Brenda de Groot

Doctoral student, Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University

I study crested langurs (Trachypithecus spp.). I am especially interested in their social interactions, including infant handling and communication, and the cognition and emotions underlying those interactions. I also have a strong interest in philosophical (ethical and empistemological) questions regarding animals; how to study and treat them well.

Biography
  • 2025-
    Doctoral Student, Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University
  • 2023-2025
    MA Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
  • 2020-2023
    Research Assistant, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University
  • 2013-2014
    MSc Primate Conservation, Oxford Brookes University
Publications
  • Straffon, L. M., de Groot, B., Gorr, N. D., Tsou, Y. T., & Kret, M. E. (2024). Developing drawing skill: Exploring the role of parental support and cultural learning. Cognitive Development, 70, 101444.
  • De Groot, B., Gorr, N.D., Kret, M.E., Rieffe, C., Tsou, Y.T., & Mendoza Straffon, L. (2023). Development and preliminary validation of a questionnaire to measure parental support for drawing. Journal of Thinking Skills and Creativity, 101228.
  • De Groot, B., & Cheyne, S.M. (2016). Does mirror-enrichment improve primate well-being? Animal Welfare 25(2), 163-170.
  • De Groot, B., & Nekaris, K.A.I. (2016). Ecology of the Germain’s Langur (Trachypithecus germaini ) in a pre-release environment and the implications for its conservation. Asian Primates Journal 6(1), 2-14.
Oral Presentations
  • De Groot, B. (2023, July 20). Theory of Sentience: A concept for ascribing sentience to other beings. Diverse Intelligences Summit 2023, St. Andrews, Scotland.
  • De Groot, B. (2023, May 26). The animal revolution: Towards a post-anthropocentric paradigm shift in science and beyond. Social Sciences Honours Conference, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
  • De Groot, B. (2022, August 1). Animal ethnography: A cross-disciplinary approach for understanding animals. Diverse Intelligences Summit 2022, St. Andrews, Scotland.
Poster Presentations
  • De Groot, B. (2025). Patterns and dynamics of infant transfers in Hatinh langurs (Trachypithecus hatinhensis) and Delacour’s langurs (T. delacouri). Poster presented at:
    • The Biodiversity and Wildlife 2025 Symposium (December 6-7), Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand (Outstanding Poster Award)
    • The 20th International Symposium on Primatology and Wildlife Science (November 17-18), Kyoto University, Japan (Excellent Poster Award)
  • De Groot, B., Anthis, J.R., Wilks, M., Kret, M.E. (2023, June 22-24). Mapping the moral standing of animals. PHAIR Society Animal Advocacy Conference, Canterbury, UK.
  • De Groot, B., Gorr, N.D., Kret, M.E., Rieffe, C., Tsou, Y., & Mendoza-Straffon L. (2021, September 10). Preliminary development and validation of a questionnaire to measure parental support for drawing. EADP Summer Tour, Poland (online).
  • De Groot, B. and Nekaris, K. A. I. (2018, November 28-30). Humble mysteries: Studying the unknown lives of leaf-eating monkeys. NVG 26th annual meeting, Egmond aan Zee, The Netherlands.