Projects

BSL are interested in any project that falls under the broad label of behavioural science, but we take a strongly evolutionary view for most of our work. 

Current projects  at both MSc and PhD level include:

• Life on the Edge - this is a long term project investigating various aspects of Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) behaviour at colonies in the south of England. Our principal focus is upon parental and chick interactions at the nest and how this might predict productivity. Kirsty Neller is completing her PhD in this area, and recent MSc graduates from the project include Amanda Mead and Warren Horrod-Wilson. We also have opportunities to get involved in urban Kittiwake work here.

• Intelligence in aquatic mammals - Leo Gately is investigating ecological and other predictors of brain size in aquatic mammals.

• Why people do good things - Claire Gellard is working on vaccine hesitancy during the Covid-19 pandemic, which started in early 2020. This is part of a broader project to try and understand what predicts adherence to and deviation from public facing cooperation. 

• Hygiene - Jonathan Sigger is working on models of hand hygiene compliance based upon perceptual control theory. 

Alongside empirical work there is a strong theoretical and philosophical line of work within BSL, carried out by Tom Dickins at times with various collaborators. A particular interest here is the structure of evolutionary theory and its many uses.  Most recently a monograph in this area has been completed, and an edited volume is forthcoming.

We are open to any ideas within the behavioural sciences, both empirical and theoretical, so please do make contact if you are interested in working with us. To do this email Tom Dickins:

t DOT dickins AT mdx DOT ac DOT uk