Comparative Social Evolution

24-27 July 2018

Dr. Joachim Frommen, University of Bern (CH)

Prof. Michael Taborsky, University of Bern (CH)

Prof. Barbara Taborsky, University of Bern (CH)

Trine Bilde, Aarhus University (DK)

Jacobus Boomsma, University of Copenhagen (DK)

Charlie Cornwallis, Lund University (SE)

Julia Fischer, German Primate Center (DE)

Michael Griesser, Zürich University (CH)

Judith Korb, University of Freiburg (DE)

Dieter Lukas, MPI for Anthropology (DE)

Shinichi Nakagawa, University of new South Wales (AU)

Dustin Rubenstein, Columbia University (US)

Workshop topic

The social systems of animals range from loose fission-fusion assemblies such as schools, flocks and herds to closed, stable and highly complex groups. Unveiling the evolution of the vast diversity of social organization in animals is nowadays possible by the application of elaborate comparative approaches, which has provided astounding insight into the probable pathways of social evolution and the importance of ecological factors and biological attributes in several major taxa. This has revealed both general patterns and taxon-specific evolutionary pathways that need further explanation. The success of the comparative approach depends strongly on the quality of information regarding, for instance, the behaviour, sociality and reproduction of animals in natural systems, and on the availability of trustworthy phylogenetic data. It is important to be aware of the potential problems and pitfalls involved in the comparative approach when interpreting results. The aim of this workshop is to bring together evolutionary biologists and ecologists to discuss recent advances in comparative social evolution. This topic is of great general interest for students and researchers alike, as it regards an important avenue toward a deep understanding of the evolution of sociality. Arguably, social organization is one of the most variable, complex, and at the same time still very little understood manifestations of biological evolution.

Workshop program

The program of the workshop will consist of a combination of plenary talks by invited speakers and work performed in small groups, in which the participants will discuss a particular theme together with one of the invited speakers. The results of these small-group sessions will be presented to the plenum by student participants, followed by a general discussion.

General schedule:

July 24 - Arrival day & joint dinner (please arrive in the late afternoon)

July 25 & 26 - Scientific program

July 27 - Excursion to the mountains and departure (around 4 PM)

Arolla

Map

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Full attendance and active participation

WEBSITE OF THE WORKSHOP: CLICK HERE

Dates

24-27 July 2018

Location and Venue

The symposium will be held in the Grand-Hôtel 'Kurhaus' in a breath-taking scenery amidst some of the finest mountain peaks of Switzerland. The venue is situated above the picturesque mountain village of Arolla, at 2100 m sea level at the core of the High Alps of the Valais. Enjoy the 360° mountain view panorama to be seen from the hotel (just with much less snow in summer!)

Access to Arolla and the Kurhaus: The nearest railway station to Arolla is Sion. From Sion, a bus ("Postauto") goes to Arolla, with one exchange of buses at Les Hauderes (travel time by bus is 1:15 h). You will find the schedules of all trains and buses within Switzerland at the SBB website.

Please, don't forget to bring your own sleeping bag!

Contact

For more information, please contact Joachim Frommen (joachim.frommen(at)iee.unibe.ch) or Marta Bellone (ecologie-evolution(at)cuso.ch)

Fees:

Free for PhD students of the DPEE. Please note that a guarantee of 100 CHF will be asked to PhD students of the DPEE. This guarantee will be given back after the workshop.

Participants (Postdocs, Masters) from CUSO universities (Lausanne, Bern, Neuchâtel, Geneva and Fribourg): 350 CHF
All other participants: 950 CHF

The registration fees covered full board from Tuesday evening to Friday morning (3 nights).

Reimbursement:

PhD students of the DPEE are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train (half-fare card, and 2nd class). Please send the original tickets (no copies, except for the general pass) with the reimbursement form to:

 Marta Bellone
 Doctoral Program in Ecology and Evolution
 PER04 building
 University of Fribourg
 Rue Albert-Gockel, 3
 CH-1700 Fribourg

CUSO PhD students: through your MyCUSO account. 

External participants (non-CUSO PhD students, post-docs, etc...): use the icon "registration" at top of page and the last gray box "non-CUSO student" ("personne hors myCUSO").

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