Prof. dr. F.B.M. (Frans) de Waal

Emeritus Professor
Animal Behaviour and Cognition
f.b.m.dewaal@uu.nl

My research on primate behavior focuses on social complexity in the widest possible sense, including alliance formation, reciprocal exchange, reconciliation following aggression, deceptive communication, and responses to environmentally induced stress. This research has a distinctly comparative character; it is being pursued with chimpanzees, bonobos, several macaque species, and capuchin monkeys.

I am a Dutch/American behavioral biologist known for his work on the social intelligence of primates. His first book, Chimpanzee Politics (1982) compared the schmoozing and scheming of chimpanzees involved in power struggles with that of human politicians. Ever since, de Waal has drawn parallels between primate and human behavior, from peacemaking and morality to culture. His latest book is The Bonobo and the Atheist (March 2013, Norton). De Waal is C. H. Candler Professor in the Psychology Department of Emory University and Director of the Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a member of the (US) National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences. In 2007, he was selected by Time as one of The Worlds’ 100 Most Influential People Today, and in 2011 by Discover as 47 [all time] Great Minds of Science.

 

Honors:

2014

Eugène Dubois Chair, Maastricht University

2013

Universiteitshoogleraar (Distinguished Professor), Utrecht University

2013

Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Pioneer Award

2013

Koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen, Foreign Member

2013

Doctor Honoris Causa, Utrecht University

2012

Ig-Nobel Award in the category: Anatomy

2012

Grossman Award, Society of Neurological Surgeons

2011

Editor-in-Chief Behaviour

2011

Doctor Honoris Causa, Colgate University

2011

Discover magazine's "47 (all time) Great Minds of Science"

2010

Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (Ridder, Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw)

2010

Liberales Book of the Year for The Age of Empathy (Netherlands/Belgium)

2009

Medal, Società di Medicina e Scienze Naturali, Parma (Italy)

2009

C. U. Ariëns Kappers Award (Netherlands)

2009

Doctor Honoris Causa, University for Humanistics, Utrecht (Netherlands)

2008

American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Fellow

2008

Pierre Bayle Oeuvre Award, Rotterdam Art Foundation (Netherlands)

2007

Time magazine "100 World’s Most Influential People Today"

2005

American Philosophical Society (APS), Member

2005

Arthur W. Staats Award, American Psychological Foundation (APF)

2004

National Academy of Sciences (NAS), Member

2001

APA Presidential Citation for Outstanding Contributions

1998

Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)

1996

Charles Howard Candler Chair, Emory University

1995

Fellow of the Carl Friedrich von Siemens Stiftung (Germany)

1993

Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (KNAW), Correspondent Member

1989

Los Angeles Times Book Award for Peacemaking among Primates