I think that many people view their interpersonal relationships as “one of a kind” or “unique to humanity”. Even I was a firm believer in the idea that many aspects of human interactions were not shared by other animals besides primates. However, Dr. Lee’s research has shown that these patterns, such as having more than one partner, are common among bird species as well. These resources also make me think about other human interactions that may be shared among different animals. For example, I once read a research article about other species of animals displaying homosexual tendencies, which shows that they may not be as different than us as we would like to think. My only questions now are “How do other species of animals compare to humans and birds?” and “What other tendencies do we actually share with other animals?”.
Dr. Danielle Lee also explores the idea of hip hop being a good way to educate students on natural occurrences. As a young scientist, she was able to draw connections between her research and the music that she enjoyed listening to. This concept makes me think differently about what it means to be a scientist. While a scientist usually derives their passion for research from a curiosity about the world, these curiosities do not have to revolve around academic topics. As
seen in the TED Talk, many scientists are able to connect their personal life with scientific discoveries in order to make sense of them. Not only does this allow scientists to draw true inspiration from their home lives, but it also allows them to share their findings in a way that can connect with people who have a similar personal life to them.