Emma Bleakley has recently joined the lab as a distance PhD student. Her project is "Social Networks Across the Tree of Life", and will involve the analysis of social data across a range of taxa. In this post Emma gives a little insight into the path she followed before joining EEL. As the newest member … Continue reading Emma joins the lab
Author: EEL
Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen.
Social networks, quantitative genetics, and a sense of adventure. He/him
Lockdown writings 2: Frequent poster
This is the second of two short fiction pieces I wrote during the first lockdown in the UK. The current restrictions reminded me about them so I am posting them now. The common theme is isolation. 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 40..6, 40……7…… 48, 49, fiffffty. I used to be chubby. Yeah I know right? … Continue reading Lockdown writings 2: Frequent poster
Lockdown writings 1: Talking to the gulls
Lockdown writing 1, the first of two short pieces of writing I am sharing now that were written during the first lockdown in the UK
Canadian Entomology, Ecology and Evolution webinar
Recently I gave an online talk about some of my research for the Canadian Entomology, Ecology and Evolution seminar series. I spoke about my work on the social spider Anelosius eximius in Ecuador with James L. L. Lichtenstein and others. I cover work from two papers, the first estimating selection on collective prey attack for … Continue reading Canadian Entomology, Ecology and Evolution webinar
Virtual seminar at Bielefeld University
Recently, I was invited by my good friend, and ace ecologist, Dr. Sarah Paul to give a virtual seminar for Bielefeld University. This was part of the NC³ (Niche Choice, Niche Conformance, Niche Construction) seminar series "Individualisation in Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution" It was lovely to be invited, and I really enjoyed talking about my … Continue reading Virtual seminar at Bielefeld University
Interview by Philip Neilson
I have just been lucky enough to be interviewed by Philip Neilson, a student at the University of Aberdeen, ahead of my department seminar here. Philip conducted a really great interview, he had read several of my papers, and asked really good and insightful questions. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am very pleased to be … Continue reading Interview by Philip Neilson
Is cricket a lot like boxing?
The last few weeks of the Canadian summer I have been getting up at 5:50 more or less every day. Not to spot some migrating birds, nor to catch sight of a beaver preparing for winter, but to fire up the radio and listen to the Ashes, the biennial cricket contest between England and Australia. … Continue reading Is cricket a lot like boxing?
The Big Game: Thermodynamics vs Evolution
Now I may be just a regular observer, a fan who pays their money to sit there and watch the sport like anyone else, but still, I can remember most of what transpired. At least, the important stuff anyway. As most games, races, or matches tend to start, so too this one began with a … Continue reading The Big Game: Thermodynamics vs Evolution
For the sake of it
Most games and sports are inherently simple. Get the ball through the hoop. Score the most points. Be the first to this line. This simplicity is probably a good reason for the wide popularity of sport across the globe, and indeed a simpler a sport is the wider its reach tends to be. But of … Continue reading For the sake of it
An indirect origin
This post is about what indirect genetic effects are, and where they came from. It's about an interesting evolutionary process, and a bit of sleuthing into the depths of a library to find a dusty old book. A direct genetic effect is what you think of when the classic "nature vs nurture" debate comes up. … Continue reading An indirect origin
