Joshua Plotnik, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Director of the Comparative Cognition for Conservation Lab (www.ccconservation.org) at Hunter College, City University of New York. Additionally, he is the Founder of the non-profit, Think Elephants International, Inc. (www.thinkelephants.org).

Elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror, carefully consider cooperation problems, and console each other when they are distressed. But do elephants experience the world in the same way we do? They use their trunks to locate food and smell differences in food quantity, and can communicate with out of view family members over long distances using vocalizations we can not hear. The study of convergent cognitive evolution aims to investigate similar intelligence across evolutionarily distant taxa like elephants, primates and crows. However, it is important to consider the fact that these different animals all experience their worlds in different ways. Here, I’ll detail my research on elephant intelligence over the past decade, and discuss how understanding the elephant’s unique sensory perspective is paramount to investigating their cognition. In addition, I’ll explain how we are using a better understanding of elephant behavior to mitigate the conflict between wild elephants and farmers in Thailand, and how the study of animal behavior in general has an important role to play in endangered species conservation.

Calling all high school teachers!!!

Are you interested in the biochemistry of fermented beverages?

Do you want to learn about RockEDU’s high school science research opportunities for your New York City students?

If the answer to one or both of these questions is yes, then you are in luck! Join RockEDU on the evening of October 22nd to network with your fellow teachers, check out our fermentation station, and see how you can get your students involved in mentored research through LAB Jumpstart.

LAB Jumpstart supports NYC high school students in a combined after-school and summer science research experience. Intended for highly-motivated students with an interest in science from low-resourced school communities, this program aims to ‘jumpstart’ your students’ development of research skills and provide exposure to laboratory culture. Students are then supported through 7 weeks of mentored research in a laboratory at our world-renowned medical research center. All participants in the Jumpstart program receive periodic meals and $2,000 in stipends to support their work. We are looking for students from all corners of New York City and we need your help!

See you then and there! Snacks and refreshments will be served.

Teachers will also be eligible for 2 hours CTLE credit. If you’d like to receive CTLE credit, please include your birthday and the last four digits of your social when registering so that we can process your certificate.