Three university-led teams have been chosen for a program to map, understand and mathematically re-create visual processing in the brain in response to an Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity challenge that aims to close gaps between computer and human recognition.

Sandia National Laboratories said Nov. 2 that participants of IARPA’s Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks project will work to explain how brains see patterns and classify objects then use that information to develop computer algorithms for national security and intelligence applications.

Carnegie Mellon University, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Baylor College of Medicine, Allen Institute for Brain Science and Princeton University will utilize different techniques to map the visual cortex and generate models to develop computer algorithms for object recognition.

“We’re building better tools to see things that we were unable to see before and we’re trying to come up with theories to explain what we’ve observed,” said Brad Aimone, computational neuroscientist and principal member of technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories.

“The hope is it will tell us something that will make our models better so we could use them to do interesting things.”

Aimone will also lead a team to evaluate how much neuroscience machine learning algorithms will incorporate through computational neuroscience models as well as perform peer-review panel tasks to compare that university-led teams’ conclusions.

The Defense Department has created a series of prototypes to explore best learning practices in cyber skill education, C4ISRNet reported Tuesday.

Frank DiGiovanni, force training director at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness, told the publication DoD seeks to prototype variants of learning practices to determine the best approach to teach new cyber skills, Mark Pomerleau wrote.

DiGiovanni modeled part of the course based on interviews with 21 hackers and the prototype is built around sets of curriculum that is designed to teach high level skills within six months, Pomerleau reported.

DoD is in talks with the four military services, the National Security Agency and the U.S. Cyber Command on how to incorporate lessons from two prototypes into current practices, according to C4ISRNet.

DiGiovanni told C4ISRNet DoD might create a third prototype and the department currently develops a “blended learning approach” that entails in-person learning with a mentor.

The Department of the Navy has begun its search for naval officers, Marines and other service personnel who have developed novel platforms and capabilities in support of the military branch’s missions as part of the 2016 Secretary of the Navy Innovation Awards.

The service branch seeks to recognize innovators in eight categories that include technology development, automated process development, data analytics, innovation leadership, innovation scholar, enlisted innovator, innovation catalyst and outside the box, the Navy said Monday.

Under the technology development category, the Navy seeks new software and hardware platforms in various areas such as additive manufacturing, unmanned systems, robotics, renewable energy, virtual reality and human-machine teaming.

“I want the entire workforce, from the most senior admirals, generals and civilian executives to recruits and officer candidates, to look for ways to improve their organizations and accomplish their missions,” Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said.

The military branch also launched a contest to design trophies for SECNAV Innovation Awards recipients.

The Navy will accept nominations through Dec. 31 and announce the winners in March.