Secret Science Club: Cognitive Psychologist & Marine Mammal Researcher Diana Reiss
Where: The Bell House
149 7th St., Brooklyn
718-643-6510 Price: Free
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Ever wonder what it would be like to encounter an alien intelligence? Psychologist and marine mammal researcher Diana Reiss knows how it feels. Dr. Reiss has been researching dolphins for over 30 years, and while she has experienced moments of interspecies understanding, the mind of the dolphin remains as mysterious and exciting as ever.
Diana Reiss is a professor in the Department of Psychology at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center. Her research focuses on cetacean cognition, communication, and the evolution of intelligence. She was scientific advisor for the Oscar-winning film The Cove, and author of the memoir The Dolphin in the Mirror.
Dolphin brains are large and their social lives are complex, but how far does dolphin intelligence go? Using clicks, whistles, and body motions, dolphins clearly communicate among themselves. So far though, scientists have little idea what they might be saying. To investigate, Dr. Reiss designed a pioneering underwater keyboard for dolphins to facilitate communication with human researchers. Dr. Reiss asks:
–How do we study the mind of an animal so different than us?
–Can new technology help us crack the code of dolphin communication?
–What role do scientists play in the protection of dolphins and their habitats?
Before & After
–Try our chatty cocktail of the night, the Click & Whistle
–Groove to sounds of the surf, sea shanties, and whale song
–Stick around for the ebb and flow of Q&A