Dr Tim Cooper was heavily involved in the Sydney University timetabling research group. He is a highly competent computer scientist who has developed the Edval package. Tim passed his Masters degree in Computer science at Sydney University with first class honours, then went on to do his PhD in a related computer programming area. Tim has been working directly with school timetables since 1993.
Dr Cooper is a co-founder of
SMARTS Pty Ltd
which is the global leader in stock market surveillance systems. SmartsGroup Pty Ltd employs artificial intelligence in pattern matching to identify instances of insider trading and market manipulation, and uses a proprietary database technique developed specifically by Tim for this application. Many of these pattern matching techniques are similar in generating the timetabling solutions. Tim is also a senior consultant programmer who helped found
The Brain Resource Company [PDF file 845KB link]
which is an international biotech organisation involved in development of technology in relation to research of brain activity, and pattern matches brain scans to detect various medical conditions such as ADHD.
Together with Dr Jeff Kingston, Tim has had several papers published relating to his algorithms and methods associated with timetabling techniques. In 2003 Tim personally organised a 'Computers for East Timor' project, delivering nearly 40 computers which he had donated to his project by various Australian companies. These computers were delivered to the computer department of East Timor University, which previously had no computers at all, and was teaching the course from literature alone. Tim also accompanied one of his employees in a training mission, spending several weeks setting up networks and instructing support staff.