Lucy Aplin

Lucy Aplin is a **SERI Assistant Professor** at the University of Zurich (Switzerland) and a **Senior Lecturer** at the Australian National University (ANU, Australia). She holds dual roles in evolutionary biology and ornithology, focusing on animal culture, cognitive ecology, and social networks. Her research bridges behavioral ecology and conservation biology, emphasizing cultural evolution in birds.

Education: Lucy earned a B.Sc. (Honours) and a Bach. Laws in International/Environmental Laws from ANU (2003-2009), followed by a Ph.D. in Botany/Zoology at ANU (2010-2014). She held postdoctoral roles at the University of Oxford and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour before her current positions.

Research Interests: Her work explores how cultural transmission, social learning, and innovation shape animal behavior. Key areas include bird social networks, the evolution of animal culture, and the impact of urbanization on behavior. She employs citizen science and experimental field approaches, integrating ecological and evolutionary perspectives.

Publications Trends: Over 14+ articles highlight her focus on avian cultural dynamics, innovation spread, and conservation implications of animal culture. Recent work includes studies on cockatoo tool use, parrot brain evolution, and social network structures in urban birds.

Labs/Teams: Leads research groups at both universities, collaborating on projects at the interface of behavioral ecology and conservation.