UNL professor brings baboon research to classroom

Shimelis Beyene is fascinated with monkeys.

As a professor of anthropology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he focuses a majority of class time discussing the history of human beings. But students who take Primatology: Behavior and Ecology of Primates get a look at Beyene's area of expertise — baboons.

"With humans, there are emotions and cultures, but with primates, it's something different from yourself," Beyene said.

Beyene is a member of the Baboon Research Project in Awash National Park, Ethiopia. The project is focused on studying the behavior, ecology, demography and genetics of primates. For his dissertation, Beyene focused on the behaviors of female baboons.

During his studies, Beyene questioned why female baboons prefer a certain type of male. He attributes their preferences to different social hierarchies.

"The lower ranking females tend to go after males that are very protective of females," Beyene said. "It looks like they are trying to fend off aggressive action from other males."

Naturally baboons would be shy and scared of humans, Beyene said. But because they experience so much human interaction in Awash National Park, many baboons have become more social and mischievous.  

During one camping trip, Beyene set up his tent before going on a walk. When he returned, his tent was flattened and supplies had been destroyed. Beyene also saw a monkey steal his daughter's ice cream cone in an outdoor sitting area.

"This happens unfortunately because primates learn very quickly about the social situation and they try to capitalize on it," Beyene said. "Baboons and monkeys are common in hotels, resorts and camping sites (in Ethiopia). They have frequent contact with people and can kind of predict human behavior."

As a child, he loved being outdoors, perhaps part of the reason he's been drawn to the savannahs, mountains and valleys of Ethiopia for his research. Mary Willis, a fellow UNL anthropology professor, said Beyene is incredibly observational while in the field.

"To watch a situation and pick up subtle things, that's a skill that's absolutely required," Willis said. "It works and it's served him well with humans too. He sees and observes things that many others wouldn't see and that's an extraordinary ability."

Beyene's primatology students are given similar opportunities to observe during lab time. With required trips to the zoo, students learn about behavior measurement. They form scientific questions for observation and use these questions to test primates' behavior.

Junior international studies and secondary special education major, Nate Hall, thinks Beyene is paving a new path at UNL.  

"What he's done research on really isn't being done at the university," Hall said. "I think he's working on a lot of issues that haven't been brought up as much as they should be."

At the present time primatology is not required for any major or minor and until recently, this class was only listed as an elective. However, Beyene thinks class enrollment will increase now that primatology is listed in the course bulletin.

While his course is not required, Beyene thinks it can be beneficial to students in a number of different fields. Biological science majors can use primatology to practice evolutionary behavioral research.

Psychology majors may learn more about the relationship between evolution and behavior.

"Ultimately primates are fascinating on their own terms," Beyene said. "Most important is how similar a lot of their behavior is to humans. We can trace some of our core elements to primate ancestry."

Beyene has been in the United States for nearly seven years. Originally from Ethiopia, Beyene had to leave behind his wife, Alynalem, and 10-year-old daughter, Eledon, in order to pursue a teaching position.

After what Beyene described as a long and painful wait, the family has been reunited in Lincoln.

"It was challenging, especially missing them and my daughter growing up without me being there," said Beyene, though her intellectual curiosity brings him comfort. "She wants to know everything; how the culture works."

He said Eledon was shocked to see Americans lick their fingers because that's an impolite practice in Ethiopia. Cultural dissonance aside, she's quickly adapting to life in the United States.

Willis realizes the stress Beyene places on family values.

People around the world spend more time with extended family than Americans do, according to Willis. She said that came as a real shock to Beyene.

"He comes from a culture where people don't spend a lot of time alone and they're always with family," Willis said. "It's been very difficult for him here. He's much more lively, cheerful and content since his family's been here."

Beyene said the culture in America is different from Ethiopia on many different levels. With more choices and freedoms, Beyene has more control over his life and teaching style.