behavior

Wonderfest Science Envoys are early-career researchers with special communication skills and aspirations. Following short talks on provocative modern science topics, these two Science Envoys will answer questions with insight and enthusiasm:

• Stanford marine biologist Ceyenna Tillman on A Unique Case Study in Fish Behavior — We don’t often think of fish as individuals with independent minds, making their own decisions about how to react to the world around them. We often study them through important and informative large-scale lenses such as population size and spatial distribution. But what do we lose when we leave out the choices that each individual makes? And, in general, how can humanity benefit from studying such fish behavior?

• UC Berkeley biological anthropologist Gustav “Tavi” Steinhardt on Primate Behavior and Microhabitat — Tamarins are squirrel-size Amazonian monkeys with big ecological impacts. Known for their ability to survive (and even thrive) in disturbed areas, Tamarins help the forest recover from damage by spreading seeds. Now, using aerial laser scans, machine learning, and countless hours trekking through jungle mud, we are beginning to understand the important ecological “business” of these tiny primates in exquisite detail.