A Scientist Just Like Me 

Stacy-Anne Parke

Biological Anthropologist & Primatologist

A Scientist Just Like Me!

Hi there! I am Stacy-Anne Parke- A Biological Anthropologist! 

What’s a Biological Anthropologist you ask?

​

Well, Anthropology is the study of humans! I explore what it means to be human by studying how we are the same and how we’re different in all parts of the world. I also study primates as they can teach us a lot about ourselves.

​

A Scientist Just Like Me!

A Scientist Just Like Me!

VS

Juvenile bonobos hugging

Juvenile humans hugging

A Scientist Just Like Me!

Ring-tailed lemurs fighting

Conflict ?

Social Structure?

Behavior ?

A Scientist Just Like Me!

About Me ☺

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

A Scientist Just Like Me!

About Me Then!

A Scientist Just Like Me!

About Me Now!

A Scientist Just Like Me!

🡪 What do I do as a Biological Anthropologist?

• I research monkeys, apes, and humans! I try to understand human and non-human primate behavior.

​

🡪 How does what I do make the world a better place?

• The purpose of my research is to…
• “make the world safe for human differences”. (Ruth Benedict)

AND

• protect and conserve species diversity.

A Scientist Just Like Me!

Day in My Life in New York City

Day in My Life in the field, South Africa

A Scientist Just Like Me!

🡪 What I like about my job

• I get to travel a lot! I’ve been to many countries and have worked with people from all over the world.
• I get to work with a team! Being surrounded by other inspiring scientists, we often come up with ideas and design new experiments together. There is a lot of problem solving involved and working as a group helps with this.

​

🡪 Challenges I have faced

• Often there is an assumption and culture that black girls should be expected to achieve less than other girls and boys. By working hard towards my goal, I overcame a lot of stereotypes and showed that you could achieve anything as long as you work for it.

​

A Scientist Just Like Me!

If you want to be a biological anthropologist, you need:

✹  to be curious. It all starts with asking questions!

✹  to be interested in nature.

✹  to like reading. Reading is very important! Have to know what other scientists are researching.

​

✹  to care about the world. Many of

the things I do are driven by making the world

a better place.

A Scientist Just Like Me!

Discussion time

​

✹  Would you like to be a biological anthropologist and primatologist like me?

Why? Why not?

​

✹  What skills and interests do you already have that would help you become a biological anthropologist?

​

✹  What new skills and knowledge would you need to develop?

A Scientist Just Like Me!

​

Free supporting resources for Biological Anthropology:

​

Starters for science – see American Anthropological Association.

see Primates Learning In Action

I bet you didn’t know... articles use cutting-edge science research as a context for learning. Teacher Guides describing research and activities and investigations for children can be used as classroom presentations. See:

•  Primate WISC