Prof Simon Kirby FRSELanguage Evolution and Computation Research Unit School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh Dugald Stewart Building 3, Charles St. Edinburgh, EH8 9AD, UK Office phone: +44 131 650 3494 Fax: +44 131 650 3962 Email: simon@ling.ed.ac.uk Twitter: @SimonKirby
Office: 1.09, Dugald Stewart Building |
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| VIDEOS: Documentary on my artistic output, and a public lecture summarising some of our work. |
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I hold the Chair of
Language Evolution in the department of Linguistics and English Language, School of Philosophy,
Psychology and Language Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.
I co-founded
the Language Evolution and Computation
Research Unit, and am Director of the Graduate School I am a member of the FOUND art collective, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. |
RESEARCH STATEMENTMy 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. |
TEACHING
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PUBLICATIONS
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Other stuff...Music
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