CICASP | Center for International Collaboration and Advanced Studies in Primatology

Our lecture series continues with the 15th speaker, Professor Thomas Struhsaker. His lecture, entitled “The Life of a Naturalist”, will highlight some of Prof. Struhsaker's scientific findings and conservation efforts while studying primates in the field from 1962 to 2018. His efforts have a history throughout the tropics, but with a particular focus on the Kibale Forest of Uganda, during a period of brutal dictatorship, civil war, and economic collapse.

In this lecture, Prof. Struhsaker will describe and discuss strategies for effective conservation, and offer his thoughts on current trends in field primatology. An esteemed researcher with a career spanning decades, we look forward to also hearing his personal advice to the next generation of biologists.

About the Speaker: Professor Thomas Struhsaker began his field research in Africa in 1962 with the first study of behavioral ecology of vervet monkeys in Amboseli, Kenya. Among other discoveries, he described the vervet alarm calls that distinguish between three classes of predators: mammals, birds, and snakes.

Subsequently, he conducted studies of forest primates in Cameroon, and in 1969 initiated research on red colobus monkeys across tropical Africa from Senegal to Zanzibar. In 1970, he established a research station in the Kibale Forest, Uganda, where he resided for 18 years. This station remains active to date, and in 1993, Kibale became a national park following 23 years of lobbying by him and his colleagues.

His biological surveys and shorter-term studies have taken him to 13 other African nations, as well as numerous countries in Latin America and Asia. In addition to Cameroon and Uganda, his efforts have focused on the red colobus and other primates of Zanzibar, Kenya’s Tana River, and Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mts. National Park. His publications include four books as well as numerous scientific and popular articles and technical reports on ecology, conservation, and animal behavior.

In 2006, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Primatological Society. His most recent book, published in 2021, is I Remember Africa: A Field Biologist's Half-Century Perspective.

Livestream on CICASP YouTube Channel

Date: August 10, 2022

Time: 9:00 Japan Standard Time (GMT+9)

International Primatology Lectures on Past, Present and Future Perspectives of the Field

In this lecture series, we explore various origin stories as told by famed members of our primatology comunity. Most lectures are held via Zoom Webinars and archived on our CICASP YouTube Channel.

Unlike most academic lectures, which are usually focused on testing scientific hypotheses, this series is designed to offer a feel for how one becomes a professional in the field of primatology. In a way, we might think of it as a career primer for young primatologists just starting their own journeys into the nether regions of Academia. At the same time, anyone might enjoy the stories told of big dreams, exotic locations and species, and the humanity inherent in forging a new path in life and in work. 

Check out all videos in this series on our CICASP YouTube channel playlist, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all our activities.