Marie Dacke

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About

Marie Dacke is a leading figure in animal behavior and sensory biology, best known for her groundbreaking work on dung beetle navigation and locomotion. Her research primarily explores how insects use celestial cues, such as the Milky Way, polarized light, and the sun, to orient themselves, as well as the biomechanics of their complex behaviors. A major contribution is her discovery that dung beetles are the first known animal to use the Milky Way for orientation, a finding that reshaped our understanding of insect vision and navigation. In her highly cited work on leg coordination, Dacke reveals the precise motor rules governing dung beetle ball rolling, demonstrating how these insects adapt their gait to maintain stability and efficiency while moving a dung ball. This research, with over 11 citations, bridges neurobiology and biomechanics, offering insights into how simple neural circuits generate complex, goal-directed actions. Dacke’s studies have profound implications for robotics and animal behavior, and she has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Royal Society’s Wolfson Research Merit Award, for her innovative contributions.