Plymouth University CogNovo PhD Studentship: Social cognition, communication complexity and creativity in birdsong communication systems (General Enquiries)


Subject: Plymouth University CogNovo PhD Studentship: Social cognition, communication complexity and creativity in birdsong communication systems
From:    General Enquiries <"Info Cognition ">
Date:    Wed, 20 Nov 2013 15:51:10 +0000
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--_000_6173FEB6C6EE9840A9253B8C57EC19D2ED1FTIS105uopnetplymout_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Dear All, APOLOGIES FOR ANY CROSS-POSTINGS! Plymouth University PhD Studentship (CogNovo) available DEADLINE APPROACHING: 30th November 2013 Be part of a 26-person strong team of PhD students to study the link betwee= n creativity and cognition. CogNovo is an Innovative Doctoral Programme, fu= nded by the EU Marie Curie initiative and Plymouth University, to foster re= search training in the emerging field of Cognitive Innovation. Project 22: Social cognition, communication complexity and creativity in bi= rdsong communication systems http://www.cognovo.eu/projects2/bird-song.php The relationship between social complexity and communicative complexity is = currently a 'hot' research topic in both animals and humans. However, the w= ay in which communicative complexity is affected by the combination of cons= traints introduced by the social learning environment and cognitive abiliti= es is not well understood. Song birds participate in complex communication = networks using mainly acoustic signals, and must learn to recognise and und= erstand the meaning of the communication signals of conspecifics and how to= use them to mediate their social interactions. Acquiring these abilities i= s essential for an adept social networker, but the mechanism by which this = is achieved is not fully understood. In addition, during the acquisition of= these abilities birds must both improvise and copy other songs. The optima= l level of improvisational innovation (creativity) versus imitation will va= ry depending upon both social and biological constraints; this process has = parallels with the development of traditional songs in humans. In this project you will investigate the way in which songbirds actively ex= plore and regulate their social environment using communication signals, ho= w the early improvisational and imitative 'babbling' of young birds develop= s into adult song, and how they can learn effective signalling strategies. = This will be achieved by developing computational models, and designing a s= ound installation based on different song development strategies where the = song properties are an emergent property of the system. You will explore ho= w differences in cognitive ability, opportunity to learn, and complexity of= the social system combine to produce a particular signalling system and le= vel of improvisation. The predictions and solutions that arise from these c= omputational models will be compared against the literature available on th= e wide variety signalling systems found in song birds in nature, against re= sults from field studies being conducted in a related study during the proj= ect and, time permitting, to the cultural evolution of songs in human commu= nities. Supervisors: Sarah Collins, John Matthias, Michaela Gummerum, Sue Denham, Judy Edworthy,= Lucy Davies (Plymouth University) For more information about the project contact Dr Sarah Collins (sarah.coll= ins@xxxxxxxx<mailto:sarah.collins@xxxxxxxx>) or Prof Sue Denham= (S.Denham@xxxxxxxx<mailto:S.Denham@xxxxxxxx>). For an application form and details of eligibility, please visit: http://www.cognovo.eu/about/applyPlymUni.php Application forms and references can be emailed directly to Catherine Johns= on: catherine.johnson@xxxxxxxx<mailto:catherine.johnson@xxxxxxxx= k> All the best Lucy Dr Lucy Davies Cognition Institute Plymouth University Room A222, Portland Square Plymouth UK PL4 8AA Tel: 44+ (0)1752 584920 Website: http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/research/cognition/Pages/default.aspx Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PlymCogInst Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlymCogInst YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/PlymouthCognition?feature=3Dwatch ________________________________ [http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/images/email_footer.gif]<http://www.plymouth.ac.= uk/worldclass> This email and any files with it are confidential and intended solely for t= he use of the recipient to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intende= d recipient then copying, distribution or other use of the information cont= ained is strictly prohibited and you should not rely on it. If you have rec= eived this email in error please let the sender know immediately and delete= it from your system(s). Internet emails are not necessarily secure. While = we take every care, Plymouth University accepts no responsibility for virus= es and it is your responsibility to scan emails and their attachments. Plym= outh University does not accept responsibility for any changes made after i= t was sent. Nothing in this email or its attachments constitutes an order f= or goods or services unless accompanied by an official order form. --_000_6173FEB6C6EE9840A9253B8C57EC19D2ED1FTIS105uopnetplymout_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html> <head> <meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dus-ascii"= > <style> <!-- @xxxxxxxx {font-family:SimSun} @xxxxxxxx {font-family:SimSun} @xxxxxxxx {font-family:Calibri} @xxxxxxxx {font-family:Tahoma} @xxxxxxxx {} p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline} p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:8.0pt; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"} span.BalloonTextChar {font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"} span.EmailStyle19 {font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:windowtext} span.EmailStyle20 {font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D} .MsoChpDefault {font-size:10.0pt} @xxxxxxxx WordSection1 {margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt} div.WordSection1 {} --> </style> </head> <body lang=3D"EN-GB" link=3D"blue" vlink=3D"purple"> <div class=3D"WordSection1"> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Dear All, </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">APOLOGIES FOR ANY CROSS-POSTINGS!</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Plymouth University PhD Studentship (CogNovo) availa= ble </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">DEADLINE APPROACHING: 30<sup>th</sup> November 2013<= /p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Be part of a 26-person strong team of PhD students t= o study the link between creativity and cognition. CogNovo is an Innovative= Doctoral Programme, funded by the EU Marie Curie initiative and Plymouth U= niversity, to foster research training in the emerging field of Cognitive Innovation.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:16.0pt">Project 22: Social = cognition, communication complexity and creativity in birdsong communicatio= n systems </span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><a href=3D"http://www.cognovo.eu/projects2/bird-song= .php"><span style=3D"color:windowtext">http://www.cognovo.eu/projects2/bird= -song.php</span></a></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">The relationship between social complexity and commu= nicative complexity is currently a &#8216;hot&#8217; research topic in both= animals and humans. However, the way in which communicative complexity is = affected by the combination of constraints introduced by the social learning environment and cognitive abilities is not well und= erstood. Song birds participate in complex communication networks using mai= nly acoustic signals, and must learn to recognise and understand the meanin= g of the communication signals of conspecifics and how to use them to mediate their social interactions. Acq= uiring these abilities is essential for an adept social networker, but the = mechanism by which this is achieved is not fully understood. In addition, d= uring the acquisition of these abilities birds must both improvise and copy other songs. The optimal level of impro= visational innovation (creativity) versus imitation will vary depending upo= n both social and biological constraints; this process has parallels with t= he development of traditional songs in humans.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">In this project you will investigate the way in whic= h songbirds actively explore and regulate their social environment using co= mmunication signals, how the early improvisational and imitative &#8217;bab= bling&#8217; of young birds develops into adult song, and how they can learn effective signalling strategies. This will be= achieved by developing computational models, and designing a sound install= ation based on different song development strategies where the song propert= ies are an emergent property of the system. You will explore how differences in cognitive ability, opportu= nity to learn, and complexity of the social system combine to produce a par= ticular signalling system and level of improvisation. The predictions and s= olutions that arise from these computational models will be compared against the literature available on the wide varie= ty signalling systems found in song birds in nature, against results from f= ield studies being conducted in a related study during the project and, tim= e permitting, to the cultural evolution of songs in human communities. </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Supervisors:</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Sarah Collins, John Matthias, Michaela Gummerum, Sue= Denham, Judy Edworthy, Lucy Davies (Plymouth University)</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">For more information about the project contact Dr Sa= rah Collins (<a href=3D"mailto:sarah.collins@xxxxxxxx"><span style=3D= "color:windowtext">sarah.collins@xxxxxxxx</span></a>) or Prof Sue Den= ham (<a href=3D"mailto:S.Denham@xxxxxxxx"><span style=3D"color:window= text">S.Denham@xxxxxxxx</span></a>).</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">For an application form and details of eligibility, = &nbsp;please visit: </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><a href=3D"http://www.cognovo.eu/about/applyPlymUni.= php"><span style=3D"color:windowtext">http://www.cognovo.eu/about/applyPlym= Uni.php</span></a></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Application forms and references can be emailed dire= ctly to Catherine Johnson: <a href=3D"mailto:catherine.johnson@xxxxxxxx"><span style=3D"color:wi= ndowtext">catherine.johnson@xxxxxxxx</span></a></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">All the best</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Lucy</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Dr Lucy Davies</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Cognition Institute</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Plymouth University</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Room A222, Portland Square</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span lang=3D"NL">Plymouth</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span lang=3D"NL">UK</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span lang=3D"NL">PL4 8AA</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span lang=3D"NL">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span lang=3D"NL">Tel: 44&#43; (0)1752 584920</span>= </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span lang=3D"NL">Website:</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span lang=3D"NL"><a href=3D"http://www1.plymouth.ac= .uk/research/cognition/Pages/default.aspx"><span style=3D"color:windowtext"= >http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/research/cognition/Pages/default.aspx</span></a= ></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span lang=3D"NL">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Like us on Facebook: </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span lang=3D"NL"><a href=3D"http://www.facebook.com= /PlymCogInst"><span lang=3D"EN-GB" style=3D"color:windowtext">http://www.fa= cebook.com/PlymCogInst</span></a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Follow us on Twitter:</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span lang=3D"NL"><a href=3D"https://twitter.com/Ply= mCogInst"><span lang=3D"EN-GB" style=3D"color:windowtext">https://twitter.c= om/PlymCogInst</span></a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">YouTube Channel: </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span lang=3D"NL"><a href=3D"http://www.youtube.com/= user/PlymouthCognition?feature=3Dwatch"><span lang=3D"EN-GB" style=3D"color= :windowtext">http://www.youtube.com/user/PlymouthCognition?feature=3Dwatch<= /span></a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> </div> <hr> <a href=3D"http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/worldclass"><img src=3D"http://www.ply= mouth.ac.uk/images/email_footer.gif"></a><br> <br> <font size=3D"smallest" color=3D"gray" face=3D"Calibri">This email and any = files with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the recip= ient to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient then co= pying, distribution or other use of the information contained is strictly prohibited and you should not rely on it= . If you have received this email in error please let the sender know immed= iately and delete it from your system(s). Internet emails are not necessari= ly secure. While we take every care, Plymouth University accepts no responsibility for viruses and it is your r= esponsibility to scan emails and their attachments. Plymouth University doe= s not accept responsibility for any changes made after it was sent. Nothing= in this email or its attachments constitutes an order for goods or services unless accompanied by an offici= al order form.</font> </body> </html> --_000_6173FEB6C6EE9840A9253B8C57EC19D2ED1FTIS105uopnetplymout_--


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