SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS SEMINARCICASP Seminar in Science Communication #157
Part 1 of International Primatology Lectures on Past, Present and Future Perspectives of theField
Learning to become a monkey and other lessons for becoming a primatologist
by Michael A. Huffman (Kyoto University Primate Research Institute)
5:00PM–6PM, Wednesday, May 19, 2021 (on Zoom)
How does one become a monkey? Or short of that, a primatologist, at least? Dr. Michael
Huffman delved into his life and work to help us get a better idea on how to approach thisquestion. As a young boy he was inspired by the book ‘Adventures of Curious George’ andworked hard to achieve his goals of working with moneys, taking any opportunity he could volunteering at the Denver Zoo and at the Caribbean Island of St. Kitts. Coming to Japansolidified his choice in carrier where he met his mentors Prof. Shimuzu, Prof. Kawai andProf. Itani. This was an important step in his journey as he began his next phase by studying
Japanese macaques at Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama and planning for his return toJapan as a graduate student. He soon started with his project on female mate choice andlater achieved his lifelong aspiration of going to Africa and living among chimpanzees. Theseare just a few things Prof. Mike accomplished in completing in his journey to become amonkey. He has collaborated with researchers around the world and helped those with their
passions for primates achieve their dreams.
Dr. Mike gave us a great overview of his journey, with great advice for aspiring
primatologists and tips and tricks to be a part of the monkey business. Join us for the next inour series International Primatology Lectures on Past, Present and Future Perspectives ofthe Field to continue the journey with Dr. Vernon Reynolds!
OUTLINE OF UPCOMING SEMINARCICASP Seminar in Science Communication #158
PRI’s Most Misunderstood Fields
5PM–6PM, Wednesday, June 23, 2021
To be held on Zoom (see email announcements for access details)“Public confusion is one thing, but some subjects provoke quizzical and sometimes
dismissive frowns even among colleagues from different departments.”- Kim Cornish, May 27, 2021
Have you ever had a conversation with somebody about your work when it was clear thatthey had absolutely no idea what you do or even what you were talking about? Are yourparents still running around telling everybody that you’re obsessed with monkeys or that you
are training to become a zookeeper? Do people ever look at you and think, Indiana Jones or
Alan Grant (Jurassic Park), or Jane Goodall? Or maybe they imagine you as a crazy-haired
lab-coated evil genius darting around in a lab full of bubbling cocktails and electricalconductors?
If any of this sounds familiar, then you’re in the right place! In the next CICASP Seminarin Science Communication, we’re going to be discussing the common misconceptions aboutour fields, whether they come from the public or even from our neighbors in the next
department down the hall. In addition to some roundtable discussion about stereotypes we’ll
attempt some myth-busting and re-education strategies to help the misinformed on theirway.
Based on an article recently published in Times Higher Education (Paywall; attached),
we’ll explore the challenges we might face in effectively communicating what it is that we dowhile conveying our professional value in the process.
Please spend some time before the workshop thinking about (1) what is your academic
field, anyway; and (2) what common misconceptions do people have about it, or whatstereotypes, if any, exist within it?
We aim to have a good time with this one and learn along the way, so we look forward toseeing you at this CICASP SciCom Seminar!
Everyone from PRI/PWS/WRC are welcome to join us!
Suggested readings:
Attached Document on ‘Interdisciplinary Questions: The Academy’s most Misunderstood
Fields’"世間の混乱は一つのことですが、一部のテーマは異分野の同僚の間でさえ、訝しげに、時には否定的に眉をひそめるようなものです。"- キム・コーニッシュ、2021 年 5 月 27 日
あなたの仕事について誰かと話をしたとき、相手があなたの仕事や話していることを全く知らないことが分かったことはありますか？あなたの両親は、あなたがサルに夢中になっていることや、動物園の飼育員になるために訓練を受けていることなどを、今でも皆に話しているのでしょうか？人々はあなたを見て、インディ・ジョーンズやアラン・グラント（『ジュラシック・パーク』）、あるいはジェーン・グドールのように思うでしょうか？それとも、泡立つ薬品や導電体でいっぱいの研究室をせかせか動き回る、白衣でボサボサ髪の邪悪な天才を想像するでしょうか？
もし、これらに心当たりがあるなら、あなたはちょうどいいところにいるでしょう。次回のCICASP Seminar in Science Communication では、一般の人や隣の学部の人からも聞かれる、私たちの分野に関するよくある誤解について議論します。ステレオタイプについての座談会に加えて、誤解されている人々を助けるために、神話を打ち砕き、再教育する戦略を試みます。
また、Times Higher Education に最近掲載された記事（有料）をもとに、自分の仕事内容を効果的に伝え、その過程で自分の専門的な価値を伝えるために直面する可能性のある課題を探っていきます。
ワークショップの前に、(1)自分の専門分野は何か、(2)その分野について人々はどのような誤解をしているのか、またそれにはどのようなステレオタイプがあるのか、について考えてみてください。
今回の CICASP SciCom Seminar では、楽しく学びながら進めていきたいと思いますので、皆様のご参加をお待ちしております。