Cultured chimps and traditional dolphins: studying social learning in animals

Scientific studies have revealed that many species of animals are capable of learning from one another, a process called social learning. This led some scientists to suggest that species like chimpanzees and dolphins have culture much like humans do, though the claim was controversial. In this masterclass we will investigate this animal cultures debate using a combination of mini-lectures and small group discussions. The masterclass will give a taste of what it is like to study the science of Animal Behaviour at university. This field, whilst not well represented in school and college curriculums, is an important part of many Zoology and related degrees at Cumbria and other universities.