title: Integrating behavioural and formal specifications

authors: Liu, Bowen

subjects: Formal methods

abstract: Behaviour-driven development and formal methods have been shown to be effective techniques for different parts of the interactive system development process. However, when the different parts of an interactive system are combined, issues may arise due to the different focuses of the techniques. For a safety-critical interactive system, where safety is particularly emphasised, using either technique individually does not cover all aspects of the system. Thus a complementary approach of integrating behaviour-driven development and formal methods, would be better suited for developing safety-critical interactive systems.
This thesis presents an investigation into a method that integrates formal methods and behavioural specifications. This method enables the identification of any inconsistencies between the behavioural specification and the Z specification, allowing potential problems to be found and fixed earlier. We also demonstrate how our method supports ensuring consistency after refinement of the Z specification.

text: Integrating behavioural and formal specifications Behaviour-driven development and formal methods have been shown to be effective techniques for different parts of the interactive system development process. However, when the different parts of an interactive system are combined, issues may arise due to the different focuses of the techniques. For a safety-critical interactive system, where safety is particularly emphasised, using either technique individually does not cover all aspects of the system. Thus a complementary approach of integrating behaviour-driven development and formal methods, would be better suited for developing safety-critical interactive systems.
This thesis presents an investigation into a method that integrates formal methods and behavioural specifications. This method enables the identification of any inconsistencies between the behavioural specification and the Z specification, allowing potential problems to be found and fixed earlier. We also demonstrate how our method supports ensuring consistency after refinement of the Z specification.

year: 2024

title: Public understanding of climate change-related sea-level rise.

authors: Priestley, Rebecca K.

abstract: Sea-level rise resulting from climate change is impacting coasts around the planet. There is strong scientific consensus about the amount of sea-level rise to 2050 (0.24-0.32 m) and a range of projections to 2100, which vary depending on the approach used and the mitigation measures taken to reduce carbon emissions. Despite this strong scientific consensus regarding the reality of climate change-related sea-level rise, and the associated need to engage publics in adaptation and mitigation efforts, there is a lack of empirical evidence regarding people's understanding of the issue. Here we investigate public understanding of the amount, rate and causes of sea-level rise. Data from a representative sample of New Zealand adults showed a suprising tendency for the public to overestimate the scientifically plausible amount of sea-level rise by 2100 and to identify melting sea ice as its primary causal mechanism. These findings will be valuable for scientists communicating about sea-level rise, communicators seeking to engage publics on the issue of sea-level rise, and media reporting on sea-level rise.

text: Public understanding of climate change-related sea-level rise. Sea-level rise resulting from climate change is impacting coasts around the planet. There is strong scientific consensus about the amount of sea-level rise to 2050 (0.24-0.32 m) and a range of projections to 2100, which vary depending on the approach used and the mitigation measures taken to reduce carbon emissions. Despite this strong scientific consensus regarding the reality of climate change-related sea-level rise, and the associated need to engage publics in adaptation and mitigation efforts, there is a lack of empirical evidence regarding people's understanding of the issue. Here we investigate public understanding of the amount, rate and causes of sea-level rise. Data from a representative sample of New Zealand adults showed a suprising tendency for the public to overestimate the scientifically plausible amount of sea-level rise by 2100 and to identify melting sea ice as its primary causal mechanism. These findings will be valuable for scientists communicating about sea-level rise, communicators seeking to engage publics on the issue of sea-level rise, and media reporting on sea-level rise.

year: 2021

title: Creating a curriculum for indigenous and community languages: Te reo Māori as an example

authors: Bruce, Ian

subjects: linguistics

abstract: Part 1 of this paper introduces the draft Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages and describes how it was used in the construction of draft New Zealand curriculum guidelines for French and German. Part 2 discusses how the CEFR has been employed in curriculum development in Te Reo Māori at the University of Waikato and suggests that it could also prove useful in relation to curriculum development projects involving indigenous and community languages more generally.

text: Creating a curriculum for indigenous and community languages: Te reo Māori as an example Part 1 of this paper introduces the draft Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages and describes how it was used in the construction of draft New Zealand curriculum guidelines for French and German. Part 2 discusses how the CEFR has been employed in curriculum development in Te Reo Māori at the University of Waikato and suggests that it could also prove useful in relation to curriculum development projects involving indigenous and community languages more generally.

year: 2002