Sean C. Senechal is an American futurist, biologist, physiologist, applied behavior analyst, university bio-psychology instructor, gender/sexuality, biotech educator, and animal language researcher.
Senechal's study interests are: 1) Developing domesticated or captive animal expressive communication (to humans), 2) Psycho-biology (including environmental) of gender/sexual diversity, and 3) Future of biotech and medicine.
Senechal adds this tool (ABA) to existing methods (AnimalSign) to benefit and develop skill in animals, such as dogs, horses, elephants, and cats.
Senechal attended undergraduate programs initially in Physics (theoretical) and Math, but then, after reading the book The Structure of Scientific Revolution, moved into Sociology (of Knowledge) followed by pre-med courses UC Berkeley.
Attending California State University in San Francisco in the MA program (in collaboration with the SF Army Presidio) on Biology (Behavior and Physiology), Sean continued graduate Ph.D. work, studying Animal Physiology and Cognition (attention in humans) at UC Davis.
Senechal began research in evidence-based methods to enable animals to communicate their needs and wants to humans (modeled initially after the techniques used with Koko the Gorilla).
During graduate school and shortly after, Senechal worked in the tech world in Silicon Valley, gaining experience as a Quality Assurance Tester, Manager, then Director in various software companies (startups like Planetweb, to large companies such as Borland, Intuit, and General Magic).
Sean Senechal practices, consults, and researches using many techniques (one being ABA), with a special focus on communication (in humans and animals), ASD and Asperger's, behavior challenges, and gender/sexuality.
Sean has attempted to teach zoo and domestic animals additional methods of expressive communication using gestures, signs, and cards.
The next project (with crowdfunding) to start in 2015 involves raising multiple Border collie dogs with and without signing, while tracking their neuroanatomy, behavior, and communication skills for their lifetime.
This interest expands into the bio/medical/genetic and imaging technology contributing to the understanding and development of timely psychological and biological treatments for gender/sexuality issues.
Sean Senechal practices, consults, and researches using many techniques (one being ABA), with a special focus on communication (in humans and animals), ASD and Asperger's, behavior challenges, and gender/sexuality.