Isabel Behncke

Nature + Behavior

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I apply the 'Origin of Species' to think about the path of the human species

bio

As a field scientist I thrive in exploring the complex relationships between humans and the rest of nature.

I grew up at the foothills of the Andes mountains in Chile, which imprinted a life-long passion for wild places and the arts.

I trained academically in the UK, integrating natural sciences (BSc & MSc UCL; zoology and conservation biology) and behavioral sciences (MPhil Cambridge, DPhil Oxford; ethology and evolutionary anthropology).

For my PhD I walked more than 2,000 miles following wild bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where I documented their play behavior in nature. Studying the social behavior of our living closest relatives informs insights into our evolutionary past, the socio-ecological interactions that shape societies, and our behavior today.

Currently I am cross-pollinating across disciplines, geographies and sectors of culture and society. My work includes advising the Chilean President on long-term strategies for science, serving think-tank boards by bridging academic frameworks with real-world praxis, collaborating with ranchers from Montana and Chilean Patagonia to find ways wildlife conservation and economic activities can coexist, and creating a private protected area in the Andes that integrates arts & science.

I am passionate about bringing together the rigor of empiricism and critical thinking with the freedom of creativity and exploration to make sense of uncharted territories.

Activities

As a field primatologist and conservationist, the backbone of my work is a systemic, Humboldtian approach to the coevolution and coexistence of humans and nature.

By Humboldtian I mean that I am inspired by arts and culture, and that I explore phenomena by engaging in field visits. Conceptually, my method is integrating natural sciences -evolution, complexity- and behavioral sciences to investigate problems that are inevitably interdependent.

I enjoy engaging in public communication, which I have done through various channels ranging from TED talks, WIRED, the United Nations, BBC, and National Geographic to rural schools in Congo and Patagonia.

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