The European cultural platform Arte recently aired a three-part documentary titled “Animal Cultures”, broadcast on May 5, 6, and 7. This series offers an in-depth exploration of socially transmitted behaviors across animal species. It highlights the research led by two scientists affiliated to The Sense.
Understanding social learning in primates
Prof. Erica van de Waal, Principal Investigator (PI) at The Sense and Professor at the University of Lausanne, is a renowned expert in primate social behavior. The documentary follows her fieldwork in South Africa, where she studies the social and cognitive abilities of vervet monkeys. Through carefully designed experiments and long-term naturalistic observation, her research provides unique insights into how traditions are formed and passed on among these animals.
Decoding animal communication through technology
Also featured in the documentary is Prof. Benedetta Franceschiello, another researcher associated with The Sense and also Professor at HES-SO Valais-Wallis. She has developed intelligent tracking collars capable of recording monkey vocalizations — a key tool for Prof. Erica van de Waal’s field research. This project, named MonkeyCall, combines neuroengineering and artificial intelligence to better decode animal communication and social dynamics within groups.
International Recognition for Research
The inclusion of these two researchers in an Arte production highlights the scientific and societal relevance of their work and underscores the active role of The Sense in supporting cutting-edge research on sensory behavior in both humans and non-human animals.
Available for replay on Arte (in French): Animal Cultures