The Academy of Reason & Wonder Inquiry No. 4: Exploring Other Minds

This evening is a rare treat, and will be our last instance of The Academy of Reason & Wonder in 2018, since we will close for renovations June through December.

Join us for lectures from scholars who are exploring the intelligence of other creatures–from the simplest hydra to our neighborhood crows.

The Grocery 3001 21st Ave S Seattle 98144
Sunday May 6
Program at 8:00pm / Doors at 7:30pm

Two thirty-minute lectures followed by Q&A, and mingling with refreshments to discuss the ideas.

Tickets are sliding scale, proceeds go to the speakers and supporting the series:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-academy-of-reason-wonder-inquiry-no-4-exploring-other-minds-tickets-45168306621

Decoding crow vocal communication
Dr. Doug Wacker, Andrea Bilotta, and Jeremy Granville Newton
American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) can recognize faces, solve multifaceted puzzles, and form strong social bonds.  As such, many consider them to be a highly intelligent and interesting species.  They make a multitude of vocalizations, the function of which are not all well understood.  Our research group is trying to decode the meaning of crow calls using remote recording techniques and the audio playback of constructed calls to free-living crows.

Embodied intelligence: how biology computes
Dr. Adrienne Fairhall
While we are still far from understanding the complexities of human thought, a number of the “primitives” of our mental processes are present in even very simple creatures. We will explore how even primitive organisms process and store information and use it to make apparently purposeful decisions. When do these abilities lead to a sense of self?

About the speakers

Dr. Adrienne Fairhall, Fairhall Computational Neuroscience Lab UW
Adrienne’s background is in theoretical physics, with degrees from the Australian National University and the Weizmann Institute in Israel. Since graduating, her research program has focused on applying physics and mathematical ideas to understand neural function. As a faculty member in UW’s Department of Physiology and Biophysics since 2004, she has collaborated on the neuroscience of animal sensation and behavior including the rules of motion detection, insect foraging and flight control, birdsong, and navigation in virtual reality environments.
https://fairhalllab.com/

Dr. Doug Wacker, Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior, UW Bothell
Dr. Wacker is interested in the social behavior and communication of wild birds.  He received his PhD in Neurobiology and Behavior from the University of Washington in Seattle.  He now works at UW Bothell, home to a vibrant undergraduate community and a large communal crow roost numbering, at its height, about 16000 birds each night.
https://www.uwb.edu/biological-sciences/faculty/biology/dwacker

Andrea Bilotta, undergraduate researcher, Community Psychology, UW Bothell
Andrea is interested in studying the social behaviors of wildlife through non-invasive research practices. She is currently working with the large communal roost of crows on the University of Washington Bothell’s wetlands, and will be furthering her experience this summer as an intern for the Sarvey Wildlife Care Center.

Jeremy Granville Newton, undergraduate researcher, Applied Computing, UW Bothell
Jeremy is interested in the intersections of computing, behavior, and philosophy.

The Academy of Reason & Wonder seeks to fan the flames of inspiration to generate positive energy in ourselves, our communities, and, by extension, our world. It brings people together to educate, inspire, and encourage the pursuit of reason. Ignite your own curiosity and wonder through personal perspectives on topics such as history, science, language, philosophy, music theory, or wonders of the natural world.

The Academy of Reason & Wonder is a lecture series that occurs on a nearly monthly basis at The Grocery, a creative space on North Beacon Hill. Sign up to be notified of future events: https://tinyurl.com/grocerystudiosevents.