[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.39,0:00:04.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Science,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.62,0:00:07.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,science has allowed us to know so much
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.96,0:00:10.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the far reaches of the universe,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.98,0:00:14.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is at the same time tremendously important
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.18,0:00:16.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and extremely remote,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.24,0:00:18.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yet much, much closer,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.70,0:00:20.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much more directly related to us,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.80,0:00:23.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are many things we don't really understand.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.26,0:00:25.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one of them is the extraordinary
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.39,0:00:28.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,social complexity of the animals around us,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.72,0:00:30.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and today I want to tell you a few stories
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.73,0:00:32.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of animal complexity.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.74,0:00:36.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But first, what do we call complexity?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.09,0:00:37.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What is complex?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.58,0:00:41.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, complex is not complicated.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.01,0:00:44.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Something complicated comprises many small parts,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.45,0:00:46.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all different, and each of them
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.90,0:00:50.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has its own precise role in the machinery.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.00,0:00:52.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the opposite, a complex system
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.81,0:00:55.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is made of many, many similar parts,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.46,0:00:57.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it is their interaction
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.46,0:01:00.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that produces a globally coherent behavior.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.78,0:01:04.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Complex systems have many interacting parts
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.62,0:01:08.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which behave according to simple, individual rules,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.04,0:01:11.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this results in emergent properties.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.39,0:01:13.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The behavior of the system as a whole
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.28,0:01:14.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cannot be predicted
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.95,0:01:17.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the individual rules only.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.10,0:01:18.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As Aristotle wrote,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.91,0:01:21.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.97,0:01:24.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But from Aristotle, let's move onto
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.43,0:01:28.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a more concrete example of complex systems.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.12,0:01:30.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are Scottish terriers.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.08,0:01:33.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the beginning, the system is disorganized.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.83,0:01:37.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then comes a perturbation: milk.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.63,0:01:41.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every individual starts pushing in one direction
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.48,0:01:44.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is what happens.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.79,0:01:47.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The pinwheel is an emergent property
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.62,0:01:49.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the interactions between puppies
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.52,0:01:53.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose only rule is to try to keep access to the milk
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.43,0:01:57.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and therefore to push in a random direction.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.04,0:02:01.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's all about finding the simple rules
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.01,0:02:03.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from which complexity emerges.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.77,0:02:06.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I call this simplifying complexity,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.71,0:02:08.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's what we do at the chair of systems design
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.84,0:02:10.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at ETH Zurich.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.82,0:02:14.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We collect data on animal populations,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.53,0:02:18.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,analyze complex patterns, try to explain them.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.34,0:02:20.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It requires physicists who work with biologists,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.96,0:02:23.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with mathematicians and computer scientists,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.68,0:02:26.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it is their interaction that produces
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.50,0:02:28.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cross-boundary competence
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.21,0:02:29.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to solve these problems.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.79,0:02:32.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So again, the whole is greater
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.06,0:02:33.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the sum of the parts.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.46,0:02:35.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In a way, collaboration
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.61,0:02:39.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is another example of a complex system.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.10,0:02:40.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you may be asking yourself
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.98,0:02:43.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which side I'm on, biology or physics?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.80,0:02:45.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, it's a little different,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.91,0:02:47.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to explain, I need to tell you
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.50,0:02:49.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a short story about myself.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.84,0:02:51.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I was a child,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.57,0:02:55.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I loved to build stuff, to\Ncreate complicated machines.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.68,0:02:58.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I set out to study electrical engineering
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.41,0:02:59.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and robotics,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.96,0:03:02.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and my end-of-studies project
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.06,0:03:04.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was about building a robot called ER-1 --
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.98,0:03:06.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it looked like this—
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.91,0:03:09.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would collect information from its environment
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.28,0:03:12.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and proceed to follow a white line on the ground.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.78,0:03:15.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was very, very complicated,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.16,0:03:18.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it worked beautifully in our test room,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.15,0:03:21.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and on demo day, professors had \Nassembled to grade the project.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.61,0:03:24.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we took ER-1 to the evaluation room.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.51,0:03:26.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It turned out, the light in that room
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.82,0:03:28.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was slightly different.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.64,0:03:30.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The robot's vision system got confused.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.97,0:03:32.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At the first bend in the line,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.73,0:03:36.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it left its course, and crashed into a wall.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.47,0:03:38.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We had spent weeks building it,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.56,0:03:40.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all it took to destroy it
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.23,0:03:42.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was a subtle change in the color of the light
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.88,0:03:44.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the room.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.48,0:03:45.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's when I realized that
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.100,0:03:48.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the more complicated you make a machine,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.32,0:03:50.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the more likely that it will fail
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.36,0:03:52.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,due to something absolutely unexpected.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.92,0:03:54.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I decided that, in fact,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.76,0:03:57.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I didn't really want to create complicated stuff.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.77,0:04:00.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted to understand complexity,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.71,0:04:02.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the complexity of the world around us
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.70,0:04:05.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and especially in the animal kingdom.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.10,0:04:08.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which brings us to bats.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.42,0:04:11.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bechstein's bats are a common\Nspecies of European bats.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.47,0:04:12.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are very social animals.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.89,0:04:16.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mostly they roost, or sleep, together.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.18,0:04:17.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they live in maternity colonies,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.86,0:04:19.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which means that every spring,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.40,0:04:22.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the females meet after the winter hibernation,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.66,0:04:24.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they stay together for about six months
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.74,0:04:27.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to rear their young,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.23,0:04:30.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they all carry a very small chip,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.04,0:04:31.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which means that every time one of them
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.91,0:04:34.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,enters one of these specially equipped bat boxes,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.96,0:04:36.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we know where she is,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.61,0:04:37.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and more importantly,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.78,0:04:40.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we know with whom she is.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.34,0:04:44.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I study roosting associations in bats,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.03,0:04:46.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is what it looks like.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.48,0:04:48.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,During the day, the bats roost
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.92,0:04:51.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a number of sub-groups in different boxes.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.22,0:04:53.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It could be that on one day,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.15,0:04:55.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the colony is split between two boxes,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.37,0:04:56.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but on another day,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.67,0:04:58.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it could be together in a single box,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.91,0:05:01.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or split between three or more boxes,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.23,0:05:04.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that all seems rather erratic, really.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.16,0:05:07.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's called fission-fusion dynamics,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.36,0:05:09.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the property for an animal group
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.07,0:05:11.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of regularly splitting and merging
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.25,0:05:12.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into different subgroups.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.91,0:05:15.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what we do is take all these data
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.47,0:05:17.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from all these different days
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.14,0:05:18.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and pool them together
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.64,0:05:21.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to extract a long-term association pattern
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.26,0:05:23.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by applying techniques with network analysis
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.76,0:05:25.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get a complete picture
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.38,0:05:27.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the social structure of the colony.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.92,0:05:32.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay? So that's what this picture looks like.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.18,0:05:34.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this network, all the circles
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.58,0:05:37.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are nodes, individual bats,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.36,0:05:38.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the lines between them
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.94,0:05:42.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are social bonds, associations between individuals.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.60,0:05:45.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It turns out this is a very interesting picture.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.28,0:05:47.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This bat colony is organized
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.26,0:05:49.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in two different communities
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.13,0:05:50.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which cannot be predicted
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.97,0:05:53.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the daily fission-fusion dynamics.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.22,0:05:56.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We call them cryptic social units.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.77,0:05:58.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even more interesting, in fact:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.38,0:06:00.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every year, around October,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.75,0:06:02.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the colony splits up,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.31,0:06:05.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all bats hibernate separately,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.01,0:06:06.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but year after year,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.47,0:06:09.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when the bats come together again in the spring,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.54,0:06:12.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the communities stay the same.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.13,0:06:14.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So these bats remember their friends
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.85,0:06:16.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a really long time.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.68,0:06:19.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With a brain the size of a peanut,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.16,0:06:21.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they maintain individualized,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.28,0:06:23.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,long-term social bonds,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.42,0:06:25.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We didn't know that was possible.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.15,0:06:26.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We knew that primates
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.90,0:06:29.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and elephants and dolphins could do that,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.47,0:06:32.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but compared to bats, they have huge brains.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.10,0:06:34.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So how could it be
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.50,0:06:36.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the bats maintain this complex,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.45,0:06:38.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stable social structure
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.14,0:06:41.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with such limited cognitive abilities?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.67,0:06:44.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is where complexity brings an answer.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.56,0:06:46.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To understand this system,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.70,0:06:49.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we built a computer model of roosting,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.50,0:06:51.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,based on simple, individual rules,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.52,0:06:53.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and simulated thousands and thousands of days
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.95,0:06:55.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the virtual bat colony.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.97,0:06:58.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a mathematical model,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.09,0:07:00.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's not complicated.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.05,0:07:03.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What the model told us is that, in a nutshell,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.15,0:07:06.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,each bat knows a few other colony members
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.33,0:07:08.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as her friends, and is just slightly more likely
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.82,0:07:11.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to roost in a box with them.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.33,0:07:13.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simple, individual rules.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.77,0:07:15.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is all it takes to explain
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.49,0:07:17.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the social complexity of these bats.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.88,0:07:19.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it gets better.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.59,0:07:22.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Between 2010 and 2011,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.44,0:07:25.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the colony lost more than two thirds of its members,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.89,0:07:28.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,probably due to the very cold winter.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.88,0:07:32.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The next spring, it didn't form two communities
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.02,0:07:33.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like every year,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.30,0:07:35.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which may have led the whole colony to die
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.50,0:07:37.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it had become too small.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.59,0:07:42.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, it formed a single, cohesive social unit,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.97,0:07:45.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which allowed the colony to survive that season
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.70,0:07:48.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and thrive again in the next two years.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.80,0:07:50.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we know is that the bats
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.58,0:07:53.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are not aware that their colony is doing this.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.49,0:07:57.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All they do is follow simple association rules,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.03,0:07:58.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and from this simplicity
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.38,0:08:00.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,emerges social complexity
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.82,0:08:03.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which allows the colony to be resilient
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.66,0:08:06.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,against dramatic changes\Nin the population structure.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.64,0:08:09.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I find this incredible.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.34,0:08:11.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now I want to tell you another story,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.42,0:08:12.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but for this we have to travel from Europe
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.98,0:08:16.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the Kalahari Desert in South Africa.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.02,0:08:18.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is where meerkats live.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.05,0:08:19.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm sure you know meerkats.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.55,0:08:21.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're fascinating creatures.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.66,0:08:24.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They live in groups with a\Nvery strict social hierarchy.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.65,0:08:26.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is one dominant pair,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.11,0:08:27.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and many subordinates,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.49,0:08:29.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some acting as sentinels,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.20,0:08:30.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some acting as babysitters,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.54,0:08:32.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some teaching pups, and so on.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.44,0:08:35.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we do is put very small GPS collars
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.76,0:08:37.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on these animals
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.28,0:08:39.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to study how they move together,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.16,0:08:42.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what this has to do with their social structure.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.87,0:08:44.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there's a very interesting example
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.36,0:08:47.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of collective movement in meerkats.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.08,0:08:49.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the middle of the reserve which they live in
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.45,0:08:50.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lies a road.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.66,0:08:53.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On this road there are cars, so it's dangerous.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.89,0:08:56.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the meerkats have to cross it
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.17,0:08:58.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get from one feeding place to another.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.75,0:09:03.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we asked, how exactly do they do this?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.50,0:09:05.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We found that the dominant female
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.33,0:09:07.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is mostly the one who leads the group to the road,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.96,0:09:11.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but when it comes to crossing it, crossing the road,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.23,0:09:13.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she gives way to the subordinates,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.58,0:09:15.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a manner of saying,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.36,0:09:18.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Go ahead, tell me if it's safe."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.04,0:09:19.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I didn't know, in fact,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.70,0:09:22.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was what rules in their behavior the meerkats follow
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.84,0:09:25.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for this change at the edge of the group to happen
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.77,0:09:29.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if simple rules were sufficient to explain it.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.62,0:09:33.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I built a model, a model of simulated meerkats
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.61,0:09:35.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,crossing a simulated road.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.52,0:09:37.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a simplistic model.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.39,0:09:40.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Moving meerkats are like random particles
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.23,0:09:42.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose unique rule is one of alignment.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.46,0:09:44.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They simply move together.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.86,0:09:48.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When these particles get to the road,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.05,0:09:49.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they sense some kind of obstacle,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.99,0:09:52.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they bounce against it.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.07,0:09:53.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The only difference
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.23,0:09:55.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between the dominant female, here in red,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.27,0:09:56.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the other individuals,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.76,0:09:59.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that for her, the height of the obstacle,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.31,0:10:01.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is in fact the risk perceived from the road,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.81,0:10:03.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is just slightly higher,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.76,0:10:05.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this tiny difference
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.42,0:10:07.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the individual's rule of movement
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.26,0:10:09.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is sufficient to explain what we observe,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.71,0:10:12.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the dominant female
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.27,0:10:13.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,leads her group to the road
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.70,0:10:15.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then gives way to the others
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.37,0:10:18.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for them to cross first.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.24,0:10:21.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,George Box, who was an English statistician,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.89,0:10:24.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,once wrote, "All models are false,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.85,0:10:26.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but some models are useful."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.91,0:10:30.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in fact, this model is obviously false,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.10,0:10:34.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because in reality, meerkats are\Nanything but random particles.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.07,0:10:35.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's also useful,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.71,0:10:38.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it tells us that extreme simplicity
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.46,0:10:41.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in movement rules at the individual level
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.82,0:10:44.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can result in a great deal of complexity
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.17,0:10:46.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the level of the group.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.10,0:10:50.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So again, that's simplifying complexity.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.16,0:10:51.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would like to conclude
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.61,0:10:54.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on what this means for the whole species.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.43,0:10:56.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the dominant female
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.09,0:10:57.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gives way to a subordinate,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.66,0:10:59.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's not out of courtesy.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.77,0:11:01.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, the dominant female
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.28,0:11:03.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is extremely important for the cohesion of the group.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.80,0:11:07.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If she dies on the road, the whole group is at risk.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.31,0:11:09.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this behavior of risk avoidance
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.55,0:11:12.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a very old evolutionary response.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.35,0:11:16.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These meerkats are replicating an evolved tactic
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.22,0:11:18.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is thousands of generations old,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.45,0:11:20.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they're adapting it to a modern risk,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.86,0:11:24.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this case a road built by humans.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.19,0:11:26.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They adapt very simple rules,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.58,0:11:28.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the resulting complex behavior
Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.87,0:11:31.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,allows them to resist human encroachment
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.83,0:11:34.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into their natural habitat.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.28,0:11:36.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the end,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.08,0:11:38.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it may be bats which change their social structure
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.78,0:11:41.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in response to a population crash,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.16,0:11:42.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or it may be meerkats
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.56,0:11:45.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who show a novel adaptation to a human road,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.76,0:11:48.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or it may be another species.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.45,0:11:51.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My message here -- and it's not a complicated one,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.24,0:11:54.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but a simple one of wonder and hope --
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.01,0:11:57.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my message here is that animals
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.10,0:11:59.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,show extraordinary social complexity,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.52,0:12:01.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this allows them to adapt
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.96,0:12:05.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and respond to changes in their environment.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.44,0:12:08.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In three words, in the animal kingdom,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.21,0:12:10.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simplicity leads to complexity
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.99,0:12:12.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which leads to resilience.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.47,0:12:14.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.75,0:12:21.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.69,0:12:32.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dania Gerhardt: Thank you very much, Nicolas,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.65,0:12:35.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for this great start. Little bit nervous?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.93,0:12:37.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nicolas Perony: I'm okay, thanks.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.57,0:12:40.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,DG: Okay, great. I'm sure a \Nlot of people in the audience
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.03,0:12:41.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,somehow tried to make associations
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.89,0:12:43.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between the animals you were talking about --
Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.72,0:12:45.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the bats, meerkats -- and humans.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.77,0:12:46.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You brought some examples:
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.98,0:12:48.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The females are the social ones,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.72,0:12:50.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the females are the dominant ones,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.43,0:12:52.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not sure who thinks how.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:52.10,0:12:54.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But is it okay to do these associations?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.100,0:12:57.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are there stereotypes you can confirm in this regard
Dialogue: 0,0:12:57.80,0:13:01.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that can be valid across all species?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.07,0:13:02.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NP: Well, I would say there are also
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.67,0:13:04.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,counter-examples to these stereotypes.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.63,0:13:07.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For examples, in sea horses or in koalas, in fact,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.77,0:13:11.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it is the males who take care of the young always.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.46,0:13:16.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the lesson is that it's often difficult,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.50,0:13:18.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and sometimes even a bit dangerous,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.26,0:13:20.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to draw parallels between humans and animals.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.93,0:13:23.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that's it.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.04,0:13:25.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,DG: Okay. Thank you very much for this great start.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.88,0:13:27.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you, Nicolas Perony.