Area B examines the collective behaviour of larger groups, including the higher-order computational capabilities of such groups, such as collective sensing, problem solving, and decision-making. Building on the foundations of Area A, we study the complex multi-scale networks of communication that give rise to the collective behaviour of large groups, as well as the processes that create internal group structures and how groups interact with one another (the ‘collective of collectives’). To achieve this, we consider both direct and indirect social feedbacks and we will apply our expertise to real-world problems, including devastating insect plagues and the development of evidence-based methods for mitigating the impact of human-related environmental change (including climate change) on both animal and human collectives.
