Anne Marijke Schel

Anne Marijke Schel is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, specializing in Animal Behaviour and Cognition. Her research focuses on the evolutionary origins of human cognitive capacities, particularly language, through the comparative study of primate communication.

• University: Utrecht University
• School: Faculty of Science
• Department: Animal Behaviour and Cognition
• Academic Rank: Assistant Professor
• Email: a.m.schel@uu.nl, amschel@uu.nl

Research Interests
Dr. Schel investigates the intentionality and flexibility of primate vocal and gestural communication. Her work explores:

• Primate communication systems (e.g., alarm calls, food grunts)
• Evolution of language precursors in non-human primates
• Impact of socio-ecological and predation pressures on communication
• Compositional processing in wild chimpanzees
• Acoustic structure and social bonding in vocalizations

Article Trends
Her recent publications emphasize primate communication complexity, including:

• Vocal learning and referential specificity in chimpanzees
• Gestural intentionality in red-capped mangabeys
• Chorusing behavior and social bonds
• Geophagia and mineral acquisition in wild primates

Teaching and Collaborations
Dr. Schel teaches courses such as Cognition and Socio-ecology and Primate Social Behavior. She collaborates with researchers in the UK, Uganda, France, and Switzerland, working with both wild and captive primates.