Center hosts science exhibit at the 2015 UW “Paws-On-Science”


Prof Randy Kyes (rt) discussing the use of drones in conservation biology and global health at the 2015 UW Paws-On-Science festival.


The Center for Global Field Study recently hosted an exhibit entitled “Animals and Your Health” at UW’s annual science festival “PAWS-on-Science” (April 10th – 12th 2015) held at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle.

The exhibit provided children and adults with information about the methods used to study animals in the wild and included hands-on activities with some of the equipment and techniques used by researchers in the field. Children had opportunities to learn about radio telemetry equipment, aerial drones trap cameras, bio-indicator species, and biological sample collection.

“This exhibit is intended to demonstrate the close relationship between humans and the environment and how animals can provide the first indication of a decline in environmental health and the related implications for global health” said Randy Kyes, Director of the Center for Global Field Study, Research Professor in Psychology and Core Scientist in the Washington National Primate Research Center.


“One of the exhibit activities that is always a real hit is a hands-on demonstration of primate fecal sample collection to look for intestinal parasites,” Kyes said. “Of course no real fecal samples are used, but the fake ‘pooh’ attracts a lot of interest.”

This is the fourth year the Center has participated in this STEM-based educational outreach festival. The exhibit was also staffed by Dr. Pensri Kyes, Research Scientist with the WaNPRC and Center for Global Field Study and Narayan Koju, MS, PhC, Visiting Scientist with the WaNPRC and Center for Global Field Study and a Senior Graduate Student from Tribhuvan University in Nepal.

More than 8,000 people attended the three-day outreach event which showcased almost 50 UW research groups.


Dr. Elle Kyes (lt) explaining how aquatic insects function as bioindicators of healthy water ecosystems .


Narayan Koju, MS, PhC (lt) demonstrating wildlife identification techniques used by field researchers.