Intelligence Without Brains

Explore the fascinating world of intelligence without traditional brains in this thought-provoking 1 hour 29 minute panel discussion from the World Science Festival. Delve into the remarkable abilities of bees, ants, plants, and fungi as experts discuss plant bio-acoustics, slime mold problem-solving, tree-fungi communication networks, and collective intelligence in insect colonies. Learn about plant memory, swarm behavior, and the application of these concepts to robotics. Challenge your understanding of intelligence and consciousness as panelists examine non-neuronal models of cognition and debate the ethical implications of our interactions with plants and animals. Gain insights from leading researchers in fields such as plant science, myrmecology, and swarm robotics as they explore the vast range of intelligence that exists in nature beyond traditional brain structures.

- Program introduction
- Opening film on the study of plant intelligence
- Panelist introductions
- Plant bio-acoustics
- Slime mold intelligence
- Interaction between fungi and trees
- Plant memory and learning
- Transmission of memory in slime molds
- Collective intelligence
- Leaf-cutter ant intelligence
- Swarm behavior
- Applying swarm intelligence to robotics
- Moving beyond the neuronal model of intelligence
- Consciousness
- Ethics of our interaction with plants and animals
- Environmental effects on collaboration