From Democratic Consensus to Cannibalistic Hordes: The Principles of Collective Behavior

From Democratic Consensus to Cannibalistic Hordes: The Principles of Collective Behavior
Lecture by Iain Couzin

Why do billions of locusts suddenly break into motion? How do ants carry heavy loads and march with orderly precision along densely packed trails?  How do flocks of birds and schools of fish select their navigators? And how do we—humans—make decisions as citizens, drivers, and numerous other social situations? Iain Couzin, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton, has made major contributions to understanding the dynamics and evolution of collective animal behavior. Free and open to the public, Harvard Museum of Natural History, 24 Oxford Street. Free parking available in the 52 Oxford Street garage  Part of the Evolution Matters lecture series  http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/lectures-classes-events/evolution-matters-2012.html Supported by a gift from Drs. Herman and Joan Suit.