Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
@divintelligence.bsky.social
Fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among scholars and storytellers interested in the origins, nature, and future of intelligences.
Web: www.disi.org
Podcast: Many Minds (@manymindspod.bsky.social)
Web: www.disi.org
Podcast: Many Minds (@manymindspod.bsky.social)
Pinned
📣📣📣
Applications for the 2025 Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute (DISI) are now open!!
Are you interested in intelligence, mind, and cognition in all its forms? Early-career scholars from any discipline—and storytellers in any medium—are encouraged to apply!
More info: disi.org
Applications for the 2025 Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute (DISI) are now open!!
Are you interested in intelligence, mind, and cognition in all its forms? Early-career scholars from any discipline—and storytellers in any medium—are encouraged to apply!
More info: disi.org
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
There's a commonsense view of human names—of where they come from and what they're for—that's guiding our search for names in animals. Could it be leading us astray?
Discussed in our latest episode, an essay from @kensycoop.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/in-search-of...
Discussed in our latest episode, an essay from @kensycoop.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/in-search-of...
January 9, 2026 at 5:07 PM
There's a commonsense view of human names—of where they come from and what they're for—that's guiding our search for names in animals. Could it be leading us astray?
Discussed in our latest episode, an essay from @kensycoop.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/in-search-of...
Discussed in our latest episode, an essay from @kensycoop.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/in-search-of...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
Excited this piece is finally out in Philosophy of Science. We argue that, paradoxically, we can have certainty about theorems in math, the proofs of which we can never understand. That's weird and tells us something important about why we do math in the first place #philsky tinyurl.com/3dxxb98a
A Priori Knowledge in an Era of Computational Opacity: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Mathematical Discovery | Philosophy of Science | Cambridge Core
A Priori Knowledge in an Era of Computational Opacity: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Mathematical Discovery
www.cambridge.org
January 7, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Excited this piece is finally out in Philosophy of Science. We argue that, paradoxically, we can have certainty about theorems in math, the proofs of which we can never understand. That's weird and tells us something important about why we do math in the first place #philsky tinyurl.com/3dxxb98a
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
Happy new year!! 🎉
As we pause before our 2026 run, we're sharing an episode from our friends at 'On Humans' @ilarimakela.bsky.social! It's a conversation with biologist & historian @matthewcobb.bsky.social about our understanding of the brain.
Listen or read: onhumans.substack.com/p/can-the-br...
As we pause before our 2026 run, we're sharing an episode from our friends at 'On Humans' @ilarimakela.bsky.social! It's a conversation with biologist & historian @matthewcobb.bsky.social about our understanding of the brain.
Listen or read: onhumans.substack.com/p/can-the-br...
Can the Brain Understand Itself?
Scientist and historian Matthew Cobb explores the limits of neuroscience.
onhumans.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Happy new year!! 🎉
As we pause before our 2026 run, we're sharing an episode from our friends at 'On Humans' @ilarimakela.bsky.social! It's a conversation with biologist & historian @matthewcobb.bsky.social about our understanding of the brain.
Listen or read: onhumans.substack.com/p/can-the-br...
As we pause before our 2026 run, we're sharing an episode from our friends at 'On Humans' @ilarimakela.bsky.social! It's a conversation with biologist & historian @matthewcobb.bsky.social about our understanding of the brain.
Listen or read: onhumans.substack.com/p/can-the-br...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
Thrilled to see this paper out, two years after starting our collaboration at @divintelligence.bsky.social
My co-authors and I are happy to present our framework "Collective Intelligence as Collective Information Processing (CIP)."
Here we propose decomposing different information processing mechanisms to unify disparate phenomena traditionally classified as "collective intelligence."
Here we propose decomposing different information processing mechanisms to unify disparate phenomena traditionally classified as "collective intelligence."
December 30, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thrilled to see this paper out, two years after starting our collaboration at @divintelligence.bsky.social
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
🚨Excited to share our new theoretical framework to classify and spark mechanistic inquiries into various forms of collective intelligence!
Soon to be published in @cognitionjournal.bsky.social
Thanks to @divintelligence.bsky.social
Thread by Cody Moser @culturologies.co 👇🏽
Soon to be published in @cognitionjournal.bsky.social
Thanks to @divintelligence.bsky.social
Thread by Cody Moser @culturologies.co 👇🏽
My co-authors and I are happy to present our framework "Collective Intelligence as Collective Information Processing (CIP)."
Here we propose decomposing different information processing mechanisms to unify disparate phenomena traditionally classified as "collective intelligence."
Here we propose decomposing different information processing mechanisms to unify disparate phenomena traditionally classified as "collective intelligence."
December 30, 2025 at 7:43 PM
🚨Excited to share our new theoretical framework to classify and spark mechanistic inquiries into various forms of collective intelligence!
Soon to be published in @cognitionjournal.bsky.social
Thanks to @divintelligence.bsky.social
Thread by Cody Moser @culturologies.co 👇🏽
Soon to be published in @cognitionjournal.bsky.social
Thanks to @divintelligence.bsky.social
Thread by Cody Moser @culturologies.co 👇🏽
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
New episode!! 🎉🎙️
An audio essay from @kensycoop.bsky.social about names in the natural world.
The search for "name-like" symbols in animals is intensifying. But if the enterprise is to succeed, we first need to pause and ask ourselves: What even is a name?
Listen: disi.org/in-search-of...
An audio essay from @kensycoop.bsky.social about names in the natural world.
The search for "name-like" symbols in animals is intensifying. But if the enterprise is to succeed, we first need to pause and ask ourselves: What even is a name?
Listen: disi.org/in-search-of...
December 22, 2025 at 8:22 PM
New episode!! 🎉🎙️
An audio essay from @kensycoop.bsky.social about names in the natural world.
The search for "name-like" symbols in animals is intensifying. But if the enterprise is to succeed, we first need to pause and ask ourselves: What even is a name?
Listen: disi.org/in-search-of...
An audio essay from @kensycoop.bsky.social about names in the natural world.
The search for "name-like" symbols in animals is intensifying. But if the enterprise is to succeed, we first need to pause and ask ourselves: What even is a name?
Listen: disi.org/in-search-of...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
Why do humans have linguistic intuition? And why should you care?
A short thread about my new paper in @cadlin.bsky.social
This work has the most original insight I've ever had, a genuinely new idea about the nature of language
cadernos.abralin.org/index.php/ca...
1/20
A short thread about my new paper in @cadlin.bsky.social
This work has the most original insight I've ever had, a genuinely new idea about the nature of language
cadernos.abralin.org/index.php/ca...
1/20
Why Do Humans Have Linguistic Intuition?
| Cadernos de Linguística
cadernos.abralin.org
December 15, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Why do humans have linguistic intuition? And why should you care?
A short thread about my new paper in @cadlin.bsky.social
This work has the most original insight I've ever had, a genuinely new idea about the nature of language
cadernos.abralin.org/index.php/ca...
1/20
A short thread about my new paper in @cadlin.bsky.social
This work has the most original insight I've ever had, a genuinely new idea about the nature of language
cadernos.abralin.org/index.php/ca...
1/20
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
Excited to announce a new book telling the story of mathematical approaches to studying the mind, from the origins of cognitive science to modern AI! The Laws of Thought will be published in February and is available for pre-order now.
December 18, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Excited to announce a new book telling the story of mathematical approaches to studying the mind, from the origins of cognitive science to modern AI! The Laws of Thought will be published in February and is available for pre-order now.
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
To survive and flourish, many animal species rely on ecological knowledge. But this knowledge is not always spread across the group—it's often held by certain "keystone individuals."
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...
December 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
To survive and flourish, many animal species rely on ecological knowledge. But this knowledge is not always spread across the group—it's often held by certain "keystone individuals."
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
Super proud of this paper with @apvelilla.bsky.social and @babeheim.bsky.social, now out in Psych Review.
Non-paywalled version (preprint) here: osf.io/preprints/so...
Non-paywalled version (preprint) here: osf.io/preprints/so...
How likely are you to invest in a new business? Ask your partner to marry you? Move to a new country?
A new model by SFI External Professor Paul Smaldino and colleagues explains how wealth, experience, and environment shape our risk tolerance — and how those effects persist across generations.
A new model by SFI External Professor Paul Smaldino and colleagues explains how wealth, experience, and environment shape our risk tolerance — and how those effects persist across generations.
Personal risk tolerance has sweeping implications for how societies evolve
How much risk is any individual willing to take on? That depends, in part, on their individual resources and environment, which shape the learning strategies that influence their personal proclivity t...
www.santafe.edu
December 9, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Super proud of this paper with @apvelilla.bsky.social and @babeheim.bsky.social, now out in Psych Review.
Non-paywalled version (preprint) here: osf.io/preprints/so...
Non-paywalled version (preprint) here: osf.io/preprints/so...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
New episode!! 🎙️🎉
A chat w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social about animal cultures and animal conservation.
Culture was once thought to be uniquely human. No longer. We now know culture is found throughout the natural world. How does this complicate conservation?
Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...
A chat w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social about animal cultures and animal conservation.
Culture was once thought to be uniquely human. No longer. We now know culture is found throughout the natural world. How does this complicate conservation?
Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...
December 8, 2025 at 7:03 PM
New episode!! 🎙️🎉
A chat w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social about animal cultures and animal conservation.
Culture was once thought to be uniquely human. No longer. We now know culture is found throughout the natural world. How does this complicate conservation?
Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...
A chat w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social about animal cultures and animal conservation.
Culture was once thought to be uniquely human. No longer. We now know culture is found throughout the natural world. How does this complicate conservation?
Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
🚨Job Alert plz RT!
Johns Hopkins Psych & Brain Sciences is looking for a new colleague using behavioral or computational approaches to study cognition!
We are excited about many areas of (esp higher) cognition in human adults, children, or nonhuman animals
Open-rank
apply.interfolio.com/178146
Johns Hopkins Psych & Brain Sciences is looking for a new colleague using behavioral or computational approaches to study cognition!
We are excited about many areas of (esp higher) cognition in human adults, children, or nonhuman animals
Open-rank
apply.interfolio.com/178146
December 2, 2025 at 2:54 AM
🚨Job Alert plz RT!
Johns Hopkins Psych & Brain Sciences is looking for a new colleague using behavioral or computational approaches to study cognition!
We are excited about many areas of (esp higher) cognition in human adults, children, or nonhuman animals
Open-rank
apply.interfolio.com/178146
Johns Hopkins Psych & Brain Sciences is looking for a new colleague using behavioral or computational approaches to study cognition!
We are excited about many areas of (esp higher) cognition in human adults, children, or nonhuman animals
Open-rank
apply.interfolio.com/178146
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
Apparent case of learned tool use by wolves.
https://youtu.be/SiuQF68tdWI?si=k7DWNrI0y5jASt-o
#EvoBio #HPBio
https://youtu.be/SiuQF68tdWI?si=k7DWNrI0y5jASt-o
#EvoBio #HPBio
Cameras capture BC sea wolf raiding crab traps in first possible ‘tool use’
YouTube video by Global News
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Apparent case of learned tool use by wolves.
https://youtu.be/SiuQF68tdWI?si=k7DWNrI0y5jASt-o
#EvoBio #HPBio
https://youtu.be/SiuQF68tdWI?si=k7DWNrI0y5jASt-o
#EvoBio #HPBio
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
🎥 Watch the Lakatos Award Lecture 2025 by Mazviita Chirimuuta on "Apocalyptic Technology: #AI and the Limits of #Science"
Mazviita Chirimuuta received the award for her book “The Brain Abstracted: Simplification in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KkX...
Mazviita Chirimuuta received the award for her book “The Brain Abstracted: Simplification in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KkX...
Mazviita Chirimuuta (University of Edinburgh): Apocalyptic Technology: AI and the Limits of Science
YouTube video by LSE Philosophy
www.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:08 PM
🎥 Watch the Lakatos Award Lecture 2025 by Mazviita Chirimuuta on "Apocalyptic Technology: #AI and the Limits of #Science"
Mazviita Chirimuuta received the award for her book “The Brain Abstracted: Simplification in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KkX...
Mazviita Chirimuuta received the award for her book “The Brain Abstracted: Simplification in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KkX...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
The sound of your uncle's laugh; an ice cream cone you had ten years ago. Why do we hold on to memories like these? Are they more than mere mental clutter?
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @aliboyle.bsky.social & @jomahr.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/what-is-memo...
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @aliboyle.bsky.social & @jomahr.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/what-is-memo...
December 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
The sound of your uncle's laugh; an ice cream cone you had ten years ago. Why do we hold on to memories like these? Are they more than mere mental clutter?
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @aliboyle.bsky.social & @jomahr.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/what-is-memo...
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @aliboyle.bsky.social & @jomahr.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/what-is-memo...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
New episode!! 🎉🎙️
A conversation with @aliboyle.bsky.social & @jomahr.bsky.social about the functions of memory.
We may not immediately think of memory as an evolutionary puzzle. But in certain respects—and from certain angles—it is quite puzzling indeed.
Listen: disi.org/what-is-memo...
A conversation with @aliboyle.bsky.social & @jomahr.bsky.social about the functions of memory.
We may not immediately think of memory as an evolutionary puzzle. But in certain respects—and from certain angles—it is quite puzzling indeed.
Listen: disi.org/what-is-memo...
November 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
New episode!! 🎉🎙️
A conversation with @aliboyle.bsky.social & @jomahr.bsky.social about the functions of memory.
We may not immediately think of memory as an evolutionary puzzle. But in certain respects—and from certain angles—it is quite puzzling indeed.
Listen: disi.org/what-is-memo...
A conversation with @aliboyle.bsky.social & @jomahr.bsky.social about the functions of memory.
We may not immediately think of memory as an evolutionary puzzle. But in certain respects—and from certain angles—it is quite puzzling indeed.
Listen: disi.org/what-is-memo...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
I’m recruiting PhD students at NYU (start Sept 2026).
Focus: cultural evolution, innovation & cooperation, AI & society, progress studies & development.
Deadline to apply is Dec 1- very soon.
I’ll share more about the move & new work soon.
Please share with students & retweet!
Focus: cultural evolution, innovation & cooperation, AI & society, progress studies & development.
Deadline to apply is Dec 1- very soon.
I’ll share more about the move & new work soon.
Please share with students & retweet!
November 19, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I’m recruiting PhD students at NYU (start Sept 2026).
Focus: cultural evolution, innovation & cooperation, AI & society, progress studies & development.
Deadline to apply is Dec 1- very soon.
I’ll share more about the move & new work soon.
Please share with students & retweet!
Focus: cultural evolution, innovation & cooperation, AI & society, progress studies & development.
Deadline to apply is Dec 1- very soon.
I’ll share more about the move & new work soon.
Please share with students & retweet!
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
Loved this paper by @kristinandrews.bsky.social and Noam Miller. A very convincing argument for the function of consciousness.
The social origins of consciousness | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
We present the social origins of consciousness hypothesis, according to which the
ability to coordinate with group members was the original adaptive function of consciousness.
We offer three arguments...
royalsocietypublishing.org
November 18, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Loved this paper by @kristinandrews.bsky.social and Noam Miller. A very convincing argument for the function of consciousness.
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
A female wolf has been doing something unusual on the Central Coast of British Columbia. She's learned to pull crab traps up from the water, yanking on a rope to bring it to the surface. But is it tool use? Very fun story from @phiejacobs.bsky.social for @science.org
Have wild wolves learned to use tools?
Video captures a lone female pulling crab traps out of the water, but does it count as tool use?
www.science.org
November 17, 2025 at 7:53 PM
A female wolf has been doing something unusual on the Central Coast of British Columbia. She's learned to pull crab traps up from the water, yanking on a rope to bring it to the surface. But is it tool use? Very fun story from @phiejacobs.bsky.social for @science.org
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
My main takeaway from this one:
Dog domestication is a singular "natural experiment" in brain evolution, one that we're just starting to understand. It's a bit bonkers more neuroscientists aren't working on it.
Dog domestication is a singular "natural experiment" in brain evolution, one that we're just starting to understand. It's a bit bonkers more neuroscientists aren't working on it.
It was long thought that domestication leads to reductions in brain size. But as we understand dog brains better, the truth is proving more complicated—and more interesting.
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...
November 17, 2025 at 5:16 PM
My main takeaway from this one:
Dog domestication is a singular "natural experiment" in brain evolution, one that we're just starting to understand. It's a bit bonkers more neuroscientists aren't working on it.
Dog domestication is a singular "natural experiment" in brain evolution, one that we're just starting to understand. It's a bit bonkers more neuroscientists aren't working on it.
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
It was long thought that domestication leads to reductions in brain size. But as we understand dog brains better, the truth is proving more complicated—and more interesting.
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...
November 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
It was long thought that domestication leads to reductions in brain size. But as we understand dog brains better, the truth is proving more complicated—and more interesting.
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
New episode!! 🎙️🎉
A conversation w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social about the diversity and evolution of canine brains.
We've lived and worked with dogs for 15,000+ years, sculpting their brains and bodies along the way. What can we learn from their singular story?
Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...
A conversation w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social about the diversity and evolution of canine brains.
We've lived and worked with dogs for 15,000+ years, sculpting their brains and bodies along the way. What can we learn from their singular story?
Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...
November 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM
New episode!! 🎙️🎉
A conversation w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social about the diversity and evolution of canine brains.
We've lived and worked with dogs for 15,000+ years, sculpting their brains and bodies along the way. What can we learn from their singular story?
Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...
A conversation w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social about the diversity and evolution of canine brains.
We've lived and worked with dogs for 15,000+ years, sculpting their brains and bodies along the way. What can we learn from their singular story?
Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
Really enjoyed this podcast with @sheinalew.bsky.social and @dorsaamir.bsky.social on evolution and childhood. Super-smart people talking about a super-interesting topic
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
Varieties of childhood
Podcast Episode · Many Minds · 10/07/2025 · 1h 29m
podcasts.apple.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Really enjoyed this podcast with @sheinalew.bsky.social and @dorsaamir.bsky.social on evolution and childhood. Super-smart people talking about a super-interesting topic
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
How have monsters changed over history? Do they morph with shifting cultural anxieties? Or do they mostly stay the same, sprung from primal, timeless fears?
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Natalie Lawrence!
Listen: disi.org/monsters-and...
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Natalie Lawrence!
Listen: disi.org/monsters-and...
October 30, 2025 at 5:41 PM
How have monsters changed over history? Do they morph with shifting cultural anxieties? Or do they mostly stay the same, sprung from primal, timeless fears?
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Natalie Lawrence!
Listen: disi.org/monsters-and...
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Natalie Lawrence!
Listen: disi.org/monsters-and...
Reposted by Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute #DISI
New episode!! 🎉😱
A conversation with @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Natalie Lawrence about monsters of all kinds.
Monsters seem to be everywhere—our myths, our maps, our children's books, our political discourse. What do these creatures tell us about ourselves?
Listen: disi.org/monsters-and...
A conversation with @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Natalie Lawrence about monsters of all kinds.
Monsters seem to be everywhere—our myths, our maps, our children's books, our political discourse. What do these creatures tell us about ourselves?
Listen: disi.org/monsters-and...
October 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
New episode!! 🎉😱
A conversation with @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Natalie Lawrence about monsters of all kinds.
Monsters seem to be everywhere—our myths, our maps, our children's books, our political discourse. What do these creatures tell us about ourselves?
Listen: disi.org/monsters-and...
A conversation with @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Natalie Lawrence about monsters of all kinds.
Monsters seem to be everywhere—our myths, our maps, our children's books, our political discourse. What do these creatures tell us about ourselves?
Listen: disi.org/monsters-and...