JJ Valletta Memorial Lecture 2023 From machine learning to migration: Quantitative approaches for understanding animal groups on the move. Lecture by Professor Colin Torney, U. Glasgow. - Free

Professor Colin Torney, University of Glasgow, will deliver the 2nd annual JJ Valletta Memorial Lecture on “From machine learning to migration: Quantitative approaches for understanding animal groups on the move”. All are welcome – the lecturer is aimed at undergraduates, graduate students and staff with an interest in machine learning, modelling, statistics or animal movement. The lecture will be followed by a reception.

Abstract: Recent advances in technology and quantitative methods have led to a growth in our ability to study mobile animal groups in their natural environments. Understanding the movement patterns of these groups requires the study of individual behaviour and the interactions between leadership, imitation, and environmental drivers that influence movement decisions. In this talk I will discuss the methods we're using to investigate these questions, including tools to collect movement and behavioural data from migratory species, and machine learning techniques to infer behavioural rules from movement data for both individuals and social groups.

This lecture is given in the memory of our colleague JJ Valetta, who suddenly passed away while hillwalking on 25th October 2020. JJ had a personal interest in the lecture topic, and has coauthored with our speaker.