Professor of Behavioral Ecology at Sydney University  Madelaine Beekman will share her thoughts on the topic at the Royal Society Southern Highlands branch meeting this week. 

Professor Beekman will be the Highlands branch’s first lecturer for 2018.

Her topic will be ‘Are you more intelligent than a Slime Mould?’

The Slime Mould is a unicellular organism without so much as single neuron.

It has emerged as a model system for decision making, despite its simplicity this organism is capable of rather complex behavior.

Professor Beekman will discuss and raise the question of  whether Slime Mould's achievements are just ‘cute’, worthy of mentioning in passing, but nothing to take too seriously or do they hint at the fundamental processes underlying all decision making and more broadly, ‘cognition’?

The meeting will be held on February 15 at Mittagong RSL in the Joadja/Nattai Room from 6.30pm.

It will cost $5 for members and $10 for non members.

Following the lecture, there will be dinner at the RSL with the lecturer.

Details: regtop@ozemail.com.au or call 0411 192 917.