Kristin Andrews
andrewsk@yorku.ca

Animals communicate through many different modalities: chickens give alarm calls, elephants feel vibrations in the ground, bats echolocate, dogs smell urine, bonobos gesture, and dolphins pec touch. But what does it mean to communicate, and what it is like to communicate when you have a very different set of sensory systems and live in a very different social and physical environment from ours? That is, what is it like to be a communicating dolphin?

In this course students will stay at a dolphin research center in Roatán, Honduras, collecting behavior and spatial use data as part of a long-term dolphin communication study. Students will examine philosophical and scientific approaches to studying animal communication and will also learn data collection techniques and philosophical theories.

Theoretical focus is on theories of the nature of communication, the differences between human language and communication, theories of the evolution of communication. Methodological focus is on approaches to conducting comparative field research and data collection techniques.

Students will enjoy a full day of scheduled activities, starting with breakfast and early morning data collection, late morning lectures, lunch, afternoon data collection and activities, late afternoon lectures, dinner and evening lectures or activities. Activities include a snorkel boat trip, night snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding. Evening lectures on fish identification, sea turtle conservation, night-time adaptations of the reef, dolphin training, and more will be given by staff from the Roatán Institute for Marine Sciences.

Technical requirements for taking the course: Students will meet twice in person in Toronto (alternate arrangements can be made as necessary) and for two weeks on the island of Roatán.

Here are some useful links for student computing information, resources and help:

Student Guide to Moodle

Zoom@YorkU Best Practices 

Zoom@YorkU User Reference Guide

Computing for Students Website

Student Guide to eLearning at York University

To determine Internet connection and speed, there are online tests, such as Speedtest, that can be run.]

Times and locations: May 10 (10-12 pm) and June 9 (11-3) 2023, at York; May 14 – 28, 2023, in Roatán.

Texts available electronically

Field activities             60%

Daily Journal Entries – 100 points

Students will be expected to write at least 10 journal entries during their stay. Please note that each journal entry SHOULD 1) summarize your day in relation to the course and 2) include any relevant readings and hands-on experience that aid you in talking about your learning experience. For example, if you saw a behavior that you think suggests it is related to any of what you learned from a reading or discussion point, talk about this and integrate all these components together (experience in the field, information learned in a lecture/discussion, and your own thoughts and reactions).

Fieldwork & Research Activities – 100 points

Students will observe and participate in several research/training sessions (dolphin identification, observing dolphin behavior, conversing with trainers), practice dolphin identification/recognition, dolphin data collection, and other animal-related activities while on Roatan. Students will be together for all portions of the course (classroom, excursions, meals etc.) and as such must demonstrate respectful and cooperative behavior.

Students may earn 100 points toward their final grade by participating in all activities, engaging in meaningful discussion of how these activities relate to the course, and conducting themselves appropriately at all times.

Micro papers –100 points

Experiment proposal   20%

Final paper                  20%

Graduate evaluation

Field activities             50%

Experiment proposal   20%

Book review                10%

Final paper                  20%

Experiment proposal ~1500 words. To be written in the form of a grant proposal. Students will be given models of appropriate proposals.

Book review ~2500 words. To be written in the form of a book review for the Notre Dame Review of Books.

Final paper ~5000 words. To be written in the form of a conference paper or short journal article.

Students will be involved in course activity on Roatán for the full day (8 am to 9 pm) with breaks for meals and rest.

1. Critically analyze scientific studies of animal communication
2. Critically analyze theoretical claims and arguments about the nature of communication and the evolution of language
3. Formulate philosophical positions and research hypotheses that are subject to empirical study
4. Through experiential educational activity, students will come to understand the limits and benefits of working with animals in both field and laboratory settings, and how the realities of science impact the range of possible research questions.