Brenda de Groot is a PhD candidate at the Cognitive Psychology unit, studying the cognition of non-human and human primates, and how this is shaped by their social environment. She aims to contribute to the growing acknowledgement and understanding of animal sentience, animal cognition, and the moral standing of non-human animals in both the academic world and society at large. Brenda graduated cum laude in both her BSc Psychology (Hons) at the University of Amsterdam and her MSc Primate Conservation at the Oxford Brookes University. Brenda has a passion for animal minds and animal ethics, which translates itself into the following research interests: cognitive ethology, animal cognition, consciousness, primate behavioural ecology and the psychology of speciesism. As a PhD candidate, she is involved in the interdisciplinary project “Visual Signs as Cognitive Tools: Phylogeny and Ontogeny”, where she studies the evolutionary roots of symbolic cognition and visual mark-making in human and non-human primates. Her ultimate aim is to unite animal ethics and science, and help change the dominant anthropocentric world view into a sentiogentric one - one in which we acknowledge the moral standing of all sentient beings with whom we share our planet.

More information about Brenda de Groot

Teaching:
   - Workgroup lecturer in the course 'Consciousness', theme 'Evolution of Consciousness'
   - Supervising (Honours) Bachelorprojects Psychology
   - Tutor / mentor / lecturer in the course 'Academic Skills Tutorial'

Grants:
Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (2015)
PSGB Conservation Grant Award (2014)
Born Free Foundation Small Grant (2014)
Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (2014)

Promotor and supervisors:
Dr. Mariska Kret (promotor, supervisor)
Dr. Larissa Mendoza Straffon (supervisor)

Relevante links:
LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendadegroot/
Research Gate:   https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Brenda_De_Groot
Website:   www.brendadegroot.com

Publications