S&S Dinner Dialogues, with Dean Stephen Nowicki - What can birds really tell us about humans?
Event Details
Bioscientists commonly do research on “model species,” with the understanding that what’s learned from studying a model species can be generalized to other species, including humans.
Songbirds have long been central to understanding the function and evolution of natural communication systems, notably as a model for human speech development, perception and production. Recently, songbirds have been shown to perceive color in a categorical fashion, labeling colors in a way previously thought to be associated with the capacity for speech. But what assumptions are required to consider birds (or any animal) a truly valid model for understanding cognitively complex human traits and behaviors?
Dr. Stephen Nowicki is a professor in the departments of biology, psychology and neuroscience in Trinity College and was previously Dean and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Duke. His lab studies animal communication and sexual selection from an integrative perspective that includes a wide range of behavioral ecological, neuroethological, developmental, genetic, and evolutionary approaches.
Stephen Nowicki, Duke’s Dean of Undergraduate Education, addressed the Class of 2020 during convocation.
Readings:
- Categorical perception of color signals in a songbird – Nature
- Birds perceive colours in categories – Nature
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Where to meet:
Selected attendees will be notified via email several days in advance of the dinner with details regarding meeting location. All dinners will be within reasonable driving distance to Duke campus.
Science & Society will also provide a shuttle for those unable to arrange transportation to the dinner dialogue location. Shuttles will depart 30 minutes before the scheduled event from the front entrance of the North Building on West Campus. Click here for a map.