CICASP | Center for International Collaboration and Advanced Studies in Primatology

Dr. Jo Setchell will give the next International Primatology Lecutre, titled "Studying primates: What I’ve learned so far". In this lecture, Dr. Setchell will reflect on what she has learned on her journey in primatology, from being given a soft toy primate when she was 2 years old to a career studying primates, teaching primatology, and editing the International Journal of Primatology.

About the speaker: Dr. Jo Setchell is a professor in the Department of Anthropology at Durham University in the U.K., and the author of Studying Primates: How to Design, Conduct and Report Primatological Research (Cambridge University Press, 2019).

Beginning with her PhD, Dr. Setchell's research has explored primate evolutionary ecology, with a focus on mandrills, a large, strikingly colourful species of African monkey. Most of this work has involved a mandrill colony housed at the Centre International de Recherches Médicales, Franceville (CIRMF), Gabon. This is a highly collaborative and international endeavour, integrating studies of behaviour, morphology, demography, genetics, endocrinology, semiochemistry, and dental histology to address questions relating to reproductive strategies, life history, sexual selection, and signalling. Dr. Setchell has also conducted fieldwork in Cameroon, Republic of Congo, and Sabah, Malaysia, and has travelled widely to view primates.

Increasing awareness of the threats to the wellbeing and existence of our fellow primates has led Dr. Setchell to shift her focus from curiosity-driven natural science to applied social science. Her own experience and collaborations with social anthropologists have convinced Dr. Setchell that conservation must be underpinned by a deep understanding of the historical, political, and social contexts we work in if it is to succeed in the long-term.

Finally, Dr. Setchell has a long-standing interest in the practice and ethics of primate research. She is particularly interested in study design, and believes that an inclusive, equitable culture is essential to improving our theoretical understanding of primates and to ensuring their survival.

Livestream on CICASP YouTube Channel

Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Time: 17:00 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 live-streamed 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.