Elliot Howard-Spink
@ehowaspi.bsky.social
Researching primate behaviours | Postdoc at UZH Evo Anthro & NCCR Evolving Language | Former Postdoc at MPI Animal Behavior & DPhil at Oxford Biology | Tools & Culture, Language Evo, Development & Senescence | He/They 🌈
Pinned
Elliot Howard-Spink
@ehowaspi.bsky.social
· Nov 24
Culture is critical in driving orangutan diet development past individual potentials - Nature Human Behaviour
Howard-Spink et al. develop an empirically based model of orangutan diet development, which suggests that social learning is vital for orangutans to acquire varied diets.
www.nature.com
Our New Paper is out in Nature Human Behaviour: 🚨 Culture is critical in driving orangutan diet development past individual potentials! 🦧 www.nature.com/articles/s41.... See 🧵
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
UCL Evolutionary Anthropology seminars starting up again for the new term every Tuesday pm. Anthropology Dept. 14 Taviton St. DFL 3.30-5pm followed by 🍷. All welcome.
www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...
www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...
Evolutionary Anthropology seminars
Exploring the evolutionary roots of human behaviour, biology, and culture through interdisciplinary research and debate.
www.ucl.ac.uk
January 9, 2026 at 10:23 AM
UCL Evolutionary Anthropology seminars starting up again for the new term every Tuesday pm. Anthropology Dept. 14 Taviton St. DFL 3.30-5pm followed by 🍷. All welcome.
www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...
www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
Statistical Rethinking 2026 Lecture B01 Multilevel Models is online. This is the first lecture of the "experienced" section, in which we start with multilevel models and venture into vast covariance spaces. Full lecture list still here: github.com/rmcelreath/s...
Statistical Rethinking 2026 - Lecture B01 - Multilevel Models
YouTube video by Richard McElreath
www.youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Statistical Rethinking 2026 Lecture B01 Multilevel Models is online. This is the first lecture of the "experienced" section, in which we start with multilevel models and venture into vast covariance spaces. Full lecture list still here: github.com/rmcelreath/s...
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
Our Science Perspective on Ianni et al - neural control of facial expressions involves voluntary pathways
@jamiewhitehouse.bsky.social
www.science.org/eprint/EKJTZ...
@jamiewhitehouse.bsky.social
www.science.org/eprint/EKJTZ...
Making faces
Facial expressions are produced through a coordinated system of voluntary and emotional pathways
www.science.org
January 8, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Our Science Perspective on Ianni et al - neural control of facial expressions involves voluntary pathways
@jamiewhitehouse.bsky.social
www.science.org/eprint/EKJTZ...
@jamiewhitehouse.bsky.social
www.science.org/eprint/EKJTZ...
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
We are looking to hire a Seabird Field Assistant for 2026 for our Manx Shearwater research project.
Please share this to anyone who'd like to get out in the field this summer and learn about biotelemetry, bird handling and research into animal behaviour.
drive.google.com/file/d/1SGZt...
Please share this to anyone who'd like to get out in the field this summer and learn about biotelemetry, bird handling and research into animal behaviour.
drive.google.com/file/d/1SGZt...
January 5, 2026 at 10:09 AM
We are looking to hire a Seabird Field Assistant for 2026 for our Manx Shearwater research project.
Please share this to anyone who'd like to get out in the field this summer and learn about biotelemetry, bird handling and research into animal behaviour.
drive.google.com/file/d/1SGZt...
Please share this to anyone who'd like to get out in the field this summer and learn about biotelemetry, bird handling and research into animal behaviour.
drive.google.com/file/d/1SGZt...
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
If you work on corvid ecology, behaviour, cognition, or conservation, this might be useful for you 👇
I’ve just published CORVIDATA in Scientific Data 🐦
doi.org/10.1038/s415... (1/4)
I’ve just published CORVIDATA in Scientific Data 🐦
doi.org/10.1038/s415... (1/4)
CORVIDATA: A global dataset of morphology, ecology, sociality, and life-history in Corvidae - Scientific Data
Scientific Data - CORVIDATA: A global dataset of morphology, ecology, sociality, and life-history in Corvidae
doi.org
January 6, 2026 at 10:40 AM
If you work on corvid ecology, behaviour, cognition, or conservation, this might be useful for you 👇
I’ve just published CORVIDATA in Scientific Data 🐦
doi.org/10.1038/s415... (1/4)
I’ve just published CORVIDATA in Scientific Data 🐦
doi.org/10.1038/s415... (1/4)
Have you been too busy to read our recent paper on orangutans' culturally-dependent diets? 😔 Never fear, we have published a two-page research briefing to give you a quick overview of our paper's aims, findings, and implications! 🤩 Check it out here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 5, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Have you been too busy to read our recent paper on orangutans' culturally-dependent diets? 😔 Never fear, we have published a two-page research briefing to give you a quick overview of our paper's aims, findings, and implications! 🤩 Check it out here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
New science demonstrates how orangutans learn what to eat in their rainforest habitat.
Read the latest scientific blog from guest writer Dr Elliot Howard-Spink:
www.orangutanlandtrust.com/post/orangut...
@ehowaspi.bsky.social
Read the latest scientific blog from guest writer Dr Elliot Howard-Spink:
www.orangutanlandtrust.com/post/orangut...
@ehowaspi.bsky.social
Orangutans’ turn to cultural knowledge to learn the foods of the forest.
By Dr Elliot Howard-SpinkAdult orangutans eat hundreds of different types of food in the wild, but how do they learn what to eat? In our recently published study, we investigated whether immature oran...
www.orangutanlandtrust.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:33 PM
New science demonstrates how orangutans learn what to eat in their rainforest habitat.
Read the latest scientific blog from guest writer Dr Elliot Howard-Spink:
www.orangutanlandtrust.com/post/orangut...
@ehowaspi.bsky.social
Read the latest scientific blog from guest writer Dr Elliot Howard-Spink:
www.orangutanlandtrust.com/post/orangut...
@ehowaspi.bsky.social
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
📢 Calling all primatologists 📢
EFP2026 in Montpellier is now open for abstracts & registration!
🗓 Deadline for abstract : 13 March 2026 (before if mobility grant application)
Submit: www.alphavisa.com/efp/2026/abs...
Register: www.alphavisa.com/efp/2026/reg...
All abstracts will be accepted!
EFP2026 in Montpellier is now open for abstracts & registration!
🗓 Deadline for abstract : 13 March 2026 (before if mobility grant application)
Submit: www.alphavisa.com/efp/2026/abs...
Register: www.alphavisa.com/efp/2026/reg...
All abstracts will be accepted!
December 9, 2025 at 4:08 PM
📢 Calling all primatologists 📢
EFP2026 in Montpellier is now open for abstracts & registration!
🗓 Deadline for abstract : 13 March 2026 (before if mobility grant application)
Submit: www.alphavisa.com/efp/2026/abs...
Register: www.alphavisa.com/efp/2026/reg...
All abstracts will be accepted!
EFP2026 in Montpellier is now open for abstracts & registration!
🗓 Deadline for abstract : 13 March 2026 (before if mobility grant application)
Submit: www.alphavisa.com/efp/2026/abs...
Register: www.alphavisa.com/efp/2026/reg...
All abstracts will be accepted!
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
I'm teaching Statistical Rethinking again starting Jan 2026. This time with live lectures, divided into Beginner and Experienced sections. Will be a lot more work for me, but I hope much better for students.
I will record lectures & all will be found at this link: github.com/rmcelreath/s...
I will record lectures & all will be found at this link: github.com/rmcelreath/s...
December 9, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I'm teaching Statistical Rethinking again starting Jan 2026. This time with live lectures, divided into Beginner and Experienced sections. Will be a lot more work for me, but I hope much better for students.
I will record lectures & all will be found at this link: github.com/rmcelreath/s...
I will record lectures & all will be found at this link: github.com/rmcelreath/s...
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
New paper out today w @dalmaijer.bsky.social @barbaraklump.bsky.social and @lucymaplin.bsky.social as part of the Phil Trans special issue doi.org/10.1098/rstb.... Over 2 years, we studied a population of cockatoos thought to be the source of the innovation of bin-opening.
December 4, 2025 at 1:31 PM
New paper out today w @dalmaijer.bsky.social @barbaraklump.bsky.social and @lucymaplin.bsky.social as part of the Phil Trans special issue doi.org/10.1098/rstb.... Over 2 years, we studied a population of cockatoos thought to be the source of the innovation of bin-opening.
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
Today sees the publication of the Theme Issue featuring the CES Transformation Fund grant scheme. Enjoy! royalsocietypublishing.org/rstb/issue/3...
@durhamdcerc.bsky.social @durhamanthropology.bsky.social @cultevolfunding.bsky.social @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social
@durhamdcerc.bsky.social @durhamanthropology.bsky.social @cultevolfunding.bsky.social @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Today sees the publication of the Theme Issue featuring the CES Transformation Fund grant scheme. Enjoy! royalsocietypublishing.org/rstb/issue/3...
@durhamdcerc.bsky.social @durhamanthropology.bsky.social @cultevolfunding.bsky.social @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social
@durhamdcerc.bsky.social @durhamanthropology.bsky.social @cultevolfunding.bsky.social @culturalevolsoc.bsky.social
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
New Paper out in Proceedings of the Royal Society B! 🎉 Sequence organization of mother–infant interactions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the wild. See the thread below for a quick explanation, and check out the paper: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Sequence organization of mother–infant interactions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the wild | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Sequence organization is a fundamental feature of human communication, shaping our
interactions. This organization underlies interactions with and without language,
appears early in human development ...
royalsocietypublishing.org
November 26, 2025 at 1:14 PM
New Paper out in Proceedings of the Royal Society B! 🎉 Sequence organization of mother–infant interactions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the wild. See the thread below for a quick explanation, and check out the paper: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
In this study, Howard-Spink et al. develop an empirically based model of orangutan diet development, which suggests that social learning is vital for allowing orangutans to acquire varied diets.
Culture is critical in driving orangutan diet development past individual potentials - Nature Human Behaviour
Howard-Spink et al. develop an empirically based model of orangutan diet development, which suggests that social learning is vital for orangutans to acquire varied diets.
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:53 PM
In this study, Howard-Spink et al. develop an empirically based model of orangutan diet development, which suggests that social learning is vital for allowing orangutans to acquire varied diets.
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
November 24, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Our New Paper is out in Nature Human Behaviour: 🚨 Culture is critical in driving orangutan diet development past individual potentials! 🦧 www.nature.com/articles/s41.... See 🧵
Culture is critical in driving orangutan diet development past individual potentials - Nature Human Behaviour
Howard-Spink et al. develop an empirically based model of orangutan diet development, which suggests that social learning is vital for orangutans to acquire varied diets.
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Our New Paper is out in Nature Human Behaviour: 🚨 Culture is critical in driving orangutan diet development past individual potentials! 🦧 www.nature.com/articles/s41.... See 🧵
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
Postdoc position in individual-level incentives, social
learning, and payoff-biased imitation shape group-level accuracy in complex prediction and decision-making tasks in Konstanz
files.newsletter2go.com/l3slzozn/s_i...
learning, and payoff-biased imitation shape group-level accuracy in complex prediction and decision-making tasks in Konstanz
files.newsletter2go.com/l3slzozn/s_i...
files.newsletter2go.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Postdoc position in individual-level incentives, social
learning, and payoff-biased imitation shape group-level accuracy in complex prediction and decision-making tasks in Konstanz
files.newsletter2go.com/l3slzozn/s_i...
learning, and payoff-biased imitation shape group-level accuracy in complex prediction and decision-making tasks in Konstanz
files.newsletter2go.com/l3slzozn/s_i...
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
New research from #ProcB: A wide range of abiotic and biotic variables leaves most variation in bird nest architecture unexplained buff.ly/eRawojZ | #AnimalBehaviour #Ecology #Evolution
November 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
New research from #ProcB: A wide range of abiotic and biotic variables leaves most variation in bird nest architecture unexplained buff.ly/eRawojZ | #AnimalBehaviour #Ecology #Evolution
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
📢 The Call for Abstracts for Culture Conference 2026 is officially OPEN! 📢
🗓️ Deadline: 8 Dec 2025
We welcome submissions from all career stages and relevant disciplines.
🔎Details & submission info: culture-conference.com/abstract-sub...
Keynote speakers & workshop details coming soon!
🗓️ Deadline: 8 Dec 2025
We welcome submissions from all career stages and relevant disciplines.
🔎Details & submission info: culture-conference.com/abstract-sub...
Keynote speakers & workshop details coming soon!
Abstract Submission
The call for abstracts for Culture Conference 2026 is NOW OPEN! We call for submissions of abstracts of no more than 250 words, summarising the background, aims, methods and results of your work.&n…
culture-conference.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
📢 The Call for Abstracts for Culture Conference 2026 is officially OPEN! 📢
🗓️ Deadline: 8 Dec 2025
We welcome submissions from all career stages and relevant disciplines.
🔎Details & submission info: culture-conference.com/abstract-sub...
Keynote speakers & workshop details coming soon!
🗓️ Deadline: 8 Dec 2025
We welcome submissions from all career stages and relevant disciplines.
🔎Details & submission info: culture-conference.com/abstract-sub...
Keynote speakers & workshop details coming soon!
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
I have published a childrens book! 📚🦧
'The Rimba' is a lyrical tale about the rainforest’s guardian spirit, a wise orangutan named Rimba, who rises to protect her home and the creatures within it, from the impacts of deforestation for palm oil. 🌴
#NewBook #ChildrensBook #orangutan #conservation
'The Rimba' is a lyrical tale about the rainforest’s guardian spirit, a wise orangutan named Rimba, who rises to protect her home and the creatures within it, from the impacts of deforestation for palm oil. 🌴
#NewBook #ChildrensBook #orangutan #conservation
November 3, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I have published a childrens book! 📚🦧
'The Rimba' is a lyrical tale about the rainforest’s guardian spirit, a wise orangutan named Rimba, who rises to protect her home and the creatures within it, from the impacts of deforestation for palm oil. 🌴
#NewBook #ChildrensBook #orangutan #conservation
'The Rimba' is a lyrical tale about the rainforest’s guardian spirit, a wise orangutan named Rimba, who rises to protect her home and the creatures within it, from the impacts of deforestation for palm oil. 🌴
#NewBook #ChildrensBook #orangutan #conservation
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
New article just out in NBR, co-authored with some brilliant linguists I’m working with in the new @dfg.de-funded CRC “Common Ground” (link below)!
What can ambiguity in nonhuman communication teach us about the evolution of language? 🐵🗣️🐘
What can ambiguity in nonhuman communication teach us about the evolution of language? 🐵🗣️🐘
In a new exciting collaboration with @marlenfroehlich.bsky.social and @profgerhard.bsky.social we think about how studying ambiguity in human and great ape communication can advance our theories of language evolution. Paper out at doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
October 9, 2025 at 9:45 AM
New article just out in NBR, co-authored with some brilliant linguists I’m working with in the new @dfg.de-funded CRC “Common Ground” (link below)!
What can ambiguity in nonhuman communication teach us about the evolution of language? 🐵🗣️🐘
What can ambiguity in nonhuman communication teach us about the evolution of language? 🐵🗣️🐘
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
This is why we fund scientists to study things like oyster slobber even if you don’t think it sounds important
⚠️ Chinese researchers have invented bone glue that mimics how oysters stick to surfaces underwater.
The adhesive can reportedly repair orthopedic fractures in 2-3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments, and is bioabsorbable.
interestingengineering.com/science/chin...
The adhesive can reportedly repair orthopedic fractures in 2-3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments, and is bioabsorbable.
interestingengineering.com/science/chin...
China's oyster-inspired 'bone glue' bonds fractures in minutes
A new oyster-inspired Bone-02 adhesive can revolutionize bone repair without metal fasteners.
interestingengineering.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:35 PM
This is why we fund scientists to study things like oyster slobber even if you don’t think it sounds important
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
So happy to see my first PhD paper out royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
With my amazing supervisor @robinmorrison.bsky.social and the @savinggorillas.bsky.social, we examined female dispersal decisions in mountain gorillas.
With my amazing supervisor @robinmorrison.bsky.social and the @savinggorillas.bsky.social, we examined female dispersal decisions in mountain gorillas.
Dispersed female networks: female gorillas’ inter-group relationships influence dispersal decisions | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Dispersal is a fundamental aspect of many animal societies, impacting gene flow, knowledge transmission, culture and individual fitness. However, little is known about the information individuals use when dispersing. Mountain gorillas exhibit a flexible ...
royalsocietypublishing.org
August 6, 2025 at 4:24 PM
So happy to see my first PhD paper out royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
With my amazing supervisor @robinmorrison.bsky.social and the @savinggorillas.bsky.social, we examined female dispersal decisions in mountain gorillas.
With my amazing supervisor @robinmorrison.bsky.social and the @savinggorillas.bsky.social, we examined female dispersal decisions in mountain gorillas.
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
Exciting new opening @nccrlanguage.bsky.social with the option of permanent extension. If you work in cutting-edge stats and are interested in joining a highly inter-disciplinary, vibrant community, don't hesitate to apply at tinyurl.com/3fxwjk8e
UZH: Statistician
Within the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) Evolving Language and its 46 different research groups from a large variety of disciplines across Switzerland, and the University of Zurich ...
tinyurl.com
July 18, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Exciting new opening @nccrlanguage.bsky.social with the option of permanent extension. If you work in cutting-edge stats and are interested in joining a highly inter-disciplinary, vibrant community, don't hesitate to apply at tinyurl.com/3fxwjk8e
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
Please consider helping us support the next generation of primatologists! Any support is greatly appreciated, and will help us host this fantastic event for the second time! 🐒
We need your help to raise money for our Field Skills Workshop! 🤝 Our workshop provides critical training for emerging primatologists who otherwise would not have opportunities to gain field experience. Consider donating to support this goal via the 🔗: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
Help raise £1000 to Support the PSGB Field Skills Workshop 2025 – JustGiving Crowdfunding
Iʼm raising money to Support the PSGB Field Skills Workshop 2025. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.
www.justgiving.com
July 19, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Please consider helping us support the next generation of primatologists! Any support is greatly appreciated, and will help us host this fantastic event for the second time! 🐒
Reposted by Elliot Howard-Spink
Brilliant to see this fascinating research! We're especially delighted to see @ehowaspi.bsky.social, visiting researcher at the @qmulsbbs.bsky.social, contributing to this amazing study.
Then vs Now: Same chimp, same task - 17 years apart 🐒🔧
New Oxford-led research suggests that ageing can affect how wild chimpanzees use tools, though the impact varies widely between individuals.
More info ⬇️
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-07...
New Oxford-led research suggests that ageing can affect how wild chimpanzees use tools, though the impact varies widely between individuals.
More info ⬇️
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-07...
July 16, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Brilliant to see this fascinating research! We're especially delighted to see @ehowaspi.bsky.social, visiting researcher at the @qmulsbbs.bsky.social, contributing to this amazing study.