2019-Exploring Animal Perceptions of Art and Entertainment

About the Project:

As Animal Studies has developed as a field, the impacts of performing arts and visual arts on animal subjects has become an area of interest for many performing and visual artists, as well as others invested in fostering well-being for non-human animals who live in close proximity to humans. Video games, television, and music for pets, and dance and music for dairy cows, chickens, horses, and goats, are among areas where this is a growing field of investigation. The purpose of this project is to explore various aspects of animal responses to the arts. What is aesthetically appealing for members of nonhuman animal species? The first-year student associate will assist with exploratory research examining animal responses to artistic stimuli. Primary responsibilities would include exploring and analyzing literature in the field, recruiting pet participants, running non-invasive experiments, collating and analyzing data, and writing up findings.

The First-Year Research Associate Program at Eckerd College honors academically outstanding students with awards of up to $1,000. The program also provides the opportunity, during the freshman year, for the award winners to work closely with a sponsor (faculty or administrative personnel) on a project of mutual interest. Associates might assist with research for faculty publication or new courses, conduct scientific experiments, work with creative artists, or develop projects related to any phase of the academic, cultural, and social life of the college. Scholars are selected on the basis of achievement in high school and on the creativity and depth of responses to items on this application.​

Online submission due no later than February 1, 2019.