Chris Krupenye
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chriskrupenye.bsky.social
Chris Krupenye
@chriskrupenye.bsky.social
1.2K followers 390 following 49 posts
Origins of the Social Mind • Apes • Dogs • Evolutionary Cognitive Scientist, Assistant Professor @JohnsHopkins • he/him
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chriskrupenye.bsky.social
🚨RT!

The Social & Cognitive Origins group at @jhuartssciences.bsky.social (social-cognitive-origins.com), directed by Dr. Christopher Krupenye, is recruiting a full-time research assistant or lab manager to begin Summer 2025. The position has a one-year minimum, w/ the possibility of extension. 1/
The Social & Cognitive Origins Group at Johns Hopkins University studies how humans and other animals think. The Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University in full spring bloom.
March 23, 2025 at 8:22 PM
chriskrupenye.bsky.social
We have lost a legend. Yesterday morning, I received the devastating news that Kanzi, the world’s most famous bonobo, died unexpectedly the day before, in the company of his bonobo family at Ape Initiative, in Des Moines, Iowa.

I've written here about this tremendous loss. We will miss him dearly.
We have lost a legend. Yesterday morning, I received the devastating news that Kanzi, the world’s most famous bonobo, died unexpectedly the day before, in the company of his bonobo family at Ape Initiative, in Des Moines, Iowa. Born in 1980, Kanzi lived a long and full life but his passing nonetheless comes as a shock to us all, because he displayed such vitality all the way through. Kanzi could always get excited to play chase, to participate in problem-solving games, or to receive one of his favorite treats. He had the remarkable ability to precisely communicate his desires to his human caregivers, through both proficient pointing and the use of a lexigram board containing dozens of familiar symbols he had learned throughout his life. You could ask Kanzi in spoken English, “What do you want, Kanzi?” and he would point to the lexigram symbol for one of his favorite foods, like celery or grapes, or one of his favorite games, like chase or tickle. Kanzi’s eagerness to engage with his caregivers and his enthusiasm for treats made him the shining pupil and research participant that he was. His mother, Matata, was the initial subject of a research program aiming to determine if apes could learn language, but infant Kanzi quickly emerged as the star: while Matata struggled to learn her first symbols, the researchers realized that little Kanzi, clinging to his mother’s belly during these sessions, had been soaking up the knowledge all along. Kanzi ultimately learned several hundred symbols, showed some ability to respond to numerous verbal prompts, and used pointing much more adeptly than any other captive ape I have ever met. I have had the tremendous privilege of knowing Kanzi since 2021 and working with him on a half-dozen research projects. Although I had worked with apes since 2008, including dozens of other bonobos by the time I met Kanzi, I was struck by him. He upended my understanding of what bonobo-human communication could be like, of how bonobos could be. As …
March 20, 2025 at 8:07 PM
chriskrupenye.bsky.social
Are humans the only species that communicates when a collaborator is missing information?

In @pnas.org, Luke Townrow and I show that our closest relatives, bonobos, can track when a partner is knowledgeable or ignorant, and tailor communication accordingly

www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Bonobo Nyota at Ape Initiative, a science and education nonprofit
February 3, 2025 at 10:11 PM
chriskrupenye.bsky.social
Massive congratulations to my friend and @jhu.edu colleague, @chazfirestone.bsky.social!

Chaz will receive the 2025 APA Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution to Psychology, in the area of perception and motor performance. A well-earned honor for a superstar!
January 16, 2025 at 3:24 PM
chriskrupenye.bsky.social
Are bonobos really hippie apes? Are chimps war-mongers?

I wrote a short piece for Learning & Behavior, spotlighting exciting new findings that start to build a clearer picture of the differences between the social lives of our two closest relatives!

rdcu.be/dUS2H
September 26, 2024 at 11:00 PM
chriskrupenye.bsky.social
🚨 Johns Hopkins psych & brain sci is hiring! 🚨

TWO open-rank faculty positions: one in cognition, broadly construed, the other in cognitive neuroscience

We're excited about lots of research areas & approaches, including development & animal cognition!

apply.interfolio.com/155721
September 26, 2024 at 4:32 PM
chriskrupenye.bsky.social
🚨 Postdocs & senior PhD students:

Apply to attend the - fully-funded! - CIFAR Winter School on the Neuroscience of Consciousness near Cancun, Mexico 🌴

Explore human, animal, & machine consciousness with world-leading faculty & peers
+ networking & professional dev opps

cifar.ca/next-generat...
Winter school participants clapping for a speaker A beach blanketed with sand and tropical plants A large pool and lounge areas Winter school attendees engaging in a discussion on the beach
May 29, 2024 at 5:18 PM