RESEARCH STATEMENT
My work concerns the origin and evolution of language, and the unique
ways that culture and biology interact in our species. I
have pioneered a new approach to understanding cultural
evolution of behaviours such as language which we call
Iterated Learning. A number of research groups around the
world - in addition to my own - are now studying Iterated
Learning using techniques as diverse as mathematical
modelling, computational simulation, and psychological
experiments. My view is that a complete understanding of
human nature requires an account of the complex
interactions between individual learning, cultural
transmission and biological evolution in human
populations.
In addition, I pair my scientific research with artistic output by
collaborating with sculptors and musicians to create
interactive installations exploring issues of
communication and cultural evolution in a socially and
informationally promiscuous world. So far, I have
exhibited five such artworks nationally, including the
BAFTA winning Cybraphon.
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TEACHING
- MSc in The Evolution
of Language and Cognition
- Honours/MSc course on Simulating Language
- MSc course on Foundations of
Evolution
- MSc course on Current Issues in Language Evolution
- Undegraduate course on Language and Communication
- Language Evolution
and Computation course taught in Helsinki 2003
- PhD students:
- Current:
Rachael Bailes,
Erin Brown,
Christine Cuskley,
Vanessa Ferdinand,
Keelin Murray, Alan Nielsen,
Justin Quillinan,
Sean Roberts, Catriona Silvey,
Marton Soskuthy,
James Thomas,
Bill Thompson, Tessa Verhoef
- Past:
Henry Brighton,
Hannah Cornish,
Dan Dediu,
Dave Hawkey,
Stefan Hoefler,
Anna Martowicz,
Anna Parker,
Joseph Poulshock,
Thom Scott-Phillips,
Jennifer Sullivan,
Graham Ritchie,
Andrew Smith,
Kenny Smith,
Monica Tamariz,
Carrie Theisen,
Viktor Tron,
Daniel Wedgwood,
Hajime Yamauchi,
Jelle Zuidema
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