This episode of Human Animal Science will change the way you look at a chicken wishbone, forever!
Naomi Sykes is an Associate Professor in Zooarchaeology (the study of human-animal relationships in archaeology) at the University of Nottingham, UK.
Her research focuses on human-animal-landscape relationships and how they inform us about the structure, beliefs and practices of past societies.
Naomi’s approach in the exciting area of zooarchaeology has wide application across different geographical areas and time.
Her fascinating research integrates animal bone data with other categories of physical culture, and with wider archaeological, historical, scientific and anthropological discussions.
Sandra McCune holds a PhD that examined the temperament and welfare of caged cats as well as qualifications in vet nursing and zoology. She knows the answer to why cats like boxes, and the science behind it.
In her current role as the Scientific Leader for Human-Animal Interaction at the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, she manages a large portfolio of collaborative research projects.
These projects cover many aspects of human-animal interaction, in countries including US, UK, Austria, Germany, Sweden and Australia.
In addition to having written research papers and book chapters on several aspects of cat behaviour, cognition, welfare and nutrition, Sandra has lectured and advised many animal shelters, ethologists, animal welfarists, and groups of vets and vet nurses.
Sandra is sought out as a voice within industry and regularly speaks at international conferences on pet ownership issues and the bond between people and pets.
Today we’re talking to Sandra about pet cats, their incomplete domestication, our attachment to them and the behavioural links between wild big cats, and the cat in your home.
Kurt Kotrschal, Jon Day, Sandra McCune and Manuela Wedl (2013) Human and cat personalities: building the bond from both sides. Chapter 9 In: Dennis Turner and Pat Bateson (Editors) The domestic Cat: The biology of its behaviour. CUP, Cambridge
Dr. Pauleen Bennett is Director of Regional Operations in the School of Psychological Science at La Trobe University.
Pauleen combines her academic work at La Trobe with a range of community activities designed to improve human-companion animal relationships.
She leads a highly productive team of researchers at the Anthrozoology Research Group and is director and chair of the Australian Anthrozoology Research Foundation, a non-profit foundation set up to raise money to support students investigating the potential benefits for human health of engaging with companion animals.
Pauleen has adjunct appointments at Monash University and The Ohio State University (USA) and enjoys spending her free time hanging out on her farm with her dogs, horses and goats.
In this episode (#19) we talk to Pauleen about the exciting but relatively new field of positive psychology.
Bennett, P.C. (2010). People, pets and positive psychology (transcribed from Radio Australia). Second Australian Positive Psychology and Well-Being Conference, February 12-13, Caulfield, Victoria, Australia.
Sam Gosling is a psychologist based at the University of Texas at Austin in the USA.
His research interests include social perception, new methods of data collection online and cross-species work, where he examines how animals can inform theories of personality and social psychology.
We talked with Sam about how science can help us measure animal personality traits (non-human) across a number of species, including hyenas, dogs, and even invertebrates, like squid.
Sophie Constable, Education Officer at Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC), has training as a veterinarian, in Indigenous education, and in public health.
She has worked in the field in pet education programs in urban, rural and remote Indigenous communities.
In this episode of Human Animal Science, we chat to Sophie about her research exploring the place of dogs in modern Indigenous communities in Australia and how best to promote the mutual health of dogs and communities.
Stephen Jenkinson is the United Kingdom’s only specialist in behavioural psychology and its practical application to influence the behaviour of walkers with dogs.
Stephen holds a Master of Science (MSc) and post-graduate Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling.
In 2013, the United Nations Development Program contacted International Fund for Animal Welfare for help in managing the issue of roaming dogs in Bosnia as a serious community safety issue.
Dog advocates had been attempting to control packs of street dogs through limited catch-sterilize-and-return programs or placing dogs into newly constructed shelters, but the programs were not working and people did not feel safe.
Bosnia needed a different approach – and that’s where Steve became involved…
Dr Megan Mueller is a developmental psychologist working in the Cummings School of veterinary medicine at Tufts University (USA).
Megan’s own passion for animals led her to scientifically examine the roles they play in human health and positive development for children, families and communities.
In this episode of Human Animal Science, we speak to Megan about her recent research looking at human animal interaction and positive youth development.
Kate Mornement is an animal behaviourist who engages in regular ongoing professional development.
When it means interacting with beluga whales, exotic parrots, lions and gorgeous puppies, why wouldn’t she?
Tim and Mia talk to Kate to find out more about the application of learning theory across this wide range of animals, and what’s really going on in animal training.
Dr Holly Lane is an Associate Professor in the School of Special Education, School Psychology and Early Childhood Studies at the University of Florida’s College of Education.
Her research focuses on literacy intervention and prevention of reading difficulties through effective early literacy instruction and teacher education.
Holly’s first observations as a classroom teacher with her own dog, Floyd, led her to notice how dogs helped to motivate students.
Fast forward to now, and she’s getting the opportunity to research the growing field of canine-assisted reading programs, with promising future directions.
Listen in and find out what she has to say about reading with dogs!
Hal Herzog is recognised as one of the world’s leading anthrozoology experts, having researched human-animal relations for over two decades.
He is particularly interested in how people negotiate real-world ethical dilemmas, and has studied animal activists, cockfighters, animal researchers and circus animal trainers.
A professor of psychology at Western Carolina University, Hal blogs at Psychology Today and his work has been widely published in journals and books.
