In the forests of Kibale National Park, Ramirez Amaya aimed to study the social interactions of coral chimpanzees that occur between males and females. He also collects genetic data from faeces to identify which males have offspring with which females, and physiological data from urine to assess various hormonal biomarkers. I was also working on collecting .
It was this setting, surrounded by primates and forests, that Ramirez Amaya loved.
“Besides the fact that we can observe, learn and investigate the lives and behavior of chimpanzees, what I love most is learning about forests,” said Ramirez Amaya, a former researcher with the Graduate School of Human Evolution and Social Transformation. said in an interview. . “A year is barely enough time to learn about it, but the different animals that live here, how it changes with the seasons, the trees that bear fruit, what chimpanzees eat, how the forest regenerates,” he said. And the ability to change, insects…it always amazes me.”
This love grew into a passion, as his father witnessed.
“He loved working with chimpanzees. The more he learned about chimpanzees, the stronger his passion for primate research. He loved fieldwork.He loved working with local assistants in Africa.He loved learning Swahili.Sebastian had a passion for chimpanzees.”
Ramirez Amaya’s love of research and fieldwork was evident in those he worked with in the Ugandan forests, including Langergraver.
“In the months I spent with him in the field, I witnessed Sebastian’s passion for chimpanzee research,” Langergraber said. “Sebastian was always passionate about chimpanzees, wondering why they behaved the way they did, and wondering how such explanations could be scientifically tested.”
Ramirez Amaya was particularly interested in learning more about the social aspects of these chimpanzees and the evolutionary questions that might be answered by developing this understanding.
Ramirez Amaya’s life ended tragically after an elephant encounter last year while conducting this research in Uganda.
This untimely and devastating loss shook the Kibale National Park research community, echoed within the faculty and student community of the Department of Human Evolution and Social Change, and was felt globally through Ramirez Amaya’s network of researchers and friends. rice field.
In the days and weeks following his death, Sebastian’s community expressed their condolences and offered support to his family.
“Sebastian has built a wonderful network of friends around the world,” said Ramirez Cortez. “We received hundreds of solidarity messages from his friends and over 300 people attended his virtual memorial service. rice field.”
During the ceremony, a family friend said, “Sebastian has done more in 30 years than I did in 60.”
After his death, a scholarship was established through the International Primatological Society to support fieldwork research in primatology for graduate students in developing countries. The scholarship was led by Ramirez Cortez, Ramirez Amaya’s mentors Link and Langergraber, and John Mitani of the University of Michigan to honor the life of Ramirez Amaya. rice field.
“One of[Sebastian’s]goals after completing his PhD was to help young biologists in developing countries participate in international research projects like he did. I was concerned about the strengthening of scientific field studies in Colombia.”
The mother and father of Sebastian Ramirez Amaya hug after receiving their son’s degree as part of the college’s convocation ceremony at Sun Devil Stadium on May 11.
Back on the field at Sun Devil Stadium, Ramirez Amaya was posthumously awarded a doctorate in anthropology. And his father, who has his degree and scholarship, will ensure that his beloved son’s goals are realized.
Patrick Kenny, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Christopher Stojanowski, Professor and Director of the Department of Human Evolution and Social Transformation, joined the family who joined Field to award this special degree.
“Sebastian’s intellectual drive and curiosity to expand our knowledge and understanding of chimpanzee social behavior and its potential human behavior were commendable.” His research done in the form showed his dedication to chimpanzees and the research he was doing,” Stoyanowski said. “We are honored to confer this well-deserved degree on Sebastian and are honored to have him as a member of our school community.”
Ramirez Amaya’s father and mother share a long and emotional embrace after receiving their degree. The heavy loss for this family was evident to all present as many in the stands and on the field joined the family with tears in their eyes for an unofficial but heartbreaking moment of silence at the stadium. .
“It’s an act of love. With love we are in a position to give meaning to our grief, to honor and acknowledge his achievements and to celebrate his life,” said Ramirez Cortez. “I know what a PhD means to him, and he knew what it means to me. are spiritually connected by love.”
