BERG

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965 discussions

Getting to the Bottom of Face Processing. Species-Specific Inversion Effects for Faces & Behinds in Humans & Chimpanzees

by Gillian Cross

Hey BERGers This may be of interest http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0165357 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2016/12/05/chimpanzees-see-butts-… & http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2016/12/05/chimpanzees-see-butts-…. [http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/figure/image?id=10.1371/journal.po…]<http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0165357> Getting to the Bottom of Face Processing. Species-Specific Inversion Effects for Faces and Behinds in Humans and Chimpanzees (Pan Troglodytes)<http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0165357> journals.plos.org For social species such as primates, the recognition of conspecifics is crucial for their survival. As demonstrated by the 'face inversion effect', humans are experts in recognizing faces and unlike objects, recognize their identity by processing it configurally. The human face, with its distinct features such as eye-whites, eyebrows, red lips and cheeks signals emotions, intentions, health and sexual attraction and, as we will show here, shares important features with the primate behind. Chimpanzee females show a swelling and reddening of the anogenital region around the time of ovulation. This provides an important socio-sexual signal for group members, who can identify individuals by their behinds. We hypothesized that chimpanzees process behinds configurally in a way humans process faces. In four different delayed matching-to-sample tasks with upright and inverted body parts, we show that humans demonstrate a face, but not a behind inversion effect and that chimpanzees show a behind, but no clear face BW. ________________________________ The University is ranked in the QS World Rankings of the top 5% of universities in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2014) The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.

8 years, 3 months

Today's BERG seminar

by Hannah Buchanan-Smith

Reminder of today's seminar As part of our Behaviour and Evolution Research Group (BERG) seminars, Wednesday (19th October, 5.30pm ) we have Professor Vernon Gayle, University of Edinburgh giving a short presentation on: Reproducible Research is 'Show Me' not 'Trust Me' Psychology Common Room, 3A94, Cottrell building, with usual drinks and nibbles. I think this topic is really important to consider in terms of our research process and workflow. Hope to see some of you there. Best, Hannah Abstract Despite the explosion in the number of research publications it is impossible to 'reproduce' the results of most analyses that are published. This is because information on how the work is undertaken in seldom made available. Most researchers will have a happy, or possibly even a terrifying, early educational memory of being told to "show their working out". Somewhere between primary school and graduate school this requirement has evaporated. Currently published research is far from transparent and a culture of 'trust me' rather than a culture of 'show me' exists. In this presentation I make an appeal for researchers to routinely provide enough information so that others can check that results are accurate, and that correct inferences and conclusions are reported in published work. This transparency will also allow others to test the robustness of the original piece of research, for example by employing new or additional data and alternative methods. I highlight the obstacles that are commonly encountered and provide some practicable steps for rendering research 'reproducible'. I argue that conventional research publications should, at best, be regarded as a palimpsest of the 'real work' undertaken within the data analytical process. Drawing on insights from computer science and other disciplines that have been engaged in e-Research I illustrate how contemporary digital resources could provide a useful and effective aid to making social science research more easily reproducible. I propose a set of guidelines which researchers should follow in order to enhance the reproducibility of their research. I conclude by suggesting a set of benchmarks against which the reproducibility can be assessed. 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/11925 http://marmosetcare.com/ http://www.247animalwelfare.eu/index.html Just launched: http://refiningdogcare.com/ http://www.refiningdogcare.com/images/RDC%20Flyer.pdf

8 years, 4 months

2nd Student Animal Presentation Skills (SAPS) Course at RZSS - Edinburgh Zoo, March

by Hannah Buchanan-Smith

Posting from Mark Kingston Jones – he runs really great courses! **************************************************************************************** In a collaboration between The Shape of Enrichment and AnimalConcepts we are pleased to announce that we will be running the 2nd Student Animal Presentation Skills (SAPS) Course at RZSS - Edinburgh Zoo, from the 3rd-5th March 2017. The course will be lead by Mark Kingston Jones and Sabrina Brando, and is aimed at students wishing to explore the subject of presenting about and with animals in captive facilities. The final practical will entail each participate having the opportunity to give a presentation outside an animal enclosure at the Zoo. Please see the attached poster for more details and for a registration form please email mkjones(a)enrichment.org<mailto:mkjones@enrichment.org>. Feedback from a previous attendee: 'Another great course run by The Shape of Enrichment. The thought of doing a public presentation may put you off this course but it really shouldn't. This course went through the reasoning behind education in zoos and I actually ended up enjoying teaching people about my chosen species!' Many thanks and best wishes, Mark -- Mark Kingston Jones, The Shape of Enrichment WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE: www.teambuildingwithbite.co.uk<http://www.teambuildingwithbite.co.uk> Second highest rated provider on Coursecheck for 2015! See our latest reviews from our course and workshop participants at: http://www.coursecheck.com/provider/39/the-shape-of-enrichment

8 years, 4 months

Fw: Famelab judging

by Hayley Ash

Dear BERGers, The below email from Alaina in the Education Centre at Edinburgh Zoo may be of interest to you. All the best, Hayley ________________________________ ?---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Alaina Macri <AMacri(a)rzss.org.uk<mailto:AMacri@rzss.org.uk>> Date: Tue, Nov 15, 2016 at 10:24 AM Subject: FW: Famelab judging To: Blake Morton <morton.blake(a)gmail.com<mailto:morton.blake@gmail.com>>, Jennifer Kaden <jkaden(a)rzss.org.uk<mailto:jkaden@rzss.org.uk>> From: Engage, HW [mailto:hwengage@hw.ac.uk<mailto:hwengage@hw.ac.uk>] Sent: 15 November 2016 09:56 To: Alaina Macri <AMacri(a)rzss.org.uk<mailto:AMacri@rzss.org.uk>> Subject: Famelab judging Hi Alaina Hope you are well, and looking forward to catching up at the RZSS event. I am actually emailing regarding another event which Heriot-Watt are hosting - Famelab! The event is taking place in the postgraduate auditorium @ HWU on the 8th December from 2-4pm (further details on our webpage,<https://www.hw.ac.uk/research/engage/famelab.htm> and via Cheltenham Festival<http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/about/famelab/>). As you may know, Famelab is a National and International competition aiming to find the best science communicator in the country and around the world! The competition is organised by Cheltenham Festival and the British Council, and has already seen more than 5000 young scientists and engineers participating in over 25 different countries Heriot-Watt will be hosting the Edinburgh Heat, as well as coordinating the Scottish Final. The Edinburgh heat is open to anyone age over 21 who works in STEM (so do share with good science communicators you know, I'm sure there must be loads at the zoo!). We would like to invite you to be on our judging panel for the competition, joining representatives from Universities and STEM areas. I attach the rules and judging guide from Famelab, and there will be further guidance on the day. It would be really great if you could make it, as your experience in science communication would be really useful for the contestants. Can you please let me know asap! If you can't, and have any other suggestions from the zoo please let me know! Many thanks Laura Heriot-Watt Engage, Centre for Academic Leadership & Development [http://www.starshinemusic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Facebook-Logo-T…]<http://goo.gl/ljTWTV>[house-outline-clipart-jcxpKd8Ri]<http://www.hw.ac.uk/research/public-engagement.htm>[http://bit.ly/1usxibJ]<https://twitter.com/HWEngage>[http://static1.squarespace.com/static/50fca43ae4b0fa3b9222ffb9/t/5307ca22e4…]<http://eepurl.com/bh82xn> Postgraduate Centre 3.02, Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK T: +44 (0) 131 451 3446<tel:%2B44%20%280%29%20131%20451%203446>/3806, E: HWEngage(a)hw.ac.uk<mailto:HWEngage@hw.ac.uk> ________________________________ Founded in 1821, Heriot-Watt is a leader in ideas and solutions. With campuses and students across the entire globe we span the world, delivering innovation and educational excellence in business, engineering, design and the physical, social and life sciences. The contents of this e-mail (including any attachments) are confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of its contents is strictly prohibited, and you should please notify the sender immediately and then delete it (including any attachments) from your system.

8 years, 4 months

Animal Welfare Student Scholars’ Meeting- 25th of January 2017

by Eoin O'Sullivan

Dear BERGers, You are invited to the annual UFAW Animal Welfare Student Scholars’ Meeting that will take place here at the University of Stirling on the 25th of January 2017. At this meeting, students who received UFAW animal welfare scholarships in 2016 will discuss their findings and there is a great series of talks planned (see attached poster for topics). This is a great opportunity for BERG members to learn about a wide range of research that is funded by the wonderful UFAW (who also happen to fund our BERG meetings). Attendance is free, but you must register your intention to attend by emailing Dr. Stephen Wickens (wickens(a)ufaw.org.uk). For more information please see the attached poster or this website: http://www.ufaw.org.uk/ufaw-events/animal-welfare-student-scholarsa-meeting… I look forward to seeing you there. Please let me know if you have any questions. All the best, Eoin ? Eoin O'Sullivan, PhD Early Career Fellow Psychology, School of Natural Sciences Behaviour and Evolution Research Group University of Stirling FK9 4LA

8 years, 4 months

BES seminar on sexual selection in birds: Monday Nov 14th

by Hannah Buchanan-Smith

An interesting talk at 12 noon on Monday 14th November in LT A6 Circulated on behalf of Adam Hayward How studying post-copulatory sexual selection can save endangered birds. Nicola Hemmings, University of Sheffield (https://nicolahemmings.wordpress.com/) In many endangered birds, more than half of all eggs never hatch. Identifying the cause(s) of this failure is a crucial goal for conservation science, with the potential to invigorate captive breeding and reintroduction programmes. My research has taken an evolutionary approach to the problem of hatching failure, applying basic research on post-copulatory sexual selection to identify the features of reproduction's winners and losers. In this talk, I will describe the formidable path to fertilisation in birds, and explain why a thorough understanding of post-copulatory processes is essential for the successful management of threatened populations. Nicola's research focuses on sexual selection in birds, in particular on sperm competition in males and the reasons for reproductive failure in female birds. As well as exploring the implications for the evolution of sexual traits, Nicola has applied her work to the conservation of endangered bird species, in the context of breeding success in both the wild and captivity. She's a fantastic speaker with a passion for communicating science to both academic and non-academic audiences, so it should be a great talk- please let any relevant groups of undergrads know and encourage them to attend (LT A6, 12pm). Nicola will be in the department until around 3pm on Monday. If anyone would like to chat to her during her visit, or come for lunch after her talk, please let me know. Cheers, Adam Adam Hayward Impact Research Fellow Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA Website: http://adhayward.wordpress.com<http://adhayward.wordpress.com/> Tel: +44(0)1786 467757

8 years, 4 months

Please consider signing the protect primates petition!

by Hannah Buchanan-Smith

I have been supporting the movement against keeping primates as pets for sometime….please also consider signing the petition. http://www.wildfutures.org/petition/<http://wildfutures.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0c917f8ce561316a7c6a60…> From: Sarah Hanson, Wild Futures [mailto:info=wildfutures.org@mail104.suw11.mcdlv.net] On Behalf Of Sarah Hanson, Wild Futures Sent: 04 November 2016 17:01 To: Hannah Buchanan-Smith <h.m.buchanan-smith(a)stir.ac.uk> Subject: Thank you for signing the protect primates petition! Thank you for signing the protect primates petition View this email in your browser<http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0c917f8ce561316a7c6a6088b&id=7ac586103e…> [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/0c917f8ce561316a7c6a6088b/images/ddce9f11-8e0…] Thank you for signing the Protect Primates petition and speaking out for each and every primate being kept as a pet. Primates are wild animals with complex needs which simply cannot be met in captivity. Damage caused to primates kept as pets is not just physical, but emotional and psychological. Thanks to people like you, we now have over 35,000 signatures on our petition calling for an end to keeping primates as pets in the UK. We are continuing to gather support for the campaign and we ask for your help once more! Please share our petition with friends and family and urge them to add their names to the petition and help us end the UK primate pet trade today. http://www.wildfutures.org/petition/ Thank you for choosing to hear about the work of Wild Futures and we hope you continue to support our work, protecting primates and habitats worldwide. [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/0c917f8ce561316a7c6a6088b/images/3b90ed78-86f…] Sarah Hanson Campaigns Officer [https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-facebook-48.png]<http://wildfutures.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=0c917f8ce561316a7c6a6…> [https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-twitter-48.png]<http://wildfutures.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0c917f8ce561316a7c6a60…> [https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-link-48.png]<http://wildfutures.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0c917f8ce561316a7c6a60…> [https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-forwardtofrien…]<mailto:info@wildfutures.org> Copyright © 2016 Wild Futures, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to receive Wild Futures news and updates either via our website, newsletter, Sanctuary or through your adoption. Alternatively because you have purchased from our shop or have been a volunteer or are an ambassador. Our mailing address is: Wild Futures Murrayton House Looe Cornwall, England PL13 1NZ United Kingdom Add us to your address book<http://wildfutures.us2.list-manage.com/vcard?u=0c917f8ce561316a7c6a6088b&id…> unsubscribe from this list<http://wildfutures.us2.list-manage1.com/unsubscribe?u=0c917f8ce561316a7c6a6…> update subscription preferences<http://wildfutures.us2.list-manage.com/profile?u=0c917f8ce561316a7c6a6088b&…>

8 years, 5 months

This week's BERG (Wed 2 Nov): Sarah Davis from University of St Andrews

by Christine Caldwell

Dear all, I hope everyone had a good mid-semester week! BERG is back again this week, and we have a speaker coming over from St Andrews. Sarah Davis will be giving us a talk on the topic of "Behavioural flexibility and the foundations of cumulative culture". Sarah is currently in the final stages of her PhD under the supervision of Andrew Whiten, and she has been studying chimpanzees as a means to understand the evolution of human cumulative culture. We'll take Sarah out for some dinner after the meeting (probably in town in Stirling, close to the station, as she will be travelling by train). Please let me know if you would be interested in joining us! The most likely options are Rana's, Pizza Express, or Smiling Jacks. The BERG meeting will begin at 5.30pm as per usual in the Psychology Common Room (3A94). Hope to see you there! Christine.

8 years, 5 months

FW: Matsuzawa's MOOC: Origins of the Human Mind, From Oct 27 to Dec 1st 2016, FREE, registration please

by Hannah Buchanan-Smith

This may be of interest to some…. Subject: Matsuzawa's MOOC. *MOOC: Massive Open Online Courses A free online course by Matsuzawa will be offered for five weeks, from October 27th to December 1st, via edX, which is one of MOOC providers. You can access its registration page from the link: https://www.edx.org/course/origins-human-mind-kyotoux-007x Anyone from all over the world can register for the course as a student, and learners can exchange their opinions and post questions on its Discussion Forum in English. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear my ex-students and close friends: I picked up 101 names. Please forward this announcement to your colleagues and students via e-mail, FACEBOOK, etc. I tried to do my best describing my parallel effort of studying chimpanzees in the wild and the laboratory. Thank you. and Have a nice day. Tetsuro Matsuzawa, Kyoto Please visit my site, http://matsuzawa.kyoto/

8 years, 5 months

Next week's BERG seminar

by Hannah Buchanan-Smith

Dear BERGers - cc Psychology staff and PhD students in case of interest As part of our Behaviour and Evolution Research Group (BERG) seminars, next Wednesday (19th October, 5.30pm ) we have Professor Vernon Gayle, University of Edinburgh giving a short presentation on: Reproducible Research is 'Show Me' not 'Trust Me' Psychology Common Room, 3A94, Cottrell building, with usual drinks and nibbles. I think this topic is really important to consider in terms of our research process and workflow. Hope to see some of you there. Best, Hannah Abstract Despite the explosion in the number of research publications it is impossible to 'reproduce' the results of most analyses that are published. This is because information on how the work is undertaken in seldom made available. Most researchers will have a happy, or possibly even a terrifying, early educational memory of being told to "show their working out". Somewhere between primary school and graduate school this requirement has evaporated. Currently published research is far from transparent and a culture of 'trust me' rather than a culture of 'show me' exists. In this presentation I make an appeal for researchers to routinely provide enough information so that others can check that results are accurate, and that correct inferences and conclusions are reported in published work. This transparency will also allow others to test the robustness of the original piece of research, for example by employing new or additional data and alternative methods. I highlight the obstacles that are commonly encountered and provide some practicable steps for rendering research 'reproducible'. I argue that conventional research publications should, at best, be regarded as a palimpsest of the 'real work' undertaken within the data analytical process. Drawing on insights from computer science and other disciplines that have been engaged in e-Research I illustrate how contemporary digital resources could provide a useful and effective aid to making social science research more easily reproducible. I propose a set of guidelines which researchers should follow in order to enhance the reproducibility of their research. I conclude by suggesting a set of benchmarks against which the reproducibility can be assessed. 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/11925 http://marmosetcare.com/ http://www.247animalwelfare.eu/index.html Just launched: http://refiningdogcare.com/ http://www.refiningdogcare.com/images/RDC%20Flyer.pdf

8 years, 5 months

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