Video https://drive.google.com/file/d/14VRMHLcQqx6iaaTYwa1n3kJc97LusRPP/view?usp=sharing
Another version of the video https://vimeo.com/1115441551/22fee5aa70?share=copy
In a flock of starlings, nature has evolved a system that is robust to predation; where many eyes look out for attack, and where risk is shared amongst the group. Remarkably, the group achieves this without any leadership structure, the simple local interactions between individuals creating outcomes greater than the sum of their parts.
The birds neither collide nor disperse, effortlessly avoiding obstacles and evading predators. As they pass overhead, they fill the air with an astonishing barrage of noise and vibration of the air. Not only are they visually breathtaking, but they engulf the other senses.
The way that starlings behave in a group is a beautiful example of a complex system, in that there are many interacting parts. Interesting and unexpected global behaviours emerge from these interconnected environments.
What makes flocks particularly fascinating is that the interaction network (how we describe which starling interacts with which) dynamically changes as the birds move relative to each other.
Murmurations are a compelling visual metaphor from nature and a point of accessibility to the complicated mathematics that is increasingly impacting all our lives.
Dr Kathryn Cooper is a British visual artist interested in the intersection of science and art. Her practice uses lens-based techniques to explore concepts of deconstructed movement and reveal patterns arising from chaos and complexity in nature.
With a degree in Physics and doctorate in network science, Kathryn’s scientific career has spanned academic research on complex large-scale systems, and industrial applications in the development of medical and cell imaging technology. A fascination with such complexity has informed her gravitation to using flocking birds in her artistic practice.
An exhibiting artist, Kathryn's work has been featured in numerous publications, including bioGraphic, Nautilus, Colossal Magazine and The Guardian. Her work on starling murmurations has been recognised in multiple awards including the Sony World Photography Awards. Science communication is at the heart of her work with collaborations including The California Academy of Sciences and The Montreal Biosphere.