Sarah Boysen

Sarah Till "Sally" Boysen (born March 5, 1949) is an American psychologist who is a professor of psychology at Ohio State University. She is a primate researcher and former Director of the Chimp Center at the university. She was selected as one of the top 50 women scientists by Discover magazine in 2002.

Early life Boysen was born on March 5, 1949, in Sandusky, Ohio. She established the Comparative Cognition Project at the Ohio State University Chimpanzee Center in 1983. Boysen's research focuses on chimpanzees' cognitive abilities in relation to intelligence, linguistics and neuroscience.

Shutdown of Centre In February 2006, her research center was shut down by Ohio State University. The university cited lack of external funds to support the high costs of maintaining the center. The chimpanzees in the center were relocated to Primates, Inc. in San Antonio, Texas. Boysen filed a restraining order in February 2006 to stop the chimps from being moved to Texas, but it was denied.

In response to the chimpanzees dying, she filed a federal lawsuit against the university, which was unsuccessful. However, the remaining chimpanzees were relocated to Chimp Haven after the initial deaths.