Elevator Pitch!

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 Worked up a brief summary of my research in a neat, under 250 word pitch as per my SURF workshop directions. Now if only I could string together something half as organized as this when people ask me in person what I am doing! 😂


"In the fields of primatology and animal science, it is generally considered that haplorrhines, the order containing primates more closely related to humans, possess greater cognitive powers than strepsirrhines, the order containing more distantly related primate, like lemurs. I will be investigating this assumption through the observational analysis and testing of haplorrhine red-tailed monkeys, and strepsirrhine ring-tailed and crowned lemurs at the Oakland Zoo. Two different colors of boxes will be presented to the animals, and cognitive abilities will be inferred from factors such as how long the animals take to explore and open the new stimulus, how long it takes them to figure out which color has food inside, and then after periods of absence from the boxes, how long it takes to apply what they remembered and learned, if they do, from their earlier experiences with the boxes. Potential social learning, a process of acquiring new information and behaviors through observing others, which is theorized to be a factor that led to humans’ own remarkable cognitive advances, will also be observed.

My project will not only help us better understand variation in primate cognition, but also aid in critical conservation efforts by fostering appreciation for these amazing animals. This research can also help in assessing new enrichment practices, and continuing to improve the quality of these primates’ lives in captivity."

Ring-tailed lemur at the Oakland Zoo.


Red-tailed monkeys at the Oakland Zoo. (Photo = Oakland Zoo).




Also, I've now been actively working on phase one of my project with the red-tailed monkeys this week, so updates to come!

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