- BERG - University of Stirling Mailing Lists

BERG - next week (4th April) with dinner invitation
by Hannah Buchanan-Smith 26 Mar '18

26 Mar '18

Dear BERGers This week we have Christine and her team doing a practice run of a session that they will run at the Edinburgh International Science Festival (see Paxton's message). Next week - Wednesday 4th April - we have Joana Coleoptera (see https://www.stir.ac.uk/people/37177) giving a presentation entitled Where to go? Impact of global environmental changes on African apes (Abstract below) We shall be going to the Meadowpark (http://www.themeadowparkstirling.co.uk/) for supper after the seminar. Please let Hannah know by Monday 2nd April if you would like to join us. h.m.buchanan-smith(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:h.m.buchanan-smith@stir.ac.uk> All welcome! Feel free to share with colleagues who might be interested. Where to go? Impact of global environmental changes on African apes Recent global food crises have greatly contributed towards the intensification and major expansion of tropical agriculture. Sub-Saharan Africa is suffering from widespread food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty, and is the region expected to experience the greatest human population growth in coming decades. Moreover, it is a region with a considerable proportion of land potentially suitable for agriculture. Globally, Africa is the continent most vulnerable to the effects of climate change (CC). Here, future droughts and other extreme weather events are likely to prompt the relocation of agricultural areas into more humid areas, which are rich in biodiversity, including African ape populations (AAPs). A key question is how to mitigate the effects of future CC and land-use/cover changes (LULCC) on AAPs by maintaining connectivity across landscapes, whilst guaranteeing food security and improving livelihoods of local populations. This project will a) make a fundamental contribution to understanding the effects of future CC on AAPs, b) studies on AAPs, carbon stocks and food security employing an integrative, interdisciplinary approach so far are lacking, and c) provide compelling arguments for the relevance of aligning biodiversity conservation with sustainable intensification of agriculture and CC that can benefit biodiversity and rural populations. Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith Professor, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group (BERG) Room 3A79, Cottrell 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/11925 http://marmosetcare.com/ http://www.247animalwelfare.eu/index.html Recently launched: http://refiningdogcare.com/ http://www.refiningdogcare.com/images/RDC%20Flyer.pdf

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BERG talk this week (Wed March 28th)
by Paxton Culpepper 26 Mar '18

26 Mar '18

Dear BERG people, This week Christine Caldwell and her research team will be doing a practice run of a session that they will run at the Edinburgh International Science Festival next week, and they would really appreciate input from as many of you as possible. The event is titled "The Culture Club" and audience members will be introduced to research methods that can be used to investigate cultural transmission in humans and other animals under laboratory conditions. The event will be a bit longer than our usual BERG presentations so we will start early at 5pm. Come along for some interactive fun! EISF social media links: F: /EdinburghScienceFestival T: @EdSciFest

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Reminder: Early start today / 5:15pm
by Paxton Culpepper 21 Mar '18

21 Mar '18

Dear BERGers, This is just a message to remind you all that today we will be starting the meeting at 5:15pm rather than 5:30pm. We are making room for two speakers - so double the fun! Best, Paxton ______________________________ Paxton D. Culpepper, BSc, MSc PhD Candidate | Psychology Division of Psychology Behaviour and Evolution Research Group Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, UK Office: 3B134 Cottrell Building Phone: +44 (0) 1786 466852 Fax: +44 (0) 1786 467641 Email: p.d.culpepper(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:p.d.culpepper@stir.ac.uk>

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FW: Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare (2 posts) - Queen's University Belfast
by Hannah Buchanan-Smith 21 Mar '18

21 Mar '18

Please find attached information about two posts that may interest somebody! From: Stephen Wickens [mailto:wickens@ufaw.org.uk] Sent: 19 March 2018 14:16 To: Hannah Buchanan-Smith <h.m.buchanan-smith(a)stir.ac.uk> Subject: Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare (2 posts) - Queen's University Belfast Dear Hannah, Please find below details of two posts that may be of interest to your colleagues. If you have any queries about these please contact Dr Wells directly. 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) MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "c:" claiming to be www.ufaw.org.uk<file:///C:/Users/Steve/AppData/Local/Temp/~ed_sb_3/www.ufaw.org.uk> ---------------------------------------- Book now: Recent advances in animal welfare science VI. UFAW Animal Welfare Conference, Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, 28th June 2018. Further details can be found here www.ufaw.org.uk/recentadvances2018<http://www.ufaw.org.uk/recentadvances2018> Save the date: Animal Welfare across Borders. A UFAW, City University of Hong Kong and New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries conference. Hong Kong, 25-26th October 2018. Sign up for alerts by emailing: animalwelfare(a)mpi.govt.nz<mailto:animalwelfare@mpi.govt.nz%0d> ----------- Dear all, The School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, is currently recruiting for 2 lectureship posts in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. The successful candidate will be expected to undertake research in the area of animal welfare and behaviour in line with the School's research strategy, to teach at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and to contribute to School administration/outreach activities. Individuals should also have an interest in undertaking consultancy work on pet behaviour therapy. Further details on the posts, and information on how to apply, can be found at the following link: https://hrwebapp.qub.ac.uk/tlive_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VAC… Many thanks, Dr Deborah L. Wells Reader School of Psychology Queen's University Belfast Belfast BT7 1NN N.Ireland, UK Tel: 028 9097 4386 Email: d.wells(a)qub.ac.uk<mailto:d.wells@qub.ac.uk>

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BERG talk / March 21st
by Paxton Culpepper 19 Mar '18

19 Mar '18

Dear BERG peeps, This week BERG will be hosting two speakers. PhD Candidate Paxton Culpepper will be giving a talk on his research, but we are also hosting a briefly visiting PhD student, Zsófia Csajbók, from University of Charles ,Prague, who wanted a chance to experience the friendly BERG atmosphere while she was in town. We will hear first from Zsófia. She will be discussing a piece of research her and her colleagues have been conducting, entitled: A higher 'GPA' or at least a passing grade in all 'subjects'? Passing the exam as a potential mate Brief blurb: A potential mate can be assessed along several factors (e.g., warmth, attractiveness, status, intelligence). How do these evaluations determine the overall desirability of a potential partner? Using a school analogy, one could devise at least two strategies: (1) taking some overall evaluation based on the distinct 'grades' (e.g., 'GPA'), or (2) requiring the candidate to achieve at least a 'passing grade' in all 'subjects'. In other words, which potential mates do people like better: those with a higher overall value but scoring low in one dimension, or candidates with mostly mediocre (but never low) scores? We were looking for the answers conducting an experiment using manipulated vignettes. (Rehearsal for the EHBEA Conference.) After Zsófia's talk, Paxton will be discussing his latest study, entitled: New Religions: Pathogen threat and cultural divergence Abstract: There is wide variation between cultures and their underlying belief systems, e.g. their religion. Evidence suggests that religion may function to promote prosocial cooperation among unrelated individuals but this alone cannot explain these variations. Cultures and their associated religions are based on and influenced by the society's values, which are reflected in its social rules. However, pathogen stress may impact values and affect cultural and religious trajectory by influencing the extent to which assortative social or prosocial rules are favoured. We tested this via the thought experiment: 'what if humans could start a new society founded on a newly developed set of basic social rules - on what rules would you build this new society?' Forty participants were asked to build a rule system they think would be most supported by potential citizens of the society. First, they rated either a set of pathogen-salient (PS) or pathogen-free (PF) images and then selected and ranked in importance, 15 rules from a list of 60 social rules (20 prosocial, assortative social, and pathogen-management). Analysis revealed that PS-viewers favoured (proportion and weighting) assortative social rules compared with the PF-viewers, who favoured prosocial rules. Selection of pathogen-management rules showed no group difference but were favoured less than prosocial rules and more than assortative social rules by PF-viewers. This may help explain how prolonged pathogen stress can increase in-group assortative sociality and lead to divergence and variation of cultures and their belief systems. Since we have two speakers this week, we will be starting the meeting at 5:15pm (apologies if this isn't convenient for some of you). Drinks and munchies provided! Hope to see everyone there! Paxton ______________________________ Paxton D. Culpepper, BSc, MSc PhD Candidate | Psychology Division of Psychology Behaviour and Evolution Research Group Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, UK Office: 3B134 Cottrell Building Phone: +44 (0) 1786 466852 Fax: +44 (0) 1786 467641 Email: p.d.culpepper(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:p.d.culpepper@stir.ac.uk>

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BERG Talk Wednesday, March 14th
by Paxton Culpepper 12 Mar '18

12 Mar '18

Hello BERG people, This Wednesday (March 14th) we have PhD Candidate - Juliet Dunstone, giving a talk on her interesting research, entitled: How do I know, that you know, that you know? Using dual-tasks to investigate metacognitive learning strategies for cumulative cultural evolution. Abstract Cumulative cultural evolution is an apparently human unique ability to change and improve the behaviours or artefacts we use, which leads us to have artefacts and societies that no human could have invented within their lifetime. One current theory about why this ability is unique to humans is that humans are able to use metacognition (knowledge about one's own knowledge) to make effective strategic decisions about what information to use and where to get this information from. However, there is little to no empirical evidence to test this theory. This is partly due to methodological difficulties in testing for metacognition in lab conditions. In this talk I will explain how I am using dual-task methods to try to overcome this methodological issue, and how I chose the particular methods that I am using in current and future testing. We hope to see you all there at 5:30pm sharp. As usual, drinks and munchies provided. Best, Paxton ______________________________ Paxton D. Culpepper, BSc, MSc PhD Candidate | Psychology Division of Psychology Behaviour and Evolution Research Group Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, UK Office: 3B134 Cottrell Building Phone: +44 (0) 1786 466852 Fax: +44 (0) 1786 467641 Email: p.d.culpepper(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:p.d.culpepper@stir.ac.uk>

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BERG and suggested reading for this Wednesday's talk
by Paxton Culpepper 04 Mar '18

04 Mar '18

Dear BERG tribe, This week we have an exciting talk from PhD candidate Sophia Daoudi and Prof Phyllis Lee, entitled: Defining Animal Groups. They have asked me to circulate an article for your own interest and for preparation for the talk/discussion (not that you must be 'prepared', but the paper is worth reading nonetheless!). Please find the article attached to this message. We are excited to see everyone back, alive and well at BERG - Wednesday, 07 March, 5:30pm sharp. Drinks and munchies provided. All the best, Paxton ______________________________ Paxton D. Culpepper, BSc, MSc PhD Candidate | Psychology Division of Psychology Behaviour and Evolution Research Group Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, UK Office: 3B134 Cottrell Building Phone: +44 (0) 1786 466852 Fax: +44 (0) 1786 467641 Email: p.d.culpepper(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:p.d.culpepper@stir.ac.uk>

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Fwd: Gifford Lectures by Agustin Fuentes, 26 Feb-8 Mar
by Hannah Buchanan-Smith 01 Mar '18

01 Mar '18

An interesting lecture series in Edinburgh.....lecture 3 at 5.30pm on 1st March of particular interest to the HAI Masters. Apologies for cross postings. Best, Hannah Gifford Lecture series in Edinburgh by Agustin Fuentes, 26 Feb - 8 Mar 2018: 'Why we believe: evolution, making meaning, and the development of human natures'. https://www.ed.ac.uk/arts-humanities-soc-sci/news-events/lectures/gifford-l… Professor Dr Agustin Fuentes - Why We Believe: evolution ...<https://www.ed.ac.uk/arts-humanities-soc-sci/news-events/lectures/gifford-l…> www.ed.ac.uk<http://www.ed.ac.uk> Professor Dr Agustin Fuentes' Gifford Lecture Series is made up of six lectures under the series title 'Why We Believe: evolution, making meaning, and the development ...

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BERG cancelled
by Paxton Culpepper 28 Feb '18

28 Feb '18

Dear BERG snow-beasts, I am very sorry to say (especially for Jade) that due to the adverse weather, BERG is being cancelled tonight. However, we promise to hear Jade's talk at the end of the semester - it has been moved to April 18th. If the weather subsides by next week, we hope to see you all next Wednesday for Sophia and Phyllis' talk. Enjoy the snow and be safe! Paxton ______________________________ Paxton D. Culpepper, BSc, MSc PhD Candidate | Psychology Division of Psychology Behaviour and Evolution Research Group Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, UK Office: 3B134 Cottrell Building Phone: +44 (0) 1786 466852 Fax: +44 (0) 1786 467641 Email: p.d.culpepper(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:p.d.culpepper@stir.ac.uk>

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BERG Seminar - 28 Feb
by Paxton Culpepper 26 Feb '18

26 Feb '18

Dear BERG peeps, Although Wednesday is technically a strike day, since BERG is not a part of teaching, the salary, or the pension, I am happy to tell you that we WILL be holding the BERG seminar this Wednesday. This week we have PhD candidate, Jade Hooper, giving a talk on her interesting work, entitled: Exploring Social and Locality Variations of Dog Bites in Scotland Using Administrative Data Sources [when your child] Rates of hospital admissions due to dog bite incidents have risen considerably over the last 10 years (HSCIC, 2015). Of particular concern is the finding that hospital admissions for dog bites are highest in the most deprived areas across England and Wales (HSCIC 2014; 2015). However, there is a paucity of research which aims to explore why this may be or how this issue may be addressed. Whilst there is a public interest in these figures in Scotland, thus far there has been no rigorous empirical investigation into social inequalities in dog related injuries. Through an innovative and ambitious analysis of linked by-product data, the current study hopes to address this gap. The study will use a range of data sources to examine both individual and area-based characteristics which may help uncover some of the reasons why these patterns may exist, and how they can be addressed. Health data from dog bite incidents will be requested and linked with census records. Microchip data will also be requested in a bid to account for dog populations which in the past have not be considered when links with social disadvantage and dog bite injuries have been found. Through this analysis, the study aims to help inform policy for the reduction of dog bites and aid in effective identification and targeting of interventions for areas and individuals most at risk. This presentation will discuss some of the difficulties associated with the research area and specific challenges related to the project. The floor will then be opened to allow for more general discussion surrounding the subject area. We look forward to seeing you at 5:30pm sharp. Drinks and munchies provided. All the best, Paxton ______________________________ Paxton D. Culpepper, BSc, MSc PhD Candidate | Psychology Division of Psychology Behaviour and Evolution Research Group Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, UK Office: 3B134 Cottrell Building Phone: +44 (0) 1786 466852 Fax: +44 (0) 1786 467641 Email: p.d.culpepper(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:p.d.culpepper@stir.ac.uk>

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