Are We Listening to Animals? Insights from Orangutans & Crows

Are we listening to animals? A Langara psychologist reveals what chimps, orangutans & crows teach us about animal minds—over drinks. Humans are eager to communicate with animals and understand what they are thinking. Yet so often, we miss their signals, misinterpret their behaviours, and ask entirely the wrong questions about animal cognition. Drawing on years of research with great apes and local wildlife, Dr. Laura Adams explores the fascinating reality of animal minds. From working with sign-language-trained chimpanzees and rehabilitating orangutans in Indonesian Borneo, to investigating how Vancouverites interact with our city’s notorious urban crows, she breaks down what science actually tells us about cross-species communication — including the companion pets living in our own homes. Every Sip Smarter talk includes a 45-minute lecture followed by an open Q&A over drinks. SPEAKER Dr. Laura Adams is a Psychology instructor at Langara College and a researcher specializing in animal cognition, behaviour, and human-animal interactions. She completed her PhD in Brain, Behaviour, and Cognitive Sciences at York University, where her research examined perception and preferences in orangutans at the Toronto Zoo. Her work spans studies with sign-language-trained chimpanzees, primate fieldwork in Indonesian Borneo, and current research on public attitudes toward Vancouver’s urban crow population. "The only thing better than learning is the conversation after"