This year, for a few months, I am developing my research at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), a truly amazing place to conduct interdisciplinary research and experience the Japanese culture.

So far, I have had the opportunity to interact with many scientists working on very interesting topics from the physics of phase transitions in Cacio e Pepe pasta to the philosophical implications of current and short term future developments of artificial superintelligence.

Resident researchers have been very welcoming. I have been given the chance to showcase my research at the Ravasi and Armitage units lab meetings. I have also had very interesting discussions on the behaviour of complex dynamical systems, the effects of disturbances on the response diversity of complex ecosystems, how to look a the dynamics of ranks to better understand community compositional changes, all the way to the functional and genetic richness of the marine environment. All this in the inspiring atmosphere of cutting edge research facilities and a great scientific environment.

I have also joined a team of scientists in the field, visiting some interesting research sites part of the Okinawa Environmental Observation Network (OKEON) that monitors, among other things, the soundscape of Okinawa’s habitats. Using their acoustic monitoring, scientists at OIST can understand changes in community composition. Excitingly, we have been thinking together how to build networks of interactions between bird species and how their structure is affected by environmental conditions. I’m excited to see where that research direction takes us.

As part of the programme that made my visit possible, the Theoretical Sciences Visiting Program I have been invited to give a talk about the research with do in the lab for general audiences. So, on Friday 6th of March I will talk about: What can we learn from the tangled bank? The networked organisation of ecological systems.

I’m very much looking forward to sharing our research with the staff and students at OIST!

And of course, it is always nice to take some time to enjoy other activities. People are super friendly in Okinawa, and they have welcomed me warmly in their basketball and baseball teams as well as taking me around to do some diving and birdwatching around the island - including seeing a few lifers :)

I’m very grateful to everyone at OIST for making my time so enjoyable so far. I’m looking forward to the rest of my visit!