about me
below you can find the following details about me:
current research
I’m a D. Phil (PhD) student with a background in computing and mathematics, and their application to biology. I'm investigating self-organisation and pattern formation in biological systems by researching the collective behaviour of locusts (the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria). I'm addressing this topic by using a combined empirical and mathematical modelling approach to study their collective behaviour by filming them in the laboratory and applying mathematical models. I'm currently tracking small groups of flightless juvenile nymphs in closed environments and using automatic tracking techniques to generate large and detailed data sets of the locusts' behaviour under a wide range of conditions. These data sets can then be analysed in Matlab at different levels to examine how individual’s interactions result in the observed group level behaviour.
publications
Bazazi, S, Buhl, J., Hale, J.J., Anstey, M.L., Sword, G.A., Simpson, S.J. & Couzin, I.D. (2008) “Collective motion and cannibalism in locust marching bands” Current Biology 18(10), 735-739.
Buhl, J., Sumpter, D.J.T., Couzin, I.D., Hale, J.J., Despland, E., Miller, E. & Simpson, S.J. (2006) “From disorder to order in marching locusts” Science 312, 1402-1406.
Clarke, R.T., Mouquet, N., Thomas, J.A., Hochberg, M.E., Elmes, G.W., Tesar, D., Singer, A. & Hale, J. (2005) “Modelling the local population dynamics of Maculinea and their spatial interactions with their larval foodplant and Myrmica ant species”. In: Studies on the Ecology and Conservation of Butterflies in Europe, Vol.2: Species along a European Gradient: Maculinea Butterflies as a Model, pp115-19 (E. Kuehn, J. Thomas, R. Feldmann & J. Settele Eds.)
education
2004-2008 D. Phil in Collective behaviour of locusts and humans, Oxford University. (current research)
2003-2004 MRes in Mathematics in the Living Environment, University of York. Passed with distinction.
1999-2003 MMath (Hons) Mathematics and Computer Science, University of York. First Class honours
fun
I love to surf. Very much a beginner - need to get a lot more time in the water! I used to do huge amounts of Jiu-Jitsu, but am now enjoying Judo. I also like to mess around on the computer - making websites for example. Sometimes I will spend time editing home videos down into short cinematic masterpieces.
