Living Links to Human Evolution Research Centre is owned by St Andrews University, and is open to the public on site at Edinburgh Zoo. The centre houses two species of New World monkey, brown capuchins (Sapajus apella) and common squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus), which interact both in the wild and in captivity. Research at the centre covers a range of topics, including social interactions, cognition, mirror neuron research, personality, interspecific interactions, colour vision, development, and primate evolution. All research is non-invasive, and can be viewed by the public.
For more information on current research topics, see here:
http://www.living-links.org/about/research/
Friday's visit will include an introductory lecture on Living Links and the chimp house, Budongo trail, which also conducts research. This will be a followed by a tour of the centre and a chance to learn more about the research conducted there.
References
- Bowler et al. (2012) Assessing Public Engagement with Science in a University Primate Research Centre in a National Zoo
- MacDonald and Whiten (2011)The ‘Living Links to Human Evolution’ Research Centre in Edinburgh Zoo: a new endeavour in collaboration
- Leonardi et al (2009) Living together: behavior and welfare in single and mixed species groups of capuchin (Cebus apella) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)