Lisa Riley BSc MSc MRes MSc

Supervisors: Dr Debbie Custance, Dr Elisabeth Hill

My research focuses on social learning in human and non-human great apes. Specifically I am interested in programme level imitation in humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans, from both the behavioural and methodological perspectives. At present only humans are known to be capable of programme level imitation (based on experimental evidence only) and my research will investigate which of our evolutionary cousins can learn the solution to an array of functional and non-functional (play based) tasks using this cognitively complex method of social learning. I will also consider how giving rehabilitant non-human great apes (those that have been orphaned and are undergoing training to be re-introduced to the wild) the opportunity to learn in captivity will effect their ability to survive when released into the wild. Additionally, my research will consider the welfare benefits that social learning opportunities can give to captive non-human great apes.