Unifying cornerstones of social evolution: theory and application

这一建议旨在协调和统一社会进化理论中的替代方法，社会进化理论是我们现代理解进化和行为生态学的基础之一。社会进化一直备受争议，但近年来出现了重大发展。通过结合数学模型和经验数据，该项目希望通过消除理论方法之间的界限来结束争议。该理论的具体应用包括昆虫社会进化、个体和植物选择。理论的统一有望提高澳大利亚和国际上的研究能力。

This proposal aims to reconcile and unify alternative methods in social evolution theory, one of the foundations of our modern understanding of evolutionary and behavioural ecology. Social evolution has been controversial, but recent years have seen major developments. By combining mathematical models and empirical data, this project expects to end the controversies by removing boundaries between theoretical approaches. Specific applications of theory include social insect evolution, individuality and selection in plants. Unification of theory is expected to enhance research capacity in Australia and internationally.