From 17–20 July 2026, the Global Research Centre for Diverse Intelligences (GRCDI) hosted the Collective Emergence and Intentionality workshop at The Burn in Edzell, Scotland. Funded by GRCDI as part of its ongoing mission to support interdisciplinary research across the diverse intelligences field, the workshop brought together researchers from a wide range of disciplines and institutions for intensive discussion and reflection on some of the most challenging questions surrounding collective behaviour, agency, intention, and intelligence.
Set against the backdrop of The Burn’s historic surroundings and extensive grounds, the workshop was designed as a retreat-style gathering that encouraged both formal and informal exchange. Over three days, participants explored how collective phenomena emerge across different systems, from human groups and institutions to animal societies and other distributed forms of intelligence. Discussions ranged across biology, computer science, mathematics, philosophy, and psychology, reflecting the inherently interdisciplinary nature of the topic. One of the workshop’s greatest strengths was the diversity of expertise represented and the willingness of participants to engage across disciplinary boundaries.
Beyond the formal programme, the workshop provided space for conversations to continue over shared meals, walks through the grounds, and evening discussions. These informal exchanges were an important part of the event, helping participants identify common interests, strengthen existing connections, and lay the foundations for future collaborations.
The workshop generated a wealth of ideas and new connections, and several follow-on activities are already being explored. We are grateful to all participants for their enthusiasm, openness, and intellectual generosity, and to the staff at The Burn for providing such a welcoming environment for discussion and collaboration.