Media Advisory 10-020
Study of Bonobos Offers Clues to What Makes Us Human
How did Homo sapiens come down from the trees, and why did no one follow?
August 16, 2010
View videos of Brian Hare's NSF lecture and bonobos at play and in experiments at the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.
As humans, we have two closest living evolutionary relatives: the well known chimpanzee and the little known bonobo. While chimpanzees and humans have the potential for lethal violence, bonobos have never been observed to kill one another, and are even highly tolerant of strangers.
In his NSF Distinguished Lecture, Duke University anthropologist Brian Hare will share latest findings from his research comparing the psychology of our two closest living relatives, from their ability to cooperate to how they make decisions. Ultimately, Hare will confront the question: Are humans really as far removed from the animal kingdom as we think?
This NSF Distinguished Lecture is sponsored by the NSF Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences and the NSF Office of Legislative and Public Affairs.
What: | NSF SBE-OLPA Distinguished Lecture |
Who: | Brian Hare, assistant professor of anthropology at Duke University |
When: | August 24, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. EDT |
Where: | NSF Conference Center at Stafford Place II (adjacent to NSF Headquarters) 4121 Wilson Boulevard - Room 595 Arlington, Va. 22230 |
Metro: | Orange Line to Ballston |
Note: Visitors must RSVP to Josh Chamot in OLPA to register for a visitor pass for access to the Stafford II building. Contact Josh at jchamot@nsf.gov or (703) 292-7730.
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Duke University anthropologist Brian Hare with one of his bonobo subjects.
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Bonobos play at the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Bonobos in experiments developed by Duke University anthropologists Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods.
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Duke University anthropologist Brian Hare.
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One of Brian Hare's favorite bonobo subjects relaxes at the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary.
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Media Contacts
Joshua A. Chamot, NSF, (703) 292-7730, email: jchamot@nsf.gov
Program Contacts
Elizabeth Tran, NSF, (703) 292-5338, email: etran@nsf.gov
Related Websites
Brian Hare Duke University homepage: http://evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/people?subpage=profile&Gurl=/aas/BAA&Uil=hare
Brian Hare research website: http://www.eva.mpg.de/3chimps/
Website of Bonobo Handshake, a memoir featuring the research of Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods: http://www.bonobohandshake.com/
NSF Discovery: Humans Have a Lot to Learn From Bonobos, Scientists Say: http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=116843&org=NSF
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