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.
Final reminder....
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
From: Lara Wood <lara.wood(a)abertay.ac.uk<mailto:lara.wood@abertay.ac.uk>>
Date: 10 February 2020 at 05:56:38 GMT-8
To: "sprg(a)st-andrews.ac.uk<mailto:sprg@st-andrews.ac.uk>" <sprg(a)st-andrews.ac.uk<mailto:sprg@st-andrews.ac.uk>>
Subject: [sprg] Burn 2020
Reply-To: Lara Wood <lara.wood(a)abertay.ac.uk<mailto:lara.wood@abertay.ac.uk>>
Sorry to clog inboxes, this is just a final reminder that the deadline for securing a place at the SPRG Burn is this Friday (14th). After that point I will only email further details to those that are signed up.
Below are the details.
Best wishes,
Lara
This year’s meeting takes place from the 24th-26th April 2020. We can arrive from 4:00pm on Friday 24th and leave after lunch on Sunday 26th April, though we will still need to clear our rooms in the morning.
This year Manon, Emma and I will be organising the meeting. There will be a series of talks given throughout the weekend so please also let us know now if you would like a talk slot. These do not need to be particularly formal talks - the Burn is a great place to discuss project plans or analyses in the works. This year we will be joined by Dr Rachel Kendal<https://www.dur.ac.uk/research/directory/staff/?id=5444> who will be giving an extended talk. Rachel is an Associate Professor at the University of Durham, and she has undertaken extensive research looking at social learning in a large number of primate species. Rachel is the current president of the Cultural Evolution Society<https://culturalevolutionsociety.org/> and SPRG Alumni.
The costs of staying at The Burn are heavily subsidised by the Charitable Trust, and so remain very reasonable. The price of attending, which includes room, meals, etc., will be £190 for staff (those in full time employment) who wish to have a single occupancy room. Because single occupancy rooms are limited in number, we will offer these on a first-come first-serve basis. For students, unwaged members, and/or those who share rooms, the price will be £150.
To confirm your place at the Burn, please send a deposit of £75 to me by the second week of February (14/02/19) - see details below. On the bank reference could you please include your name and "Burn" as this will help me keep track of those who have paid. In a change to previous meetings and in line with the Burn's new policy the full balance will be due on Friday 17th April by bank transfer. This will avoid the need for people to bring excessive amounts of cash (although some will still be required for liquid refreshment). Any cancellations after this period will be non-refundable if we are unable to fill your place.
Account number: 41035106
Sort code: 07-01-16
Bank reference: "Burn *your name*"
To help us keep things organised, after paying the deposit, please send me an email at lara.wood(a)abertay.ac.uk<mailto:lara.wood@abertay.ac.uk> and include the following details:
Use the subject header: The SPRG Burn meeting 2019
Give your name:
If you prefer a single room (noting additional cost and no promises):
Affiliation and career stage (e.g., St Andrews, PhD student)
Dietary requirements: (if any)
If you are interested in giving a talk: (yes/no)
Topic of your talk: (title can be decided later but please indicate your/the general topic):
All the best,
Lara, Emma and Manon
Dr Lara Wood, PhD, PGCert, MA, BA | Lecturer
Psychology Division
Abertay University | Bell Street | DUNDEE | DD1 1HG
Abertay University is a charity registered in Scotland No. SCO16040.
I do not work Thursdays.
Recently published work with children and capuchins here<https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/11463/W…>
<https://larawood.wordpress.com/>Personal Website<https://larawood.wordpress.com/>
E: lara.wood(a)abertay.ac.uk<mailto:lara.wood@abertay.ac.uk>
T: 01382 308583
Abertay University is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SC016040
Follow us: www.abertay.ac.uk<http://www.abertay.ac.uk> | @AbertayUni<https://twitter.com/AbertayUni> | AbertayLinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=12685> | AbertayFacebook<https://www.facebook.com/AbertayUni>
Any views or opinions expressed in this email and any attachments are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Abertay University. This email and any attachments may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, you must take no action based on the email or its attachments, nor must you copy or show them to anyone. Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in error.
________________________________
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.
For those of you who may be looking for welfare-related research opportunities......
As the message says, you’ll need to register for the Facebook group.
Best, Hannah
From: Stephen Wickens <wickens(a)ufaw.org.uk<mailto:wickens@ufaw.org.uk>>
Date: 4 February 2020 at 04:48:10 GMT-8
To: <h.m.buchanan-smith(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:h.m.buchanan-smith@stir.ac.uk>>
Subject: UFAW Research opportunities message board
Reply-To: <wickens(a)ufaw.org.uk<mailto:wickens@ufaw.org.uk>>
Dear Hannah,
In case you haven't checked it out yet, we are continuing to add new posts to our Facebook Research opportunities message board. The latest is for a two year post-doc in Vienna to research the welfare implications of prosocial behaviour in domestic animals. More details can be found at: http://bit.ly/2GQPt62
To advertise posts and to also find out about new opportunities all you, your colleagues and/or students need to do is register. Follow this link to do so: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ufawresearch.
Stephen
Dr Stephen Wickens
Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, The Old School, Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead, Herts AL4 8AN, UK
Email: wickens(a)ufaw.org.uk<mailto:wickens@ufaw.org.uk> ; Direct Tel: +44(0)1276 500880; Office: +44(0)1582 831818 (tel), 831414 (fax)
www.ufaw.org.uk<http://www.ufaw.org.uk>
Registered Charity No 207996 (Registered in England) and Company Limited by Guarantee No 579991
Science in the service of animal welfare
________________________________
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.
Good morning, BERGers!
This is your 'push notification' that we have a meeting tomorrow, 05 Feb 2020, at 5:30pm in the Psychology common room (3A94).
Sarah Kraemer will be introducing the speaker and setting-up snacks.
Our presenter this week is Megan Donald, who has recently joined the Stirling Uni Psych Dept from the University of Glasgow as a Research Assistant with Laura Scullion Hall and Hannah Buchanan-Smith. She provided us with an abstract for her paper presentation tomorrow, which is fantastic as it gives us all that extra opportunity to think about these topics!
Title:
How to work with infinite bodies: the emotional geographies of diagnosis in the Small Animal Hospital
Abstract:
The Small Animal Hospital is a site where animals and humans come together for the purposes of specialist veterinary care, diagnosis and treatment. It is here we expect our pets to undergo the most advanced diagnostic procedures, led by cutting-edge evidence-based medicine. Framed by science and technology studies (STS), and emotional and animal geographies, this paper presents an alternative, affectively-attuned investigation into the diagnostic practices of the Small Animal Hospital. It does so through the story of Tessa, a dog with a sore back: this paper takes us through the 3 sites of her diagnosis within the hospital: the office where Tessa’s medical history is read by the vet, the consultation room where the vet meets Tessa and her owners and the neurology examination room, where Tessa’s bodily symptoms are tested. Each site reveals how veterinary diagnosis is formed not only through a purely objective science but through different multispecies intimacies, body practices and affective atmospheres. The result is a distinctly sensuous science which highlights the formative role of animal emotion in veterinary medicine, recognises the animal as an actor in its own care and which allows for new avenues of human-animal relations to be explored within interdisciplinary veterinary medical humanities.
We hope you will join us in discussing veterinary medicine as a sensuous science!
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
Happy Tuesday,
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 your happy reminder that BERG will be meeting at 5:30pm tomorrow (Wednesday), 29 Jan 2020, in the Psychology common room, 3A94.
This week one of the BERG organisers-- yours, truly!-- will be presenting on "Examining Social Influences on Capuchin Associative Learning".
A huge thank-you to everyone who has officially signed up to present this Spring! Last week we saw a large influx of people interested in sharing their research, and our Spring 2020 schedule is nearly full. That being said, we are always gathering intel on who could be potential speakers for us in the future, so carry on sharing those leads with your friendly neighborhood organisers.
A few members have pointed out that the social media presence of BERG could be improved, and the organisers agree! If there are any members who feel like they could do justice for BERG on our twitter and facebook pages, please e-mail organisers Gema and Sarah about spear-heading our social media efforts! This will be more of a priority moving forward.
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
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
Until tomorrow,
-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.
Happy Thursday, BERGers!
Special thanks to all who came to the "Cane Toads: An Unnatural History" Documentary Day yesterday! We had a great turnout, and an engaging discussion on the ethical issues surrounding the cane toad.
For all who did not attend, do not fret, the documentary can be found on Youtube, Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SBLf1tsoaw&t=1458s
During said discussion portion, Sophia Daoudi and Hannah Buchanan-Smith highly recommended this documentary on 'BBC 2: Natural World', titled "The Octopus in My House." The short description reads:
"A professor invites an octopus into his home to learn about its amazing intelligence.The octopus, called Heidi, unravels puzzles, recognises individual humans and even watches TV with the family. The episode also shows remarkable behaviour from around the world - from the day octopus, which can change colour and texture in a split second, to the coconut octopus, which carries around its own coconut shell to hide in. But most fascinating of all is seeing how Professor David Scheel and his daughter Laurel bond with an animal that has nine brains, three hearts and blue blood running through its veins."
Sophia says you will be amazed!
The Episode can be found Here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0007snt
Using the above link, there are only 5 days remaining to watch!
[https://www.bing.com/th?id=OVP.0zm1LfSIiBO2bK346ISPQAEsCo&pid=Api]<https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0007snt>
Natural World - 2019-2020: 5. The Octopus in My House - Audio Described<https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0007snt>
A professor invites an octopus into his home to learn about its amazing intelligence.
www.bbc.co.uk
Happy Viewing,
-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,
This is your friendly reminder that today is Documentary Day! "Cane Toads: An Unnatural History," will be viewed this afternoon at 5:30pm in the Psychology common room, Cottrell 3A94.
Another excerpt from the New York Times review by Janet Maslin:
"Ugly even by toad standards, the cane toad is revealed to be an amazingly resourceful creature. It was imported to Australia from Hawaii in 1935 - to illustrate this, the director, Mark Lewis, shows glimpses of a train trip across Australia from a toad's-eye view - in hopes that it would destroy a grub that threatened the sugar cane crop. But the toads' lack of interest in eating grubs was matched only by their eagerness to multiply. There are now millions of cane toads in Queensland, descended from an original group of only 101."
Fun Fact: The director has since made a follow-up documentary in 2010 called "Cane Toads: The Conquest"! The cane toad is clearly still an ecosystem management issue to this day.
We have attached in this e-mail a discussion guide for your perusing pleasure, with questions we will all be able to selectively discuss after the film.
Some other Reminders:
Liz Williamson has reached out to remind BERGers that the Spring meeting of the Primate Society of Great Britain is meeting from April 23-24 at the Liverpool John Moores University. Theme is: Latest Advances in Primatology.
More information can be found on their website: https://www.psgb-ljmu2020.co.uk/
Hannah Buchanan-Smith reminded us earlier this week that 'The Burn' Spring meeting<http://theburn.goodenough.ac.uk/> of the Scottish Primate Research Group (SPRG) will be held on 24-26 April, 2020.
A General Reminder: These meetings are only possible thanks to members who volunteer their time! Special shout-out to Kristine Gandia for signing up to prepare snacks for the meeting again this week.
A new sign-up for these additional duties has been newly-created, and aptly-titled: "iceBERG": Individual Contributive Efforts to help with BERG!
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 sign-up link for BERG presentations is here: https://stir.box.com/s/2nz26sgrlkwmjl72a5oz7j8uuo1qmdd7
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
That's all for now, BERGers!
Documentary treasures un-toad await us later today.
Let's have an un-frog-gettable meeting!
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,
First, some news! 'The Burn' Spring meeting<http://theburn.goodenough.ac.uk/> of the Scottish Primate Research Group (SPRG) will be held on 24-26 April, 2020. Please see the e-mail from Hannah Buchanan-Smith that was just sent out to all BERGers this morning for more information!
From that e-mail: This year we will be joined by Dr Rachel Kendal<https://www.dur.ac.uk/research/directory/staff/?id=5444> who will be giving an extended talk. Rachel is an Associate Professor at the University of Durham, and she has undertaken extensive research looking at social learning in a large number of primate species. Rachel is the current president of the Cultural Evolution Society<https://culturalevolutionsociety.org/> and SPRG Alumni."
Next, A warm, fuzzy, koala-shaped hug to all of those who attended the paper-discussion at last week's meeting! 🐨
Aside from the plight of these endearing creatures, there are a few other endearing creatures who need your help.
They are the BERG coordinators!
Their plight is that... they need you to sign-up for talks!
We cannot do this without voluntary participation. A few of you have gone the extra mile to make suggestions: Sophia Daoudi, Phyllis Lee, Liz Renner, David Pritchard, Craig Roberts, and any others who have suggested papers to discuss or speakers to present. Thank you!
Of course, sometimes hectic schedules prevent these efforts from coming to fruition. Our best chance at filling the schedule with speakers that are interesting and relevant to our group, is to take as many shots as possible. Please notify your friends/colleagues, students, supervisees, collaborators, and anyone else of the opportunity to present past, current, and proposed research for a group of engaging and inquisitive minds like the ones at BERG! Special Thanks to Craig Roberts who is posting a message for us on the MSc's Canvas Page in the name of BERG recruitment!
Current Schedule: https://stir.box.com/s/2nz26sgrlkwmjl72a5oz7j8uuo1qmdd7
Who to e-mail: BERG coordinators Sarah Kraemer, <s.b.kraemer(a)stir.ac.uk> and Gema Martin-Ordas, <gema.martin-ordas(a)stir.ac.uk>
For now, we will continue to provide BERGers with alternative meetings experiences. That is why, for this week, we are having a....
(drumroll, please...)
DOCUMENTARY DAY
[cid:8002c3f8-58ea-473d-9371-3e80661ceccd]
"Cane Toads: An Unnatural History" is a short, ~45min documentary that can be viewed by attending BERG members this Wednesday, 22 Jan 2020.
The film is kooky. It is bizarre. It is polarizing. But the cane toads are as well!
Janet Maslin of The New York Times reviewed the documentary in 1988, and had this to say:
Pet or pest? This is the question posed by ''Cane Toads: An Unnatural History,'' a short Australian documentary that's an absolute delight. It supplies the answers to every conceivable question the viewer may have about the species in question, and a few extras: What can the toad do for tourism? What sort of person goes out of his way to squash cane toads while driving? Who feeds his favorite toads cat food, or thinks they look nice in baby clothes?"
Various academics have also given their opinions on the pesky toads:
“Despite all the fantastic activities that can be undertaken by the human race, the magnificent pieces of equipment that are being developed, our capacity in space, we still haven’t come to find a way to control the cane toad.” -Professor Mike Tyler
“Toads are public enemy number one... They’re like a commando, an invading army.” -Dr. Chris Burns
We hope you will join us in discussing cane toads as best as we *cane* on Wednesday at 5:30pm in the Psychology Common Room.
We *Cane-nae* Do any of this without you, BERGers! We are *toad-ally* grateful for your help!
Kind regards,
-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.
