Primatology is the scientific study of primates.
Primatology is a research specialization within the Department of Anthropology because we recognize the powerful influence of selective pressures operating over deep time on our human lineage. At the same time, because primates are among the most flexible of animals, we examine their behavior and decision-making in response to variable and changing ecological and social conditions, including those that threaten their continued existence. Faculty and students conduct their research locally with captive primates or internationally with free-ranging primates using a variety of tools, including direct observation of habituated individuals, field experimentation, and GPS tracking of radio-collared animals.