I have been actively involved with a variety of different outreach activites to make science more accessible. Listed below is a selection of my recent activities:
New signge installed in the Build Landscape exhibit
Thinkery, Austin, Texas (September 2021)
As part of an Institute of Museum and Library Services funded project at Thinkery, I worked on a project to help devise research-based strategies that supported adults (caregivers, educators, and museum staff) as learning facilitators for children. Liaising with museum and university staff and community partners, I helped develop literature supported signage to update five exhibits (see the Build Landscape exhibit in the image). To evaluate these modifications, I used eye-tracking technology with visiting families and collected survey information on the usage of the new signs.
As part of an Institute of Museum and Library Services funded project at Thinkery, I worked on a project to help devise research-based strategies that supported adults (caregivers, educators, and museum staff) as learning facilitators for children. Liaising with museum and university staff and community partners, I helped develop literature supported signage to update five exhibits (see the Build Landscape exhibit in the image). To evaluate these modifications, I used eye-tracking technology with visiting families and collected survey information on the usage of the new signs.
|
Explorathon'17 (September 2017) For the Explorathon, I helped set up and organise an exhibit from the Big Brain Box for the Explorathon'17 in St Andrews. With the help of a team of volunteers, we presented visiting members of the public with a hands-on exhibit to learn more about the brain's functions and discuss the different research-led findings from the Big Brain Box on Healthy Living - Healthy Brains using games and activities. |
Some of the Big Brain Box activities on display
|
Presenting to members of the public at the NMS Late Night
|
Monkey Business Museum Lates (March 2017) Dr Eoin O'Sullivan and I were invited to give a talk at the National Museum of Scotland (NMS) as part of the Museum Late's series on their exhibit, Monkey Business. We provided some insights into the behaviour of both humans and their primate relatives in the talk, Are you smarter than a monkey? We also briefly discussed some of the experimental studies we have done with capuchin monkeys and young children. |
Science Fun Day (January 2017)
Dr Nicola McGuigan and I organised two Science Fun Day's funded by Heriot-Watt University's Annual Fund at Kirkcaldy High School and Edinburgh Zoo for the young children who have previously been part of our studies investigating prosociality. Pupils from Kirkcaldy North, Pathhead, and Fair Isle Primary Schools attended the Fife event, and pupils from St Paul's R C in East Calder, St Mary's R C in Leith, and Nether Currie Primary Schools attended the event in Edinburgh. We provided a series of interactive stations (see images below) for the children to learn about human and non-human behaviour while assisted by students from Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh event) and Kirkcaldy High School (Fife event).
Discussing 'The Origins of Being Nice' with members of the public.
Science Night (April 2016)
I organised two exhibits for Edinburgh Zoo's Science Night; Wild Medicine (re-vamped from EISF 2013) and The Origins of Being Nice. Both exhibits showcased some research. Wild Medicine focused on animal health and medicine, and the origins of being nice was focused on prosociality in young children. Both exhibits had hands-on activities, posters, and leaflets providing more detail about the science involved in both subject areas.
Nicola McGuigan and I explaining the monkey studies we do to Professor Richard Williams (Principal of Heriot-Watt University)
|
Explorathon’15 (September 2015)
Joining with scientists from other Scottish Universities for the European Council funded Explorathon 2015 event, I organised and led an exhibit on “Scientists out of White Coats”: How to be a comparative psychologist with colleagues from the University of St Andrews and Heriot-Watt University. The exhibit discussed the different ways comparative psychologists study behaviour in humans, chimps and monkeys, with hands-on puzzles for visitors to interact with. |
|
‘Soapbox Science’ (June 2015) I joined in with fellow female scientists for a Woman in Science event, Soapbox Science for the Glasgow Science Festival. Sponsored by the National Environmental Research Council (NERC), I spoke about wild medicine; how animals use self-medication to prevent infection and disease to members of the passing public outside the Kelvingrove Art Gallery. |
Discussing 'Wild Medicine' with the help of 'Geoff' and 'George', the monkeys on my soapbox.
|
Television Advert for the Natural Curiosities series.
|
'Curious Cures' (broadcast on Watch) March 2015 Together with Professor Andrew Whiten, I acted as a consultant, assisting with editing the script with Humble Bee Productions to help explain why capuchin monkeys rub pungent materials into their fur. Presented by Sir David Attenborough, the Curious Cures was the fifth episode of their series looking at Natural curiosities in the animal kingdom. The episode showcases some of the capuchin monkeys I worked with at the Living Links Centre in Edinburgh Zoo doing what was coined 'Monkey Medicine' whereby they anoint strong-smelling substances into their fur to act as an insect repellent. |
|
'Chimp on Trial' (September, 2014) I acted as an expert witness of primate behaviour for the trial of chimpanzee Larry, an event at the British Science Festival at the University of Birmingham organised by Dr Lewis Dean. As a witness for the prosecution, I discussed various research studies from captive settings and field sites documenting localised cultures, traditions and social learning in chimpanzees. For more information about the event, click here. |
Presenting evidence at the British Science Festival
|
The Wild Medicine exhibit on display at the Central Library, Edinburgh.
|
Wild Medicine (April, 2014) I co-organised, planned and led an exhibition at the Edinburgh International Science Festival Funded by the Wellcome Trust in partnership with the University of St Andrews and RZSS Edinburgh Zoo. The exhibit addressed the different behaviours and materials that animals use to treat and prevent internal and external infections and disease, combined with evidence of pharmacological developments of various modern-day medicines and drugs with active ingredients found initially in plants. Please see the following anoinitng in capuchin monkeys video for more information about the behaviour, http://vimeo.com/48287364 or contact me directly (see contact page). |
|
Culture Evolves (2010-2012) I helped set up and actively engaged with members of the public about the features of the Culture Evolves exhibit designed to display different types of cultures, including chimpanzee cultures, cumulative culture in humans, teaching in meerkats and social learning in fish. Then I assisted with the exhibit when it was on display at The Royal Society 250th Anniversary Summer Science Exhibition (June-July, 2010), London; Edinburgh International Science Festival (April, 2012), Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh; and the British Science Festival (September, 2012), University of Aberdeen. |
Visitors interacting with the Culture Evolves exhibit at The Royal Society 250th Anniversary Summer Science Exhibition
|
Activities in Edinburgh Zoo (2009-2014)
While conducting research at the Living Links facility, I have been actively involved with public engagement. I have provided tours, been available on-site to discuss and demonstrate my experiments to visiting researchers, academics, university and school groups. I have presented several talks to the public, zoo members and RZSS staff on my experimental work, animal training procedures, and different types of cognitive enrichment.
While conducting research at the Living Links facility, I have been actively involved with public engagement. I have provided tours, been available on-site to discuss and demonstrate my experiments to visiting researchers, academics, university and school groups. I have presented several talks to the public, zoo members and RZSS staff on my experimental work, animal training procedures, and different types of cognitive enrichment.
Presenting to visiting researchers and academics.
|
Making enrichment for the monkeys.
|
Displaying anointing to visiting university groups.
|
St Leonards Sunday School gathered in the Primate Family Tree after their visit and tour.
|
