Aimee Morgana (with N'Kisi the Parrot), 2010 WINGS Elected Fellow

"Discoveries can happen anywhere! Discovery is about looking at something deeply and diligently with a desire to understand, and seeing it in a new way. Don't be afraid to do something that's never been done before." — Aimee Morgana

Researcher in interspecies communication, teacher, artist

Born: 1958-01-01

Hometown: New York City, NY

Education: MFA in Art

Achievements

Discoveries: Creative linguistic communication by a parrot taught to use human language

Expeditions: My work focuses on exploring the inner terrain of the animal mind and our relationships with animals.

Biography

Since childhood, Aimee has had an intuitive connection with animals, and used these insights in developing her own techniques for teaching parrots to use language. Aimee has been working with parrots since 1985. Her goal is to establish a true communicative dialogue with a member of another species. Unlike laboratory researchers, Aimee decided to give N'kisi "dominance" in their relationship, relinquishing control to open the door for his creativity. She wanted to find out what a parrot might actually have to say, which would reveal fascinating information about how these animals think. Aimee's ongoing work with N'Kisi illustrates her concept of "partnership research"; an approach which honors and explores the close relationships people can have with animals as friends and teachers. Aimee is part of an emerging group of conceptually based artists interested in exploring our human relationship with Nature in work dealing with animals, biology, environmental concerns, and quantum aspects of consciousness. In a dynamic cross-fertilization of approaches, some of these artists have begun collaborating with scientists in new-paradigm research projects that bridge the disciplines of Art and Science.

Fun Facts

Favorite Item to have in the field: Clipboard to record data, computer

Heroes: Jane Goodall, Alex the parrot, my mother, and my partner N'Kisi