**Abstract:**

Few cultural practices beyond language are as widespread as string figure games. Their global
distribution and potential to yield insights into cultural transmission and cognition have long been
noted. Yet, it remains unknown how or when this behavior originated and to what extent shared
motifs are signals of repeated innovations or deep cultural transmission. Here, we combined a
global cross-cultural inventory of string figures with a novel methodology based on knot theory,
which enables the unequivocal numerical coding of string figures. We performed a computational
analysis of a sample of 826 figures from 92 societies around the world. Across these societies, we
found 83 recurring string figure designs, some of which are regionally restricted while others
display a global distribution. The cognitively opaque nature of string figure designs and their clear
geographic distribution reveals processes of cultural transmission, innovation, and convergent
evolution. Most strikingly, the global distribution of some figures raises the possibility of shared
ancient origins.

**Speaker's social media:**

Twitter: @roopekaaronen, Bluesky: @roope.bsky.social

RECORDING - A global cross-cultural analysis of string figures reveals evidence of deep transmission and innovation

**Abstract:**

 Cultural evolution has been tremendously productive in understanding the evolution of human adaptation, but the role of children learning has been underexplored. Evidence from psychology suggests that children are more exploratory and innovative than adults, which can have profound implications for population-level cultural adaptation. Here we investigate in silico how a life history of innovation and social learning contributes to cultural adaptation, and its implications for the evolution of childhood. We present an agent-based model to answer (1) under what conditions childhood is adaptive and (2) whether childhood can provide a buffer against environmental change, in the context of cumulative cultural evolution and collective problem solving. Using a multi-armed bandit task that allows for incremental improvement in behaviours, we implemented a two-stage strategy for exploring this space – children explore broadly, more likely to learn new behaviours, while adults specialise in behaviours already known, incrementally improving. We found that this two-stage strategy leads to higher payoffs, both individually and collectively. Our model identifies a childhood ‘Goldilocks Zone’ – it allows individuals time to explore before specialising and improving. We implement a variety of environmental change regimes and demographic shifts and find that childhood has differential benefits depending on regime characteristics. 

**Speaker's social media:**

Twitter: @DrElenaMiu

RECORDING - Modelling the role of childhood play as a driver of innovation in cultural evolution 

**Author(s):** Colleran, Heidi Introduction: The demographic transition still remains a mystery. A shift from vertical to horizontal transmission is deemed instrumental in the spread of low fertility values, but we lack a mechanistic explanation for such a shift. Women’s personal advice networks are where ideas about fertility practices are exchanged, and are key to understanding this change. We expect that economic and cultural changes in rural areas lead to increasingly valuing non-kin over kin, and ego characteristics influence these friendship dynamics. 
Methods:
Here, using comprehensive demographic and relational data from 22 communities in rural Poland, we investigated how women’s personal networks change with ego-level attributes, and how network characteristics affect cultural transmission. We focused on network composition and interaction, bi-lateral social support, closeness and emotional support. 
Results:
We found that women characterized by less traditional values (i.e. high education, non-farming occupation) have less kin and more unrelated friends in their networks, who they rely on for emotional support. Women characterized by traditional rural values rely on genetic kin and affines, for practical and financial support. Importantly, we found trade-offs between types of support across women. 
Conclusions: These shifting networks moderate information transmission and help explain the cultural transmission of low fertility values.

Female friendship and the horizontal transmission of low fertility values

The demographic transition - how and why most populations are having fewer offspring despite resources increasing - remains a mystery. A shift from vertical transmission (learning from parents) to horizontal transmission (learning from peers) is deemed instrumental in the quick spread of low fertility values, but we lack an explanation for how such a shift occurs. Women’s personal advice networks are places where ideas about fertility practices are exchanged, therefore investigating ego networks is key to understanding this change. We expect that the expansion of markets and education into rural areas leads to shifts away from valuing kin relationships towards valuing non-kin, and from kin dominated networks to non-kin networks. We expect ego characteristics to influence these friendship dynamics. Here, using comprehensive demographic and relational data from 22 communities in rural Poland, we investigated how the characteristics of women’s personal networks change with ego-level and community-level attributes, and how network characteristics affect cultural transmission. We focused on structural features of networks, frequencies and intensities of interaction and bi-lateral social support, and closeness and emotional support. We found that women characterized by market integrated values (i.e. high education, non-farming occupation, status) have less kin and more unrelated friends in their networks, who they rely on for emotional support. Women characterized by traditional rural values rely on genetic kin and affines, for practical and financial support. These networks of different compositions, characterized by different inter-personal relationships, moderate information transmission and help explain the spread of low fertility values.

Please note that for those who submitted a pre-recorded video, we have posted it along with a live recording.

Cross-Cultural Studies II

technical paper

Welcome to the Cultural Evolution Society (CES) Conference 2024, which was a hybrid conference held at Durham University (UK). The conference was hosted in Durham by the Durham Cultural Evolution Research Centre (DCERC) with administrative assistance from the CES Transformation Fund team.

**For more information about the CES Conference, please visit the [CES Website Home Page](https://ces2024.webspace.durham.ac.uk/).**

#### Durham Cultural Evolution Research Centre (DCERC) 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
**Interdisciplinary study of cultural change and diversity**

We are a highly interdisciplinary group of researchers using evolutionary models to study cultural change and diversity. We apply cultural evolutionary methods to a wide variety of topics including cognition, innovation, social learning, technology, art, music, narrative, religion, sociality, language and communication. We have a growing interest in applying cultural evolutionary theory to current societal challenges such as understanding the spread of prosocial health behaviours and health conspiracies. 
**[Discover More](https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/cultural-evolution/)**

#### CES 2024 [Code of Conduct](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BDJcgi95_jDy7VOEu72wfSR83D5JtHSc/view?usp=sharing)

If you feel at any time you have been the victim of harassment or inappropriate behavior that contradicts our code of conduct, you may use the following form to report the incident. 

**[CES 2024 Code of Conduct Report Form](https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=i9hQcmhLKUW-RNWaLYpvlGWUgzc9C8FMnit5-H2U3oZURUpYRjI5TFM3RUhaRzVDT1o5UEs3M1oxUy4u)**

To access the site please register [**here**](https://ces2024.webspace.durham.ac.uk/registration-information/). 

Registration Is Required

Cultural Evolution Society Conference 2024

The field of cultural evolution is growing in size and scope; its theories, methods and applications - both academic and applied - are getting ever more robust. Do join us in what promises to be an exciting exchange of ideas and a celebration of our field.

Innovation & Creativity

Please click on the button above to watch the recording of the live session.

Biocultural social sciences 1

### Welcome to the fourth Cultural Evolution Society Conference, CES2022! 

As last year, Underline will support the online component of the conference. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is causing a great deal of uncertainty for all of us. Therefore, we seek to offer a hybrid format that will hopefully allow some folks to travel to Aarhus, others to meet up locally or regionally in CES hub-lets, and other yet to participate online. The field of cultural evolution is growing in size and scope; its theories, methods and applications - both academic and applied - are getting ever more robust. Do join us in what promises to be an exciting exchange of ideas and a celebration of our field.

##### ***For SoMe interaction and live tweeting please tag @CulturalEvolSoc and use #CESconf2022***


#### The CES 2022 local organising committee
* Luseadra Joy McKerracher
* Jesper Sørensen 
* Niels Nørkjær Johannsen 
* Benjamin Grant Purzycki 
* Mette Løvschal 
* Felix Riede
* Iza Romanowska 
* Karsten Olsen

Please click on the button bellow if you want to watch the videos

Cultural Evolution Society 2022

This session will be held in Zoom discussion room. Please click on the button below to join the session

[![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/76394b5b28bf127a876eea792e512efa.png)](https://zoom.us/j/99643963038?pwd=bCtGTUorbEh2a2l6bllQQmlWcTJSdz09)

**Session Chair:** Elena  Miu   
  
   
**Paper ID:** AB00157      
**Paper title:** Female friendship and the horizontal transmission of low fertility values      
**Author:** Elena Miu      
**Time:** 16:10 - 16:20 (CEST)     

**Paper ID:** AB00127      
**Paper title:** Reproductive behavior and social transmission of reproductive behavior in changing contexts: modelling the dynamics of trade offs in relation to the demographic transition.     
**Author:** Karl Frost    
**Time:** 16:20 - 16:30 (CEST)      

**Paper ID:** AB00180       
**Paper title:** Can environmental unpredictability predict life history strategy of young Brazilian adolescents?      
**Author:** Rosana Suemi Tokumaru      
**Time:** 16:30 - 16:40 (CEST)    
     
**Paper ID:** AB00058       
**Paper title:** Kinship term borrowability: Aunties more than sisters?      
**Author:** Terhi Kaisa Honkola        
**Time:** 16:40 - 16:50 (CEST)      
        
**Paper ID:** AB00141   
**Paper title:** The cultural evolution of health?   
**Author:** Carl Brusse     
**Time:** 16:50 - 17:00 (CEST)  

Q&A session 07: Fertility, health and kinship

### Conference Welcome

Welcome to the third Cultural Evolution Society Conference, CES2021. In the conference, which will be held from June 9-11, 2021, about 180 researchers from East Asia, Oceania, Middle East, Europe, North and South America give presentations on their latest research advancing the evolutionary understanding of human and nonhuman animal culture.

### Schedule and Program

[![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/1ef06ffd05f80957b4a5b685f63ee3ba.png)](https://www.chain.hokudai.ac.jp/CES2020/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/fullprogram.pdf)
[![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/12285eb22580949635121d15d5b46325.png)](https://www.chain.hokudai.ac.jp/CES2020/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/abstracts.pdf)

**Program-at-glance**

![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/c0d0d4c8fcdad49d12631574fd966ae8.png)

### About the conference 
 
**Help-desk:** 
Please first visit [Help-desk](https://underline.io/events/120/help-desk) where you can find the instructions and manuals for exploring the conference site. 

**Plenary sessions:**
Five leading researchers give a live talk. It is like a TV show. The audience can submit a question from the chat window. Chat messages are immediately delivered to speakers and moderators.

**Q&A sessions (parallel):**
Each presenter first gives a 2-minute live lightning talk followed by an 8-minute live discussion with the audience. It uses Zoom.

**Discussion sessions:** 
The audience can approach presenters and discuss their research. The sessions are held in a dedicated room in Gathertown.
 
**Gathertown:**
It is a platform dedicated to live virtual interactions.
Gather Town is available for all participants 24 hours during the conference.
You can meet and talk with anybody at a lounge or at a table in Gathertown.
Further Gather Town instruction and how to use short keys please find in our [Help desk page](https://underline.io/events/120/help-desk). 

**Videos and slides:**

* Plenary sessions and the Q&A sessions will be recorded and uploaded after the sessions.
* All the videos and slides are available for 60 days after the conference but only to registered ones. 

**Text-based chatting with the speakers:** 
You can chat with any speaker in the Q&A and discussion sessions. A chat window is available on each speaker’s page, and you can leave your questions there. 

**Announcement to the other participants:**
If you want to make an announcement to the other participants (e.g., “Hey, let’s meet at the lounge in Gathertown from 9pm CEST!), please use twitter (#CESConf2021).



### Code of conduct

See the full details of [the code of conduct](https://www.chain.hokudai.ac.jp/CES2020/code-of-conduct/).
&nbsp; 
 CES is dedicated to providing a welcoming and harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, nationality, or the presence of or care for dependents. 
We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference at the discretion of the conference organizers.

&nbsp;
**Harassment can occur in-person or virtually, and includes, but is not limited to:**
* Comments (verbal, text, etc.) that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, nationality
* Sexual images in public spaces (physical or virtual)
* Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
* Harassing photography or recording (including sharing of presentation materials without consent)
* Sustained disruption of talks or other events (including “Zoombombing”)
* Inappropriate physical contact or unwelcome sexual attention
* Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviour 

&nbsp;
 **Inclusiveness Committee**:
&nbsp;
 To facilitate implementing the code of conduct and foster a climate of inclusion, we have developed an inclusiveness committee. Below is their contact information:
 **Hiromi Matsumae**:	matsumae.hiromi.g@tokai.ac.jp
 **Patrick Savage**:	psavage@sfc.keio.ac.jp
 **Sarah Mathew**:	Sarah.Mathew@asu.edu
 **Gmail:** inclusivenessCES2021@gmail.com
 See [more details about reporting the harassment.](https://www.chain.hokudai.ac.jp/CES2020/code-of-conduct/)

### Organizing committee

**Honorary Conference Organizer:** [Kenichi Aoki (Meiji University)](https://sites.google.com/site/kenichi1aoki/home) 

**Chair:** [Masanori Takezawa (Hokkaido University)](https://lalalarakko.github.io)

**Scientific Committee:** [Kenichi Aoki (Meiji University)](https://sites.google.com/site/kenichi1aoki/home), [Yasuo Ihara (the University of Tokyo)](https://researchmap.jp/read0209180?lang=en), [Hiromi Matsumae (Tokai University)](https://sites.google.com/site/hiromimatsumae/eng), [Naoko Matsumoto (Okayama University)](https://researchmap.jp/nmatsumoto_okayama-u), [Masako Myowa (Kyoto University)](https://myowa.educ.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en), [Hisashi Nakao (Nanzan University)](https://www.hisashinakao.com/), [Patrick E. Savage (Keio University)](https://sites.google.com/view/comp-music-lab/home)

**Local Organizing Committee:** [Yutaka Horita (Teikyo University)](https://sites.google.com/site/yhoritapage/), [Masanori Takezawa (Hokkaido University)](https://lalalarakko.github.io/), [Ayaka Takimoto (Hokkaido University)](https://lynx.let.hokudai.ac.jp/~takimoto/), [Kohei Tamura (Tohoku University)](https://researchmap.jp/7000017854)

**Inclusiveness Committee:** [Sarah Mathew (Arizona State University)](https://www.sarahmathew.net/), [Hiromi Matsumae (Tokai University)](https://sites.google.com/site/hiromimatsumae/eng), [Patrick E. Savage (Keio University)](https://sites.google.com/view/comp-music-lab/home)


![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/967110a00d200a6b20d6f4fa6556ba13.png)

For attending the conference, you first need to register and pay fees from [the link here](https://www.chain.hokudai.ac.jp/CES2020/registration/). After the payment of the registration fees, you will receive a ticket, which is necessary for accessing the conference site. After the payment of the registration fees, you will receive a ticket, which is necessary for accessing the conference site

Elena Miu

4

12

SHORT BIO

Presentations

RECORDING - A global cross-cultural analysis of string figures reveals evidence of deep transmission and innovation

RECORDING - Modelling the role of childhood play as a driver of innovation in cultural evolution

Female friendship and the horizontal transmission of low fertility values

Female friendship and the horizontal transmission of low fertility values

Stay up to date with the latest Underline news!

PRESENTATIONS

CONFERENCES

COMPANY

RESOURCES