Alex Kacelnik is a zoologist and behavioural ecologist whose research into animal cognition combines data and methods from zoology, psychology and economic theory. He developed scalar utility theory, a theoretical framework for understanding risk perception in animals that helps behavioural scientists to interpret data from a wide range of experiments.
Alex’s work is diverse. For instance, he carried out original research on the use of tools by animals and investigated the thought processes involved in learning new skills, specifically with New Caledonian crows. He has also studied the impact of learning on decision making in risky circumstances in both animals and humans, as well as the mechanisms that animals use to make choices.
He has published over 200 scientific papers during his career and won awards that include the Comparative Cognition Society’s Research Award in 2011, the 2004 Cogito Prize for his contributions to furthering collaboration between the humanities and natural sciences and the de Robertis Medal for contributions to neuroscience. He is the founder of the Behavioural Ecology Research Group at the University of Oxford.
Professional position
- Emeritus Professor of Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology (Mansfield Road), University of Oxford
- Emeritus Fellow, Pembroke College, University of Oxford
Subject groups
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Multicellular Organisms
Experimental psychology, Behavioural neuroscience
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Patterns in Populations
Ethology, Evolution, Ecology (incl behavioural ecology)
