Are we listening to animals? A Langara psychologist reveals what chimps, orangutans and crows teach us about animal minds — over drinks at Bimini’s in Kitsilano.
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.
About the 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.”
Event Details
- Presented by: Sip Smarter Vancouver (Curated talks over drinks)
- Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
- Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- Venue: Bimini’s Since 1975 (Kitsilano), 2010 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M9
- Format: In person – 45-minute talk + open Q&A
- Speaker: Dr. Laura Adams, Langara College Psychology Instructor & Animal Cognition Researcher
- Refunds: up to 7 days before the event
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