A scene from the interpretative dance video of Emma Ware's PhD thesis entitled A Study of Social Interactivity Using Pigeon Courtship.

Emma Ware recently garnered an international award for expressing her PhD thesis in modern dance.

“I was really excited to hear about this contest as I’ve always been interested in dance and was involved with the Queen’s dance community,” says Dr. Ware, who studied at Queen’s Centre for Neuroscience Studies under the supervision of psychology professor and BioMotion Lab director Niko Troje. “It feels great to have won the social science category. I enjoyed participating in such a great competition and I’m happy to be recognized as a winner.”

Dr. Ware’s thesis, entitled A Study of Social Interactivity Using Pigeon Courtship, was transformed into a black-and-white interpretative dance video that shows how responses from female pigeons affect mating displays from the males. It won the social science category of the unique annual Dance Your PhD contest, netting Dr. Ware a $500 cash prize and recognition from the prestigious Science magazine.

“I am so glad Emma won this wonderful prize,” says Dr. Troje. “It perfectly represents her two major interests: behavioural neuroscience research and dancing.”

This is the second year that a Canadian has been among the winners of the contest, which was established in 2008.

For more information about the Dance Your PhD contest and to see Dr. Ware’s winning entry, visit the contest’s website.