Doing Interdisciplinary Science: Stories from the Field (Among Other Places), with Caleb Cook Ryan
Bats are a widespread and often misunderstood order of mammals of more than 1400 species worldwide. Bats are extremely long lived with multiple species identified as having lifespans longer than 30 years in the wild. Recent research on bats has highlighted several examples of complex sociality among groups of bats, with individuals forming long-term context dependant social groups similar to other long-lived mammals like dolphins, elephants and primates (including humans).
Caleb’s research links approaches from psychology and sociology, borrowing and modifying methods developed as part of these other human focused disciplines to study bats. In this seminar Caleb will discuss his path towards interdisciplinary research through multiple aspects of his research on bat sociality, as well as some personal experiences of the exciting challenges of working across disciplines.
Caleb is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Biology here at the University of Waterloo. Caleb’s research focuses on the social behaviour of bats, specifically how individuality and individual differences between group-living bats drives and maintains their social organization.
This seminar is open to the public: all undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, visitors are welcome to attend. If you are a prospective high school student and would like to attend this seminar, please contact ki@uwaterloo.ca to plan your visit!