Scientific Controversies: Birdbrain

Join us to explore the fascinating neuroscience behind bird language, vocal learning, and the role of language in birds' flocking.

The event will feature Prof. Erich Jarvis and Prof. Lauren Riters. Prof. Jarvis a neuroscientist from Rockefeller University, renowned for his work on the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying vocal learning. His research focuses on how birds and other species learn to imitate sounds, offering insights into the evolution of human language. Prof. Riters is a neuroscientist from the University of Wisconsin. Her work delves into the neural mechanisms that drive birds’ social behaviors, including vocal communication within groups, shedding light on how these behaviors contribute to flocking dynamics.

Hosted by Pioneer Works director of sciences Prof. Janna Levin, this conversation will unravel how birds’ complex vocal abilities intersect with social organization, as well as explore what bird language can tell us about the evolution of language and community in humans.

Prof. Erich Jarvis

Erich Jarvis leads the Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Language at Rockefeller University. His research focuses on understanding the molecular and genetic mechanisms that enable complex vocal learning in birds, with implications for human speech and language evolution. Jarvis is known for comparing vocal learning in songbirds with human language abilities, offering insights into disorders such as stuttering. His groundbreaking studies aim to bridge gaps between neuroscience, language development, and behavior across species. Jarvis is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and contributes to comparative genomics initiatives like the Earth Biogenome Project​.

Before and after the conversation, the Grand Cook will be offering a melodious bird-themed menu with fresh bites available for purchase. There’ll be rare grooves from DJ Black Helmet and, weather permitting, stargazing with astronomers from the Amatuer Astronomers Association in our garden.

Prof. Lauren Riters

Lauren Riters is a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on the neural underpinnings of social behaviors in animals, particularly birds. Riters investigates how vocalization and flocking behaviors are regulated by brain systems, exploring the motivations behind birds' social communication and interactions. Her work provides deeper insights into how neural circuits drive social dynamics, contributing to our understanding of both animal behavior and broader evolutionary questions related to language and group coordination​.

Janna Levin

Janna Levin is the founding director of sciences at Pioneer Works and the founding editor-in-chief of Broadcast. She is a professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. Her most recent book is Black Hole Survival Guide.

This program is funded by Simons Foundation International and administered by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division.