Baboon research: communication and behavior in the context of evolution with Prof. Julia Fischer

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In this episode we speak with Prof. Dr. Julia Fischer, the head of the Cognitive Ethology lab at the German Primate Center (DPZ) and the author of the book “Monkeytalk: Inside the Worlds and Minds of Primates”. Together, we explore how baboon research in the wild is established and the range of methods used in scientific studies of non-human primates. Prof. Fischer shares her knowledge about social hierarchies, communication, cognition and evolutionary differences among baboon species. We continue with the burning question in baboon research and what can we, as humans, learn from it. The conversation extends to challenges in academia like open access, career uncertainty, women in science and the problems and solutions with the publishing industry. 

Our channel is supported by International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Neurosciences as well as Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging (MBExC) in Göttingen, Germany. The views presented on this channel are not representative of IMPRS or MBExC.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro
00:02:11 Do monkeys greet each other?
00:03:34 Establishing baboon research 
00:05:28 Social system among guinea baboons
00:08:06 How to study monkeys in their natural habitat?
00:14:16 Should you be afraid among the baboons?
00:18:54 Evolutionary differences among baboon species
00:23:11 Mother and child
00:25:02 Nature vs nurture
00:30:51 Non-human primate communication
00:39:12 Cognition studies in the wild  
00:51:11 Differences between baboons in the wild and in captivity (zoo)
00:55:35 Burning question in baboon research.
01:01:02 What can we learn about human behaviour from non-human primates
01:07:02 Challenges in academia: open access, uncertainty, women in science 
01:21:29 Publishing industry: problems and solutions

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Neuroscience and Beyond team:
Svilen Georgiev
Kristina Jevdokimenko
Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı
Beatriz Apgaua
Mels Akhmetali

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