Francis Heylighen – CUDAN Lecture
When: 2026-10-12 16:00-18:00 (Tallinn time)
Where: A108 & online
The event is public via zoom:
https://zoom.us/j/94629959885?pwd=2NktNsXm0SzbzwwmfGbqlk5UZQoARw.1
Meeting ID: 946 2995 9885 Passcode: 007238
Speakers
Francis Heylighen
Free University of Brussels, Belgium
Lecture title
Stigmergy and collective intelligence: coordination without control
Abstract Can a group think together without a leader or a plan? This presentation introduces stigmergy: coordination through traces left in a shared medium that prompt others to act. Examples from social insects, Wikipedia, and science show how contributions can accumulate, be corrected, and guide further work. The Noosphere Lab experiment has put this idea to a real time test. Participants anonymously edited a shared story and a discussion paper, using text and “meta-marks” to suggest what needs attention. The experiments ask whether such interaction can produce coherent results while preserving diverse perspectives and reducing the pressures that lead to groupthink.
