Ever been told to stay out of politics and to “stick to science?” Martha and I are joined by Kirsty Graham and Sharmi Sen to talk about how politics and science intersect professionally and personally – as well as how we can better our institutions by getting involved in politics at the local level.

Dec 21, 2020: Listen to interview with Sharmi Sen here.

LunchBreak Science with the Leakey Foundation to learn all about the battle between the sexes in wild geladas.

Watch an interview with Dr. Jacinta Beehner -Nov 19, 2020: Video of talk here.

These monkeys have a ‘puberty switch’ they flip when the right male comes along.

Nov 06, 2020: Listen to interview here.

Dr. Jacinta Beehner presents 15 years of research on how males can change female gelada reproduction. 

Jul 31, 2020: Video of talk here.

Join Ellen and special guest Patsy DeLacey for a review of the “bleeding heart” monkey, the gelada! In this episode we talk about what makes this monkey so unique AND so beautiful, as well as what it’s like to work with them in the Simien Mountains.

NPR’s The Pulse – Science Interrupted: The Impact of the Coronavirus. 

Apr 15, 2020: We had to evacuate the gelada research station in March 2020 due to the Coronavirus. Listen to Dr. Jacinta Beehner explain the logistics of this process on NPR’s The Pulse. Listen to interview here.

Let’s Talk About Stress, Baby!

Ann Arbor Nerd Nite with Sofia Carrera – August 27,2019

https://aadl.org/aadl_nerd_nite_20190815-biopsychology

This A2 Nerd Nite talk features U-M PhD candidate in biopsychology Sofia Carrera explaining how neurotransmitters affect our behavior and feelings.

Gelada monkeys: Why the bleeding heart?

Ann Arbor Nerd Nite with Pasty Delacey – April 19, 2018

https://aadl.org/aadl_nerd_nite_20180419-bleeding_heart

Have you ever been curious about animal behavior? Have you wondered how animals communicate with one another? Do you love primates? Learn about gelada monkeys – Ethiopia’s unique and wonderful highland monkey.

Gelada monkeys are nicknamed “bleeding-heart monkeys” because of a patch of exposed red skin on their chests. Adult male gelada chest patches get brighter red when they’re excited, but this doesn’t happen for adult females, young males, or non-breeding males.

Could the chest patch be an ornament to attract females, like a peacock’s plumage? Or does it signal to other males to back off? How does the environment influence signaling? Patsy Delacey discusses all of this and more about her field research in the Simien Mountains.

Ypsilanti District Library Scientist Spotlight as part of STEMfest

March 17, 2018: Graduate students Sharmi Sen and Patsy Delacey hosted an activity on honest signaling in animals with an interactive game. Geared towards a K-12 audience.

Forsythe Middle School Scientist Spotlight hosted by UMich AWIS

March 11, 2018

Graduate students Sharmi Sen and Patsy Delacey hosted an activity on honest signaling in animals with an interactive game. Geared towards Middle School students and their families (part of a larger event).

FEMMES Capstone Event

February 17, 2018: The Dantzer, Rosati, and Beehner labs co-hosted an animal behavior activity for groups of 4-6th grade girls as part of the FEMMES Capstone event held at the University of Michigan. Each lab presented a brief introduction of their research. We then dissected owl pellets to learn about owl ecology and behavior. We brought owl specimens from the Natural History Museum for the girls to see and touch as well.

Gelada Monkey Rap

We were thrilled to submit a video entry to the 2016 Flame Challenge. The Flame Challenge is an international competition for scientists that is aimed to encourage children’s interests in the sciences. This year’s question, “what is sound?” is of particular interest to the graduate students of the Simien Mountains Gelada Research Project. Our research, which focuses on the form and function of gelada monkey vocalizations, is perfect for a multimedia project. With this music video we hope to teach kids not only what sound is but how sound is critical for obtaining information about friends and strangers. The music in this video is composed entirely from recorded gelada monkey vocalizations. We hope this video, win or lose in the competition, will be a useful tool to educate kids on how nonhuman primates use vocalizations to communicate.

Marcela and Morgan’s “Chatty Monkeys on the Roof of Africa”

  
The Simien Mountains Gelada Research Project was thrilled to participate at Kamp Kurat in Somerset Camp Groups, Michigan in August 2014. Kamp Kurat is a weekend family heritage camp mixing recreation with educational workshops and Ethiopian cultural activities. Graduate students Marcela Benitez and Morgan Gustison lead two 45-min workshops on gelada behavior, vocalizations, and conservation to 4-12 yr olds. During the workshop, titled “Chatty Monkeys on the Roof of Africa”, participants learned to listen, imitate, and differentiate between different gelada vocalizations and discuss what geladas might be talking about. In addition, Benitez and Gustison discussed the scientific method, primatology, and the importance of conserving the Simien Mountains National Park. The workshop was met with enthusiasm from parents and children alike. The SMGRP looks forward to presenting again next year!

Local Community Outreach and K-12 Education

Reaching outside of education at the university level, SMGRP members also pursue outreach opportunities in the local Ann Arbor community and in school districts outside of Michigan. In October 2011, Elizabeth Johnson and Aaron Sandel engaged elementary students at Angell Elementary School in Ann Arbor, MI in ‘hands-on’ workshops on primate behavior and cognition as part of Angell’s enrichment program. Moreover, SMGRP members frequently present educational talks on gelada behavior and conservation to K-12 students. Eila Roberts, Noah Snyder-Mackler, and David Pappano have spoken at several schools, including Eastern Washtenaw Multicultural Academy (Ann Arbor, MI), Summit Academy Charter School (Romulus, MI), Paul V. Fly Elementary School (Cedar Grove, NJ), Thomas Fitzwater Elementary School (Upper Dublin, PA), and the Delbarton School (Morristown, NJ) You can read the write-up here for Delbarton outreach.

Noah’s  “Researching Gelada Monkeys”

In October 2009, Noah Snyder-Mackler and Haile Gelaye spoke to spoke to Fifth graders of the Cedar Grove Elementary school in Toms River, NJ. They arose many questions from the students with stories about the gelada monkeys and culture of Ethiopia. Noah has given talks like this to students from K-8th grade in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.