On 21 July 2025, we welcomed visitors to the Budongo Research Unit and Living Links at Edinburgh Zoo for our Research Engagement Day. This event offered an opportunity for the public to get a closer look at the fascinating work that researchers from the Budongo Research Unit and Living Links perform with chimpanzees and capuchin monkeys.
Visitors to the Zoo were invited to explore a series of interactive stations designed to showcase the cognitive games used in various studies. These hands-on activities allowed visitors to try their hand at some of the same puzzles the primates at the Zoo engage with. This enabled visitors to experience —in a fun way— the kinds of tasks that help us understand how these animals think, learn and solve problems.
Researchers from the Budongo Research Unit and Living Links were on hand throughout the Research Engagement Day to chat with visitors, answer questions, and share insights into the importance of studying primate cognition. The research they conduct deepens our knowledge of our closest relatives and sheds light on the evolution of intelligence across species.
The event was a fantastic success, sparking curiosity and conversation among guests of all ages. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so special. Events like these are a vital part of our mission to connect people with science and inspire the next generation of researchers and conservationists.
