Frans de Waal

Frans de Waal's keynotes take a look into the behaviour of animals and compare them to human interactions. As a Primatologist, Waal has released multiple books on Ape and Chimpanzee interaction and the social norms surrounding their culture.

After studying and receiving his undergraduate degree at the Radboud University Nikmegen and University of Groningen, Waal went on to achieve his Doctorate in Biology from Utrecht University. Studying under Professor Jan van Hoof, Waal trained as a Zoologist and Ethologist to pick up on the complex moralities of behaviour of primates.

He has worked at the Arnhem Zoo, which features the world's largest captive colony of chimpanzees, the National Primate Research Center in Wisconsin, and now works at Emory University for the Yerkes National Primate Research Center beginning in 1991.

A member of the United Nations National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences, Waal has led a distinguished career studying animal interactions. Frans de Waal's keynotes are a reflection of his passion for animals and his extensive knowledge in his fields of expertise.