Dr. Reiss is a cognitive psychologist directing a dolphin cognitive research program at the National Aquarium in Baltimore and serving as a research associate at the Smithsonian's National Zoo investigating elephant cognition. She previously directed the Marine Mammal Research Program at the New York Aquarium and co-chaired the Animal Enrichment Program of the Wildlife Conservation Society. Dr. Reiss served as science advisor to the Animal Welfare Committee of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Her research examines cetacean cognition, communication, comparative animal cognition, and intelligence evolution. She pioneered underwater keyboard use with dolphins to investigate their cognitive abilities while providing greater choice and control. She and colleagues demonstrated that bottlenose dolphins and Asian elephants possess mirror self-recognition, previously thought to be restricted to humans and great apes. Her work includes marine mammal rescue, including the acclaimed Humphrey humpback whale rescue, and conservation advocacy protecting dolphins in tuna fishing and opposing drive hunts in Japan. She authored The Dolphin in the Mirror (2011).
Roundtable Appearances
