Dr. Nicola Clayton

Biography

Nicola S. Clayton is a professor of Comparative Cognition in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of Clare College. Her expertise lies in the contemporary study of comparative cognition, integrating knowledge from biology and psychology to introduce new ways of thinking about evolution, development, intelligence, and the non-verbal communication of animals and pre-verbal children. Currently, she serves as the President of the British Science Association's Psychology Section and has held the position of Scientist in Residence at Rambert for over eleven years. During her time at Rambert, she has collaborated with Mark Baldwin, Artistic Director, on new choreographic works inspired by science. Notable productions include the Laurence Olivier award-winning pieces 'Comedy Change' and 'Seven Secrets Told.' Additionally, Clayton has worked on a project with artist and writer Clive Wilkins, co-founding The Captured Thought, which explores themes of mental time travel and the intersection of consciousness, identity, memory, and creativity. In her academic journey, she has been appointed as a Visiting Professor at both Nanjing Institute of Technology and Beijing University of Language and Culture, and holds honorary professorships at Hangzhou Diangi University.

Research Interests