"Cows are emotional, intelligent and loyally affectionate," says Gregory Berns, Emory professor of psychology.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Emory neuroscientist Gregory Berns moved with his wife to a farm about an hour south of Atlanta. His reinvention, from city dweller to farmer, led to Berns’ upcoming book, “Cowpuppy: An Unexpected Friendship and a Scientist’s Journey into the Secret World of Cows.” Set for publication by Harper Horizon on Aug. 20, the book describes Berns’ crash course in becoming a cattleman and his ongoing fascination with the interior world of cows.
“I originally got cows for biological help, to keep the grass down,” Berns explains. “But then my relationship with them turned into something more. I started seeing the world through a cow’s eyes. There’s a common misconception that cows are dumb animals, but that’s just because most people haven’t had the opportunity to interact with them. I decided it was time to set the record straight on cow brains.”
His new lifestyle also inspired Berns to develop an undergraduate class to debut this fall: “Psychology of Sustainability.”
“The climate is changing. We also need to think about ways to change ourselves as a society so we can begin to meet the important challenges ahead of us,” says Idowu (Jola) Ajibade, associate professor in Emory University’s Department of Environmental Sciences.
As a deadly heat waves blanketed parts of the United States, Ajibade spoke on a guest panel of experts for a meeting of the U.S. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). PCAST consists of experts from who advise the president on policy matters where the understanding of science, technology and innovation is key.
The public meeting, entitled “Social Impact of Research: Climate Resilience,” was livestreamed on July 11 and also recorded.
Ajibade is an environmental and human geographer. She explores how climate change is transforming the lives, livelihoods, social-cultural landscapes and housing access for members of historically marginalized communities.
“If we’re going to build resilience to climate change, we need multiple perspectives, multiple expertise and, certainly multiple methods,” Ajibade explains during her PCAST presentation.
