Gisela Kaplan: Bird and Primate Scientist

Aussie STEM Stars is an inspiring children’s series that celebrates Australia’s experts in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Gisela Kaplan’s story contains several lifetimes, beginning in wartime Germany where she endured many challenges as a child that lead to a profound curiosity, care and compassion for all living beings. She is a leading voice in animal behaviour worldwide with a special expertise in birds. As well as caring for hundreds of birds in her back garden – from wedge-tailed eagles to tiny rosella chicks – her captivating scientific studies on Australian magpies, tawny frogmouths and other iconic species have uncovered incredible facts about their complicated lives that will delight and fascinate children and adults alike. Professor Kaplan is on a mission to spread the word about how intelligent and surprising birds are, before time runs out for many of them.