Lévy Walks and Search Optimization: Free Will, Randomness and Determinism in Animal Locomotion

This lecture from the ICTP-SAIFR School on the Origins of Life, Behavior and Cognition explores Lévy walks and search optimization, examining the interplay between free will, randomness, and determinism in animal locomotion. Presented by Gandhimohan M. Viswanathan from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) in Brazil, the 1 hour and 39 minute talk delves into mathematical models that help explain animal movement patterns and foraging strategies. Learn how stochastic processes like Lévy walks contribute to optimal search behaviors in various organisms, and consider the philosophical implications regarding determinism versus randomness in biological systems. Part of the March 10-21, 2025 program organized by ICTP-SAIFR.