Project Abstract

This project explores evolutionary simulation inspired by Darwin’s observations of finches in the Galápagos Islands, aiming to demonstrate how traits evolve under selective pressures in a constrained environment. The work is motivated by a desire to visualise natural selection in action, providing an interactive platform for understanding evolution through computational means. The central aim is to simulate evolution via genetic algorithms, modelling how agents with varying traits—such as beak size and speed—adapt to their environments over successive generations. By enabling sexual reproduction, mutation, and competition for finite resources, the simulation seeks to reflect emergent adaptive behaviours and trait distributions. The system is developed using C# within the Unity engine, chosen for its flexibility in building complex, three-dimensional environments. The simulation is designed modularly, allowing for scalable additions of traits, behaviours, and environmental hazards. Simulation data is exported and analysed using Python libraries to identify trends and performance metrics. If successful, this project will provide an insight into how evolutionary pressures shape populations over time, and demonstrate how computational simulations can model biological phenomena with surprising realism and educational value.

Keywords: Evolution simulation, Genetic algorithms, Interactive Learning Tool

 Conference Details

Session: B

Location: Sir Stanley Clarke Auditorium at 13:30 15:30

Markers: Manlio Valenti, Mark Jones

Course: BSc Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence

Future Plans: I’m undecided