This is so heartbreaking! I interviewed Karen Bakker this past spring for a story about animal communication and she had such wonderful insights to share. I'm so glad I got a chance to speak with her. Here's a highlight from what we discussed, published in Science News Explores:
"Plus, [Bakker] adds, the idea of walking around with an animal translator may seem cool. But many animals might not be interested in chatting. “Why would a bat want to speak to you?” she asks. What’s interesting to her is what we can learn from how bats and other creatures talk amongst each other. We should listen to nature in order to better protect it, she argues."
I just ordered Dr. Bakker‘s book. Being a trained veterinarian, it sounds really fascinating to me, and I‘m very much looking forward to it. So sad that such a great, truly extraordinary person passed away. R.I.P.
Good heavens... we've lost another great spirit. These are the people who need to stay, live long, and contribute the fruits of their brilliant minds. The heart aches reading this news.
Blessings and condolences to Karen's family and those who knew her.
Karen Bakker was briefly my teacher as the teaching assistant at McMaster's Arts & Science program before she left as a Rhodes Scholar. I read and recommend French Kids Eat Everything.
Sounds like she became even more fascinating. My husband and I use Merlin to identify birds and iNaturalist to identify plants and other animals, so I'm definitely interested in AI linking us to the natural world. No one's going to walk down the road with us every day and identify species, but these apps can teach us and our children.
I would absolutely tune into an orca TED talk and agree that bats would rather talk to bats than us.
I hope we can continue to learn from Dr. Bakker and each other to save this beautiful Earth and care for each other.
This is so heartbreaking! I interviewed Karen Bakker this past spring for a story about animal communication and she had such wonderful insights to share. I'm so glad I got a chance to speak with her. Here's a highlight from what we discussed, published in Science News Explores:
"Plus, [Bakker] adds, the idea of walking around with an animal translator may seem cool. But many animals might not be interested in chatting. “Why would a bat want to speak to you?” she asks. What’s interesting to her is what we can learn from how bats and other creatures talk amongst each other. We should listen to nature in order to better protect it, she argues."
I just ordered Dr. Bakker‘s book. Being a trained veterinarian, it sounds really fascinating to me, and I‘m very much looking forward to it. So sad that such a great, truly extraordinary person passed away. R.I.P.
I was at TED and adored Karen’s talk, it’s incredibly sad that she left us so early but thank you for writing this 🤍
This is a wonderful tribute to a remarkable scientist. Thank you.
deeply sorry to hear that Dr Bakker passed away. her reasearch was really motivating!
Good heavens... we've lost another great spirit. These are the people who need to stay, live long, and contribute the fruits of their brilliant minds. The heart aches reading this news.
Blessings and condolences to Karen's family and those who knew her.
Sorry for your loss Marcus.
I am sorry for her family’s, your, and the world’s loss.
Karen Bakker was briefly my teacher as the teaching assistant at McMaster's Arts & Science program before she left as a Rhodes Scholar. I read and recommend French Kids Eat Everything.
Sounds like she became even more fascinating. My husband and I use Merlin to identify birds and iNaturalist to identify plants and other animals, so I'm definitely interested in AI linking us to the natural world. No one's going to walk down the road with us every day and identify species, but these apps can teach us and our children.
I would absolutely tune into an orca TED talk and agree that bats would rather talk to bats than us.
I hope we can continue to learn from Dr. Bakker and each other to save this beautiful Earth and care for each other.