Social by nature: from animal minds to inclusive Science communities (Virtual)

About this event

This event took place online and in Cambridge.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science saw an inspiring inaugural lecture by Professor Claudia Wascher, Social by Nature, exploring what it means to be social, both in the animal kingdom and in the scientific community.

Drawing on her comparative research on avian cognition, Professor Wascher revealed how birds such as crows and ravens navigate complex social worlds, exercise self-control, communicate, and why it is important to study individual differences in cognition.

Beyond the minds of animals, the lecture also turned to the human side of doing science, highlighting Professor Wascher’s commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in academia. She reflected on initiatives that support the career progression of marginalised groups and foster more supportive and collaborative research environments.

This lecture offered a fascinating journey into the social nature of minds, avian and human alike, and an inspiring vision for a more equitable scientific community.

About our speaker

Claudia Wascher is a Professor of Behavioural Biology at Anglia Ruskin University. She joined ARU in 2015 as a lecturer and has since served as co-deputy Head of School, with responsibility for Research, Income Generation and Innovation, and led a successful application for a departmental Athena SWAN Silver Award. Professor Wascher’s research focusses on the evolution of social behaviour and cognition across species, particularly birds. She is internationally recognised for pioneering studies on self-control, communication, and individual differences in animal cognition.

Professor Wascher completed her PhD in 2009 at the University of Vienna, where she studied heart rate modulation in greylag geese, showing how social interactions -even if only observed - influence physiological responses. Following her PhD, she held a series of postdoctoral positions at international institutions including the University of Vienna, CNRS in Strasbourg, NTNU Trondheim, MPI for Ornithology, and University of Valladolid.

Alongside her research, Professor Wascher is deeply committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in science. She considers herself a LGBTQIA+ role model, and she advocates inclusive academic cultures where all researchers can thrive.