Looking to the Future of Primatology: Introduction to the Special Issue on Student-Led Research

Today's students are tomorrow's leading scholars. With effective mentoring, they will continue to address key issues in the critical work that will conserve and protect our closest living relatives-our fellow primates. The articles presented as part of this special issue on student-led work in primatology reflect the tremendous breadth of the field, covering such broad topics as diet, reproduction, conservation, husbandry, physiology, social behavior, welfare, and cognition. These studies were conducted in both field and captive settings, reflecting the diversity of contexts in which primates are being actively studied today. Whereas some of the work focuses on basic research questions, all of the papers have the potential to impact the lives of primates today and into the uncertain future. We hope that cultivating this collection of student-led work will highlight the fertility and importance of work in this field and inspire established researchers to continue to invest in mentoring the next generation of scientists.