Stephanie Spehar

I am a biological anthropologist who specializes in primate ecology, behavior, and conservation. I have done long-term fieldwork in South America, Central America, and Indonesia. Most of my current work focuses on orangutans and other primates in East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, trying to understand how they respond to both natural ecological fluctuations and the impacts of human activity, and what this means for conservation strategy. In support of this I work with local community members and other stakeholders to promote human-wildlife coexistence. I am also interested in applying an anthropological ("deep time" but also holistic and culturally informed) perspective to understanding human behavior and the current societal challenges we face, including our relationship with the environment and each other.