Iain Couzin and Jean-Louis Deneubourg are being recognized for their contributions to the understanding of “Collective Behaviour Across Species.” The prize, which is endowed with 100,000 Euros, will be equally divided between the two researchers.
“I am absolutely thrilled to have been awarded this honour. It is even more special that the foundation has decided to award the annual prize to both Prof. Jean-Louis Deneubourg and myself”, says Iain Couzin. He adds: “Jean-Louis’s work was central to why I decided to pursue my PhD on self-organization and pattern formation in ants, and subsequently in diverse species from plague locusts to fish schools, flocking birds, primate troops and human crowds”.
“I warmly congratulate Iain Couzin on receiving this prestigious award," says Katharina Holzinger, Rector of the University of Konstanz. "His research on collective behaviour has significantly advanced our understanding of how coordinated group patterns emerge from individual behaviours across various animal systems. I am always captivated by Iain Couzin's diverse experiments, and I am delighted that he enriches the University of Konstanz with such a dynamic research team.“
Couzin himself sees the award as a team success: “I am acutely aware that this prize recognizes the work not of myself, but of the wonderful collective of amazing young minds I have had the privilege and pleasure to work with.”
About the prize
The French Fyssen Foundation, established in 1979, is dedicated to advancing the scientific study of the mechanisms underlying animal and human evolution and behaviour. Previous awardees of the Fyssen International Prize include Nobel Laureate Svante Pääbo, Sir Geoffrey E.R. Lloyd, Lord Colin Renfrew, Hélène Roche and William D. Hamilton.
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Caption: Prof. Iain Couzin, Speaker of the Cluster of Excellence for Collective Behaviour, Professor of Biodiversity and Collective Behaviour at the University of Konstanz, and Director at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (MPI-AB)
Copyright: Axel Giersch, Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior