Experiments
in Systems (403) fall-2012
Thought as a System
Knitting and Neuroscience A symposium on creativity, the brain, and yarn crafts. February 14, 2012 // 11am-6pm @ A&A
Special guest speakers include: Ruth Grahn Rex Jung Anne Cooke Helen Featherstone Rodolfo Ilinรกs
A symposium that connects creativity, the brain, and yarn crafts. February 14, 2012 // 11am-6pm at the KMA 10:00-10:50am Betsan Corkhill is a Physiotherapist who runs a clinic which utilizes knitting and cross stitching to help cope with chronic pain. She also runs a site called Stitchlinks.com which focuses on the use of therapeutic knitting as a healthcare tool. 11:00-11:50am Ruth Grahn is a Professor of Psycology and Director of Behavioral Neuroscience Program at Connecticut College. She is an avid knitter and spinner who teaches knitting to behavioral neuroscience students as a way of explaining types of memory and motor systems. 1:00-1:50pm Rex Jung is a leading scientist in the emerging field of positive neuroscience, the study of what the brain does well. Over the last several years, he has turned his attention to the manifestation of creativity in the brain—a cognitive capacity perhaps critically dependent upon, yet distinctly different, from intelligence. 2:00-2:50pm Bill Harbaugh is the curator of
The Museum of Scientifically Accurate Fabric Brain Art and Professor of Economics at the University of Oregon. The museum exhibits the world's largest collection of anatomically correct fabric brain art, inspired by research from neuroscience, dissection, and neuroeconomics.
3:00-4:00pm Anne Cooke and Helen
Featherstone are the brains behind Knit a Neuron— a collaborative knitting art project that came to a close in Dec. 2011 that continues to raise funds for the charity and will have a permanent home in the University of Bristol's brain imaging center, Clinical Research Imaging Center. They are both scientists by training, science communicators, and avid yarners.
SEVEN DEADLY SINS
Infographic
Myth vs Reality “All rats are dirty and carry disease.” TRUTH: Domesticated rats are free of diseases unless they come in contact with wild animals. Rats clean themselves much like cats do, and only become dirty when their cages are not cleaned regularly.
Lifespan WILD RATS: PET STORE RATS: BREEDER RATS:
“Rats aren't intelligent pets.” TRUTH: Many trainers claim that rats rats are one of the easiest animals to train due to their adaptability, intelligence, and focus. They have been shown to be able to express joy, dream, use visual clues to navagate mazes, and have high social intelligence.
“Rats are not tame animals, they bite.” TRUTH: It is fairly rare for domesticated rats to bite. Pet rats actually love the company of humans and only show aggression in rare circumstances. Rats are the least likely to bite compared to other rodents.
Pet Ownership 101
Training Your Rat
Cost
Average Initial cost: $175 Average cost per month: $55
Rats as Pets Myth vs Reality “All rats are dirty and carry disease.” TRUTH: Domesticated rats are free of diseases unless they come in contact with wild animals. Rats clean themselves much like cats do, and only become dirty when their cages are not cleaned regularly.
Lifespan WILD RATS: PET STORE RATS: BREEDER RATS: (average) 1 year
2 years
3 years
“Rats aren't intelligent pets.” TRUTH: Many trainers claim that rats rats are one of the easiest animals to train due to their adaptability, intelligence, and focus. They have been shown to be able to express joy, dream, use visual clues to navagate mazes, and have high social intelligence.
“Rats are not tame animals, they bite.” TRUTH: It is fairly rare for domesticated rats to bite. Pet rats actually love the company of humans and only show aggression in rare circumstances. Rats are the least likely to bite compared to other rodents.
Pet Ownership 101
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Rats should be kept in same sex pairs because they are social animals. The cage they live in must have at least 2 cubic feet per rat for them to live comfortably. Lifespans depends on how well you take care of them, what you feed them, and whether they were bred for health. Rats need to spend some time with you every day. And hour outside the cage of play time is recommended. Cages need to be cleaned about once a week to keep your rats clean and healthy. A monthly deep clean is also recommended.
Cost
Average Initial cost: $175 Average cost per month: $55
“All rats are dirty and carry disease.” Domesticated rats are free of diseases unless they come in contact with wild animals. Rats clean themselves much like cats do, and only become dirty when their cages are not cleaned regularly.
“Rats aren’t intelligent pets.”
Many professional animal trainers claim that rats are one of the easiest animals to train due to their adaptability, intelligence, and focus. They have been shown to be able to express joy, dream, use visual clues to navigate mazes, and have high social intelligence.
“Rats aren’t tame animals. They bite.”
3 years
2 years
Unlike their rodent relatives, it’s rare for pet rats to bite people. If they have been properly socialized and handled when young, rats love the company of their owners. They only show aggression in rare circumstances.
1 year Wild
Pet Store
Breeder
Rats are social animals and need to live with at least one rat companion. Same sex pairs are ideal. Rats require the same amount of care as a cat or dog. They are complex creatures that require love just like any other pet. You should spend at least 20 minutes or more a day playing with your rats outside their cage. Rats are chewers. Supply your rats with wooden chew toys to help keep them amused and their teeth healthy. When it comes to buying rats, you get what you pay for. Rats bought at pet stores generally are not as healthy and well socialized as those from breeders.
Initial Cost
Monthly Cost
Rats: Cage: Bottle & Food dish: Toys & Accessories:
$10-35 each $50-250 $15 $0-30
TOTAL: $85-365
Food: Litter: Toys:
$15 $10 $0-30
TOTAL: $55 Other Vet: $35-150 per visit
Fresh Foods
+
Lab Blocks
Cage: Rats spend the majority of their time in their cage, so it is important that is roomy enough for them to live comfortably. The minimum size cage you should have is 2 cubic feet per rat. Nesting Box: This is where your rats will sleep. They love to shred paper to build their own nest, so it is ideal if they are provided paper to do the job. Litter: This is the stuff that lines your rat’s cage and absorbs odors. The litter must be dust and fragrance free to ensure good respiratory health. Recycled shredded paper litter is a good choice. Toys & Accessories: Rats spend the majority of their time in their cage. Hammocks, cardboard tubes, and wooden toys make your pet’s lives better. Food Dish & Water Bottle: Food should be placed in a metal dish. The water bottle should be changed every day to keep bacteria from forming.
RATS AS PETS Misconceptions “All rats are dirty and carry disease.” Domesticated rats are free of diseases unless they come in contact with wild animals. Rats clean themselves much like cats do, and only become dirty when their cages are not cleaned regularly.
“Rats aren’t intelligent pets.”
Many professional animal trainers claim that rats are one of the easiest animals to train due to their adaptability, intelligence, and focus. They have been shown to be able to express joy, dream, use visual clues to navigate mazes, and have high social intelligence.
How long do they live? 3 years
“Rats aren’t tame animals. They bite.” 2 years Unlike their rodent relatives, it’s rare for pet rats to bite people. If they have been properly socialized and handled when young, rats love the company of their owners. They only show aggression in rare circumstances.
1 year
Wild
Pet Store
Breeder
What do rats eat? Wild
Pet Store
Breeder
&
•
Fresh Foods
What do I need to know?
Rats are social animals and need to live with at least one rat companion. Same sex pairs are ideal.
•
Rats require the same amount of care as a cat or dog. They are complex creatures that require love just like any other pet.
•
You should spend at least 20 minutes or more a day playing with your rats outside their cage.
•
Rats are chewers. Supply your rats with wooden chew toys to help keep them amused and their teeth healthy.
•
When it comes to buying rats, you do get what you pay for. Rats bought at pet stores generally are not as healthy and well socialized as those from breeders.
How much do they cost? Initial Cost Rats: Cage: Bottle & Food dish: Toys & Accessories:
Monthly Cost $10-35 each $50-250 $15 $0-30
TOTAL: $85-365 Other Vet: $35-150 per visit
Food: Litter: Toys:
$15 $10 $0-30
TOTAL: $55
Lab Blocks
What do I need?
Cage: Rats spend the majority of their time in their cage, so it is important that is roomy enough for them to live comfortably. The minimum size cage you should have is 2 cubic feet per rat. Toys & Accessories: Rats spend the majority of their time in their cage. Hammocks, cardboard tubes, and wooden toys make your pet’s lives better. Nesting Box: This is where your rats will sleep. They love to shred paper to build their own nest, so it is ideal if they are provided paper to do the job. Litter: This is the stuff that lines your rat’s cage and absorbs odors. The litter must be dust and fragrance free to ensure good respiratory health. Recycled shredded paper litter is a good choice.
Food Dish & Water Bottle: Food should be placed in a metal dish. The water bottle should be changed every day to keep bacteria from forming.
Systems in nature