my interests and background in artificial intelligence, positive psychology and design thinking.We are in a new digital era, where AI is becoming an incredibly disruptive but potentially profoundly positive force. However, disruption and uncertainty go hand in hand—we have no idea what jobs will look like in the next five years, let alone ten.In my role, I will be involved in several projects exploring:- how can individuals make the most of emerging technology to amplify their productivity and outcomes- what skills do we need to be teaching leaders and individuals, to help them better navigate these uncertain times, while optimising for their personal wellbeing- how do we ensure that AI adoption amplifies rather than diminishes humanityAI can achieve much good. It is nice to be involved in exploring the positive benefits to marginalised communities, amongst other things. Show less