ARU professor explores what it means to be social
Inaugural lecture also marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Claudia Wascher, Professor of Behavioural Biology at ARU.
Professor Claudia Wascher will explore what it means to be social – both within the animal kingdom and across the scientific community – during her inaugural lecture at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) on Wednesday, 11 February (6pm).
Timed to coincide with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the lecture Social by Nature is free to attend either online or in person at ARU’s Cambridge campus.
ARU’s Professor of Behavioural Biology is internationally recognised for her research into the evolution of social behaviour and cognition across species, with a particular emphasis on birds.
Professor Wascher completed her PhD in 2009 at the University of Vienna, where her work on heart rate modulation in greylag geese revealed how social interactions influence physiological responses.
Following her PhD, she held a series of postdoctoral positions at institutions including the University of Vienna, CNRS in Strasbourg, NTNU Trondheim, the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology and the University of Valladolid, before joining ARU as a lecturer in 2015.
Drawing on her work on avian cognition, her inaugural lecture will reveal how birds such as crows and ravens navigate complex social worlds, exercise self-control and communicate with one another.
Beyond the social lives of corvids, the lecture will also focus on the human side of scientific research and teaching, highlighting Professor Wascher’s commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in academia.
Professor Wascher, an LGBTQIA+ champion, led a successful application for the Science & Engineering faculty’s Athena SWAN Silver Award, which recognises work to advance gender equality amongst students and staff, and her lecture will cover initiatives that support the career progression of marginalised groups and foster more collaborative research environments.
“My lecture will not only celebrate the remarkable social lives of animals, but also reflect on how we, as scientists and educators, can build communities that are supportive and inclusive. It’s particularly special to mark this career milestone on a day that recognises the achievements and potential of women and girls in science around the world.”
Professor Claudia WascherInaugural lectures are free public events delivered by newly appointed ARU professors. Tickets for the event on 11 February must be booked in advance. For further information, visit https://www.aru.ac.uk/events/inaugural-lectures/social-by-nature-in-person