Isabel Behncke

Isabel Behncke is a behavioral and evolutionary scientist working on the nature of social animals. She originally hails from the mountains of Chile and loves wild things. Dr. Behncke has an MSc from the University College London, MPhil from Cambridge University, and a Ph.D. from Oxford University.

After walking 3000+ km in the jungles of Congo observing the social behavior of bonobo apes—our closest living relatives—in field research, Dr. Behncke now applies an evolutionary lens to questions that lie at the core of social life and creativity: Why do we go to festivals? Why does trust require risk taking? Why do adults need to play in order to not just feel alive, but also maintain health, creativity, and social bonds? Why do cities need to be not just ‘smart’ but also enjoyable? And crucially why is it that the more digital we get, the more understanding of evolution we need?

She enjoys consulting and engagement in different forms and has spoken at WIRED, the G20, the House of Lords, United Nations, twice at the main TED event, and around the fire in Patagonia. She also has been part of numerous radio programs, including NPR and BBC Radio 4. She has been featured in a number of television documentaries (BBC and National Geographic) and independent cinema.