Dear BERGers
First, my sincere thanks to Sarah Kraemer who ran the real BERG meetings brilliantly this semester, with Gema's help. I am sorry I missed them, but I was overseas. I am home in Stirling now. I hope you are all home and safe too.
We shall now have virtual BERG meetings – starting today! Everybody welcome!
This note explains how to join our meeting which starts at 5.30pm today, Wednesday 1st April. I think it will last less than one hour.
I hope it will be every Wednesday until we can meet together again. I ask for experienced Zoom users to volunteer to host so I can learn how to do it better. I am quite confident I can do it today though!!
The attached document is our topic for discussion (reading time 5 min - 3 hours!). Please do read to the end of this message before you join virtual BERG.
I know these instructions work!
Before the meeting please set up "Zoom" on the biggest computer screen you have so you can see us (if you want to see us).
It should take less than 15 minutes to get it set up if you have not already.
It will help if you have a camera on your computer, but this is not necessary. You can even do this on your smart phone!
Please do this here - https://zoom.us/ Sign up is free.
<https://zoom.us/>
Video Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webinars, Screen Sharing - Zoom<https://zoom.us/>
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, conference, huddle, and training rooms, as well as executive offices and classrooms. Founded in 2011 ...
zoom.us<http://zoom.us/>
If you don’t want to be seen you can just come by audio and look at those of us who are willing to show our faces!
Today, 1st April the BERG link is
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/931197509?pwd=eG51ZnpFdkMvYUxycVhnZzNMbUNOUT09<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us04web.zoom.us/j/931197509?pwd%3DeG51…>
Meeting ID: 931 197 509
Password: 001218
Please start joining after 5.25pm.....
Top tips!
1. If you can, please wear something animal themed.
2. Please use the chat button (an icon near the bottom of your screen in a row of functions that will appear if you hover the mouse over the video image). This is good, if for example we cannot hear you.
3. If we have many folk, please also use the “hands up” icon as this allows us to coordinate our chats and not all speak at once!
4. Positive feedback - the “thumbs up” icon might also be appreciated when you like what someone is saying!
Troubleshooting
Email me or call me in advance of the meeting – but not during the call – see point 2 above. I cannot promise to be able to answer the call, never mind the question, but I will try if time permits.
Finally – and importantly – the Topic for Discussion.
The pandemic is setting us all challenges. I recognise we all need emotional and psychological support, but I request we do not use the BERG meetings to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic, unless it relates specifically to research.
If anyone needs emotional support, I direct you to University services (see the portal).
I would also be happy to arrange for a trained counsellor to join an online Zoom meeting. I have two friends in mind. Please just email me. I shall treat all such emails in confidence. Please put “in confidence” as your subject header to help me.
Today’s discussion is on the attached document, which I hope is self-explanatory!
I like working from home – I’m finding it quite creative! We can’t knock on each other’s office doors now, but we can and we must stay connected. I am excited to see Betsy Herrelko in Washington DC later, and Pawel, and anyone else who can make it.
As I said before bring your own drinks and nibbles!
Hannah
Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith
Professor, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group (BERG)
Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences
University of Stirling
Stirling, FK9 4LA
Scotland
Tel: 01786 467674
Fax: 01786 467641
E-mail: h.m.buchanan-smith(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:h.m.buchanan-smith@stir.ac.uk>
Home page: https://rms.stir.ac.uk/converis-stirling/person/11925http://marmosetcare.com/http://www.animalconcepts.eu/247animalwelfare/http://refiningdogcare.com/
________________________________
The University achieved an overall 5 stars in the QS World University Rankings 2018
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.
These will be starting up again on Wednesdays at 5.30pm. First meeting 1st April!
Bring your own drinks and nibbles!
Details on how to join the meeting online will follow.
Sent from my iPad
________________________________
The University achieved an overall 5 stars in the QS World University Rankings 2018
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.
Dear BERGers,
We are all used to these announcements by now, but it doesn't hurt any less!
Given the situation with COVID-19 and the University’s announcement on Friday of last week to end all face-to-face teaching, we have decided to cancel the BERG meetings for the next couple of weeks. The speakers were informed of this yesterday, and we learned that one of the speakers planned for this week has actually seen their ERASMUS exchange program cut short, and has already flown home to wait out the storm.
In the meantime, we hope that everyone is following the advice and guidance of the experts! As for the future of BERG-- we will be in touch again if things change, and the dust settles.
Stay safe and maintain sanity,
Sarah and Gema
________________________________
The University achieved an overall 5 stars in the QS World University Rankings 2018
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.
Extra seminar!
You are welcome (indeed encouraged) to share the details amongst your colleagues. All are welcome.
On Monday 6th April 2020, 1100-1230hrs at the University of Stirling, we will host a presentation by Dr Melanie Rock, University of Calgary, on "More-than-human solidarity: How humans can act in solidarity with animals to benefit the welfare of both" (Lecture theatre 2V1, Cottrell building).
This event is being hosted by the Social Surveys and Social Statistics research group, Faculty of Social Sciences, as the speaker is working collaboratively with Jade Hooper who is a member of that group (and of our Behaviour and Evolution Research Group).
https://www.ucalgary.ca/mrock/people/staff
A list of Dr Rock's publications is here:
https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=r0XVh8oAAAAJ&hl=en
All welcome!
Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith
Professor, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group (BERG)
Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences
University of Stirling
Stirling, FK9 4LA
Scotland
Tel: 01786 467674
Fax: 01786 467641
E-mail: h.m.buchanan-smith(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:h.m.buchanan-smith@stir.ac.uk>
Home page: https://rms.stir.ac.uk/converis-stirling/person/11925http://marmosetcare.com/http://www.animalconcepts.eu/247animalwelfare/http://refiningdogcare.com/
Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith
Professor, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group (BERG)
Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences
University of Stirling
Stirling, FK9 4LA
Scotland
Tel: 01786 467674
Fax: 01786 467641
E-mail: h.m.buchanan-smith(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:h.m.buchanan-smith@stir.ac.uk>
Home page: https://rms.stir.ac.uk/converis-stirling/person/11925http://marmosetcare.com/http://www.animalconcepts.eu/247animalwelfare/http://refiningdogcare.com/
________________________________
The University achieved an overall 5 stars in the QS World University Rankings 2018
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.
Dear BERGers,
Another Week, another Weminder e-mail! This week is extra special, because on Mar 08, 2020, Scotland celebrated "International Women's Day"! Shout-out to all of the fierce female minds that plan, present for, and attend BERG, contributing so much of themselves to make our research group worthwhile. 🤜🤛
Following that point, this week we have decided to cancel the BERG meeting due to the UCU strikes taking place Monday through Friday, and causing some understandably lower-than-usual attendance. Instead, on March 18, we will have THREE presenters giving brief presentations discussing their research efforts. It is simply an added bonus that they all happen to be women! 👊
On 18 March 2020, at 5:30pm, please come on down to Cottrell 3A94 to hear the following short talks and learn more about these topics:
Juliet Robertsone - “Restricted access to working memory does not prevent cumulative improvement in a cultural evolution task”
Kateřina Fiurašková - "MHC, hormonal contraception and women's reproductive success"
Lucie Kuncová - "Imprinting-like effect and similarity in body odour"
See you next week, Ruth BERGer GinsBERG's!
-Sarah and Gema
The iceBERG sign-up link is here: https://stir.box.com/s/6m677eyq85vi1id5dumcl7x3yney5t35
Members may choose any slots and e-mail Sarah Kraemer and/or Gema Martin-Ordas to be put on the schedule.
( s.b.kraemer(a)stir.ac.uk; gema.martin-ordas(a)stir.ac.uk )
The Spring 2020 Schedule for BERG presentations is here: https://stir.box.com/s/2nz26sgrlkwmjl72a5oz7j8uuo1qmdd7
[Same instructions as above]
The link to add people to the mailing list or unsubscribe to these e-mails is here: http://lists.stir.ac.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/berg
________________________________
The University achieved an overall 5 stars in the QS World University Rankings 2018
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.
Dear BERGers,
Would anyone who has decided definitively to come to the meeting tonight be able to help prepare the snacks table this afternoon, around 5:15pm? All of the necessities are in my (Sarah's) office. Volunteers can e-mail me at s.b.kraemer(a)wisc.edu for more info! We would greatly appreciate it!
Info on snacks duties: https://stir.box.com/s/6m677eyq85vi1id5dumcl7x3yney5t35
Also, Juliet Robertstone is giving the BERG talk on 18 Mar 2020. She has informed me that her BERG talk is in preparation for a short conference talk, and thus it is a very quick one. She opened the floor to others who might have a quick talk they'd like to give, to share her Mar 18 slot! If you are interested in presenting a short talk at that meeting, please e-mail us. The theme need not be directly related. Her e-mail is juliet.dunstone1(a)stir.ac.uk
Many thanks,
-Sarah
Sarah B. Kraemer
PhD Student | Department of Psychology
Behaviour and Evolution Research Group [BERG<https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/faculties/natural-sciences/our-research/resear…>]
Scottish Primate Research Group [SPRG<http://living-links.org/about/scottish-primate-research-group/>]
University of Stirling, UK
________________________________
The University achieved an overall 5 stars in the QS World University Rankings 2018
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.
Dear BERGers,
Many thanks to all who attended last week's meeting, and if any members have specific feedback for our presenter, Dr. Krissy Green, she has invited you to e-mail me or her directly for that input before she presents at the AHH conference in March! Her e-mail is: krissy.nichols(a)googlemail.com
Tomorrow we have Kristine Gandia presenting on “Using a worldwide zoo database to assess the effect of circadian synchrony on animal welfare.” We welcome any and all members to come to Cottrell 3A94 tomorrow at 5:30pm for some snacks, refreshments, and discussion!
**IMPORTANT: Your regular BERG organisers, Sarah and Gema, are unavailable to run the snacks for the duscussion tomorrow. If some interested BERG member could kindly volunteer to spearhead those duties, please e-mail Sarah for more information at s.b.kraemer(a)stir.ac.uk!
"BERG: Inspiring snacks and discussions *Circa* many years now!"
All the best,
-Sarah and Gema
The iceBERG sign-up link is here: https://stir.box.com/s/6m677eyq85vi1id5dumcl7x3yney5t35
Members may choose any slots and e-mail Sarah Kraemer and/or Gema Martin-Ordas to be put on the schedule.
( s.b.kraemer(a)stir.ac.uk; gema.martin-ordas(a)stir.ac.uk )
The Spring 2020 Schedule for BERG presentations is here: https://stir.box.com/s/2nz26sgrlkwmjl72a5oz7j8uuo1qmdd7
[Same instructions as above]
The link to add people to the mailing list or unsubscribe to these e-mails is here: http://lists.stir.ac.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/berg
________________________________
The University achieved an overall 5 stars in the QS World University Rankings 2018
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.
Dear BERGers,
We trust that you all had a splendid Wednesday afternoon off last week! As you all undoubtedly know, this week many are participating in the UCU Stirling strikes that are taking place Monday through Wednesday of this week [Feb 24-26], Mon-Thurs of the following week [Mar 02-05], Mon-Fri of the week after that [Mar 09-13], and Mon-Tues of the final week [Mar 16-17]. http://ucustirling.org.uk/?p=5632
As BERG organisers, we discussed the possibility of cancelling BERG for these strikes. Ultimately we decided that because BERG attendance has always been optional, meetings take place outside of regular office hours, and the meetings are meant to be social gatherings in which members mingle and discuss current research, that it would be perfectly acceptable and non-political to continue hosting them.
All members should feel free to attend, but as always, the meetings are non-obligatory! We hope to see you there!
This week, Dr. Krissy Green will be presenting a talk titled
"Reptile Mental Health: Excessive Anthropomorphism, or Emerging Welfare Concern?"
Dr. Green is a veterinarian and an RCVS advanced practitioner in Zoological Medicine. She will presently be giving a talk at the AHH ("Advancing Herpetological Husbandry") Conference in March.
A short abstract for the talk:
Do reptiles have mental health, and what importance does this have? Is it excessive anthropomorphism to consider mental health problems in reptiles or is this a welfare concern that the hobby should become engaged in? This talk explores human negative mental health states and shows where they are applicable to specific reptile cases I have seen in exotic animal veterinary practice.
As always, refreshments and nibbles will be provided.
The iceBERG sign-up link is here: https://stir.box.com/s/6m677eyq85vi1id5dumcl7x3yney5t35
Members may choose any slots and e-mail Sarah Kraemer and/or Gema Martin-Ordas to be put on the schedule.
( s.b.kraemer(a)stir.ac.uk; gema.martin-ordas(a)stir.ac.uk )
The Spring 2020 Schedule for BERG presentations is here: https://stir.box.com/s/2nz26sgrlkwmjl72a5oz7j8uuo1qmdd7
[Same instructions as above]
The link to add people to the mailing list or unsubscribe to these e-mails is here: http://lists.stir.ac.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/berg
All the best,
Sarah and Gema
Sarah B. Kraemer
PhD Student | Department of Psychology
Behaviour and Evolution Research Group [BERG<https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/faculties/natural-sciences/our-research/resear…>]
Scottish Primate Research Group [SPRG<http://living-links.org/about/scottish-primate-research-group/>]
University of Stirling, UK
________________________________
The University achieved an overall 5 stars in the QS World University Rankings 2018
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.
Dear BERGers,
This is a quick reminder that today there will be no BERG meeting, as it is mid-semester reading period.
Enjoy this afternoon for yourselves!
The iceBERG sign-up link is here: https://stir.box.com/s/6m677eyq85vi1id5dumcl7x3yney5t35
Members may choose any slots and e-mail Sarah Kraemer and/or Gema Martin-Ordas to be put on the schedule.
( s.b.kraemer(a)stir.ac.uk; gema.martin-ordas(a)stir.ac.uk )
The Spring 2020 Schedule for BERG presentations is here: https://stir.box.com/s/2nz26sgrlkwmjl72a5oz7j8uuo1qmdd7
[Same instructions as above]
The link to add people to the mailing list or unsubscribe to these e-mails is here: http://lists.stir.ac.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/berg
All the best,
Sarah and Gema
Sarah B. Kraemer
PhD Student | Department of Psychology
Behaviour and Evolution Research Group [BERG<https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/faculties/natural-sciences/our-research/resear…>]
Scottish Primate Research Group [SPRG<http://living-links.org/about/scottish-primate-research-group/>]
University of Stirling, UK
________________________________
The University achieved an overall 5 stars in the QS World University Rankings 2018
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.
Dear all,
Just a reminder that tomorrow we have Mark Atkinson presenting at BERG. Mark's talk is on: Inferring behaviour from partial social information and the cultural transmission of adaptive traits
We start at 5.30pm as per usual, in the Psychology common room (3A94). Drinks and snacks will be provided.
Hope to see you there!
Christine.
This semester's BERG schedule is available at: https://stir.box.com/s/2nz26sgrlkwmjl72a5oz7j8uuo1qmdd7
Link for new subscribers (or to unsubscribe): http://lists.stir.ac.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/berg
________________________________
The University achieved an overall 5 stars in the QS World University Rankings 2018
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.