INTELLIGENCE

Jessica Kendall-Bar, Artist, UCSC Ph.D Student, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Humans are often defined by their intelligence – their ability to harness their disproportionally large brains to “think about alternative futures and make deliberate choices accordingly”. This ability has led humans to think of themselves as unique from other animals. Often the only way for us to empathize with other animals is when we recognize/witness our likeness in them–proof of that animal’s intelligence. We often seek to assess the intelligence of animals using tests that fit our rigid mold of enlightenment. Yet, these wild creatures are each adapted to their own measure of excellence- what they need to survive. 

How shall we measure intelligence in the northern elephant seal, who swims halfway to Japan and back to the same exact location each year? Shall we withhold compassion, moderation, and protection for those animals that fail to meet our own standards of intelligence? I work at the interface of art and science to inspire awe, admiration, and respect for the creatures which occupy our oceans. To inspire the belief that these organisms and ecosystems deserve our care and compassion.

It seems that the focus should not be on the extent to which these animals can conform to our own understanding of intelligence, but the extent to which we can learn from them. My art and research illustrate incredible animal behaviors which I believe can teach us lessons about ourselves and at the very least, inspire us about the many ways to be.