Scientific Work

My research is rooted at the intersection of ecology, evolution, anthropology, and conservation, with a central focus on how ecological and evolutionary processes shape the remarkable behavioral diversity of chimpanzees and bonobos. I am deeply fascinated by the subtle dialogue between behavior and environment, and I believe that uncovering the mechanisms of adaptation requires careful observation of organisms in their natural habitats. Fieldwork is not just a scientific tool for me, but a genuine passion; I find that spending time in the field—truly learning from the animals we study—enriches both the questions we ask and the rigor with which we pursue answers. Nearly all the projects I lead or supervise are grounded in data collected from wild apes, ensuring our science stays anchored in the realities of natural life.

Increasingly, my scientific interests are converging with pressing questions in conservation. My work often seeks to understand how behavioral flexibility evolves as an adaptive response, how it enables populations to persist in changing environments, and how these processes can inform more effective species conservation. Much of what motivates my conservation science stems directly from the challenges and complexities I encounter in policy and action, leading me to examine how behavioral traits and cultural variation might be integrated into real-world conservation planning. As a result, the boundary between my interests in fundamental science and applied conservation continues to blur—a reflection, perhaps, of my belief that meaningful science and meaningful conservation are rarely separate pursuits.