> Reply-To: [email protected] > > Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences > School of Humanities > > Discipline of Philosophy > > > 2025 Anderson Lectures in Philosophy > > Curious animal minds: a journey into the evolution of cognition > Gema Martin-Ordas | University of Stirling (UK) > Gleebooks | 16 October 2025 | 5:45pm doors for 6:00pm start > Human intelligence is fascinating. We communicate using language, regularly > cooperate with others to reach shared goals (e.g. building bridges or houses > or playing symphonies), engage in abstract reasoning and scientific inquiry, > and learn sophisticated cultural behaviours from others (e.g. moral rules). > Why do humans possess such abilities while other animal species do not? One > approach to answer this question has been to examine the roots of human > intelligence by investigating intelligence across the tree of life (i.e. in > other animals). Now we know that many animal species possess several complex > abilities previously thought to be unique to humans. For example, chimpanzees > use and create tools. A complementary approach has been to focus on the study > of infants and children to investigate how intelligence emerges in > development. Now we know that, for example, language plays a critical role in > the emergence of human intelligence. > > In this talk, Gema will combine both approaches and will take us through an > evolutionary journey to shed light on whether the ability to think about the > past and the future is unique to humans. She will present empirical work with > vertebrates (e.g. children and great apes) and invertebrates (e.g. bees) that > will contribute to answering this question and will help us reconsider our > place within the animal kingdom. > > > ABOUT GEMA MARTIN-ORDAS: > > I am a comparative psychologist working on the evolution and development of > cognition. For more than 10 years now, my work has focused on investigating > whether episodic memory and future thinking are (or not) uniquely human. I > lead a Comparative Cognition Laboratory at the University of Stirling where > my team and I study cognition in vertebrates (e.g., children, great apes) and > invertebrates (e.g., insects), with specific focus on memory and thought > about the future. I have developed new methodologies to test cognition in > humans and animals and I have also adapted methodologies previously used with > primates to test cognition in bumblebees. Since my doctoral research, I have > worked extensively to build a strong international and interdisciplinary > research profile, spanning research activities across 5 different countries > (Germany, Canada, Denmark, United Kingdom and Sweden) and across > disciplines—from Philosophy to Environmental Sciences. Since the start of my > career, I have been actively engaged with public engagement activities (e.g., > public talks). My work has also had worldwide media coverage (radio and > internet, e.g., Science Daily, BBC). > > ABOUT THE ANDERSON FELLOWSHIPS: > Anderson Fellowships are bestowed through a bequest of the estate of John > Anderson (1893-1962), an influential Australian philosopher and Challis > Professor of Philosophy at the University of Sydney from 1927 to 1958. They > fund travel to the University of Sydney for up to two distinguished fellows > in philosophy each year with the aim of promoting collaboration between > members of the philosophy department and leading researchers around the world. > > Image: Courtesy of Gema Martin-Ordas research > > Click Here to Register > > <https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/e367CoV1kpfvyqE2xHJcltpN50C?domain=t.e2ma.net> > Venue > Gleebooks- Glebe > 49 Glebe Point Road > Glebe NSW 2037 > Click here for a map > <https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/O3aWCp81lrtARMm4XsqfqtGG3rb?domain=t.e2ma.net> > > > > <https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/6Fz1Cq71mwfXM0ZYmS7hNtE0bWF?domain=t.e2ma.net> > > <https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/2ljJCr81nyt2BVEQLSYiJt4hRFm?domain=t.e2ma.net> > > <https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/eeukCvl1rKiAkNxwMs0sptQJZk-?domain=t.e2ma.net> > > > > Keep in touch > > <https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/F7rPCwV1vMfyw8KlYTgtotJtRYn?domain=t.e2ma.net> > > > <https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/tIu_CxngwOfxWMkErUPuqtyajMU?domain=t.e2ma.net> > > > <https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/m2VRCyojxQTLBXZO9h0CMtxdl2q?domain=t.e2ma.net> > > > <https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/7YMLCzvkyVC4jg6WJsYF6t9si1h?domain=t.e2ma.net> > > > <https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/TZ4-CANpgjCED64p7h4HgtG9bq7?domain=t.e2ma.net> > > Copyright © 2021 The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia > Phone +61 2 9351 2222 ABN 15 211 513 464 CRICOS Number: 00026A > > Please add [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> to > your address book or senders safe list to make sure you continue to see our > emails in the future. > Manage and Opt out > <https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/A_EECmO5gluWQJzyEsVTOtRcpEY?domain=t.e2ma.net> > using TrueRemove® > Got this as a forward? 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