OxTalks is Changing
OxTalks will soon move to the new Halo platform and will become 'Oxford Events.' There will be a need for an OxTalks freeze. This was previously planned for Friday 14th November – a new date will be shared as soon as it is available (full details will be available on the Staff Gateway).
In the meantime, the OxTalks site will remain active and events will continue to be published.
If staff have any questions about the Oxford Events launch, please contact halo@digital.ox.ac.uk
Sociality, heterogeneity, organisation and leadership in animal groups
Our research group (www.SHOALgroup.org) takes a curiosity-driven approach to understanding animal behaviour across species and contexts. In this seminar, I will begin by showcasing examples of our fundamental blue skies research, highlighting insights gained from studying a range of animal species. I will then demonstrate how this foundational work informs, and advances applied themes, including animal management strategies and the development of bio-inspired engineering solutions. To end, I will outline some of our latest comparative research that I am really excited about, which aims to investigate the origins and evolution of collective movement in vertebrates.
Bio Sketch: Andrew King is a Professor of Animal Behaviour at Swansea University. He has previously worked at The Zoological Society of London, University College London, The Royal Veterinary College, and the University of Cambridge, and has held visiting positions in Germany and South Africa. His research group (www.SHOALgroup.org) study animal behaviour and ecology in a range of animal systems. His research has strong applied themes, and he works across disciplines and sectors to apply behavioural studies to topics ranging from wildlife management to swarm robotics.
Date:
22 January 2026, 14:00
Venue:
Seminar room 7 & 8, Life and Mind Building, South Parks Road, OX1 3EL
Speaker:
Prof Andrew King (Swansea University)
Organising department:
Department of Biology
Organiser contact email address:
andrea.kastner@biology.ox.ac.uk
Host:
Dr Katie Dunkley (University of Oxford)
Booking required?:
Not required
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Andrea Kastner
