From 18–20 July, the Global Research Centre for Diverse Intelligences brought together researchers from a wide range of disciplines including animal cognition, artificial intelligence and machine learning, collective behaviour, and developmental psychology for the Diverse Intelligences Summit 2025.
Hosted over three days at the University of St Andrews, this annual event offered delegates the chance to hear from leading experts studying intelligence in all its forms and hold discussions with opportunities to build meaningful collaborations that will help shape the future of intelligence research.
This year’s plenary talks featured:
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alice Auersperg (University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna) – Tool use and manufacture in the Goffin’s cockatoo
- Dr. Meghan Barrett (Indiana University) – Wouldn’t hurt a fly? Plausible sentience in insects and its ethical implications
- Assoc. Prof. Gabriel Ramos-Fernández (National Autonomous University of Mexico) – Complementary information processing as a mark of collective intelligence: models and observations
- Prof. Murray Shanahan (Imperial College London) – What sort of thing is a large language model?
The Summit also included two symposiums focused on current frameworks and collaborative networks for studying intelligence, with a spotlight on large-scale, open-science initiatives such as ManyPrimates, ManyBabies, and ManyManys. These projects aim to tackle big questions about the origins and nature of cognition in a way that no single lab could answer alone.
In addition to the formal sessions, the Summit hosted a series of roundtable discussions on key topics including AI and natural intelligence evaluation, community outreach, early career researcher (ECR) support, and Royal Society initiatives. These sessions allowed for delegates to learn more about the current shape of these key topics and provide suggestions for their future evolution.
Beyond the lecture hall, delegates enjoyed a dinner and Ceilidh in the University of St Andrews’ beautiful Younger Hall. This social event allowed for delegates to get to know each other in a more relaxed setting with a fun evening of food, discussion and dancing.
