Over these past couple of weeks we have heard many interesting and insightful talks by some of the top researchers here at Duke. It was a great experience being able to learn about the many diverse backgrounds in which research is applicable, and to talk about different approaches to the myriad of questions in the world. I thought that Dr. Susan Alberts talk in particular was very interesting.
Dr. Alberts is a professor of Biology at Duke University. She has been working on a research project that focuses on studying baboons. The project follows baboons in Amboseli Kenya. When I first heard Dr. Alberts was studying baboons I tried to think of what type of questions they were asking. Did they want to know something about the baboons internal system; maybe it had a strange metabolism or something. To my surprise, many of the questions Dr. Alberts and her team were asking were related to the social interactions and status of the baboons. She talked about how individual’s social environment could lead to their survival in the end.
What made the research even more interesting was the fact that they could see similarities in humans. They compared the baboon’s social interactions with the social hierarchies and status that humans have. They could look at these relationships and how they are connected to things such as stress and survival.
I thought Dr. Alberts presentation was very interesting and informative. It introduced me to a type of research I didn’t know was conducted. It also showed me that research can be done in many different places, like Kenya. I am glad I got a chance to hear about the work they were doing with baboons.
