Jacob G. Foster

Jacob G. Foster is a Professor of Informatics and Cognitive Science at Indiana University Bloomington and External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute, focusing on the social production of collective intelligence and cultural evolution through computational and qualitative methodologies.

His educational background includes:

• BS in Physics from Duke University
• Graduate studies in mathematical physics at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar
• PhD in statistical physics and complex systems from the University of Calgary
• Postdoctoral training in social science at the University of Chicago

Professor Foster's research integrates computational methods with science studies to examine:

• Social production of collective intelligence
• Evolutionary dynamics of ideas
• Co-construction of culture and cognition
• Machine learning applications for cultural text analysis
• Macro-evolutionary modeling of cultural populations

His scientific honors include:

• Rhodes Scholarship
• Infosys Member at the Institute for Advanced Study (2020-2021)

He co-directs the Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among early-career scholars studying intelligence across biological systems (ants, apes), humans, and artificial intelligence through community-building initiatives and creative research frameworks.