On April 9, Julie Neiworth, professor of the natural sciences and psychology, delivered her farewell lecture at Carleton College. Titled “What it’s like to be human: A summary of comparative cognition research,” the lecture recounted years of Neiworth’s research done at the college, primarily in her primate research lab.
Neiworth’s long career at Carleton College began in 1988 when the head of the psychology department at the time, Peter Prenzel-Guthrie, hired Neiworth after reading her study on the image discretion of pigeons. Neiworth recounted this experience near the start of her presentation. When asked about her experience working with students in her lab, Neiworth commented, “the students have always been the best part of teaching and doing research at Carleton. They inspire me.” Gisel Flores-Montoya, an assistant professor in the department of psychology, said that Neiworth “consistently challenged her students to think deeply, critically, and independently while fostering an environment in which they could thrive intellectually.”
In 1988, Neiworth obtained Tamarins (a type of monkey) from a colleague, leading to the foundation of Neiworth’s Primate Lab, which studies the behavioral, physiological, social and cognitive data of Tamarins. Neiworth’s specimens were vital for expanding theories on the abilities developed across human evolution. Neiworth explored topics of perception and cognition through tests that involved recognizing upright versus flipped faces and patterns in sequences. These studies helped Neiworth comprehend the distinctions of human thinking, which only led to more questions.
“We also were interested in what they thought of others, and whether they could understand that others had knowledge or something to share. That seems like a human unique ability,” said Neiworth. So Neiworth studied social psychology in Tamarins.
Experiments designed by Neiworth’s Primate Lab highlighted some similarities between the cognition of humans and monkeys, such as our tendency for social comparison and communication. Neiworth’s lab team set up mirrors and observed if the Tamarins had an awareness of self. “It’s hard to ask if they have an awareness of self, but you can tell if you do a lot of behavioral coding. What do they do in front of the mirror? Do they habituate to the mirror? Do they use it in different ways?” said Neiworth.
However, it was what the primates weren’t able to do that highlighted the capabilities of humans. Neiworth emphasized humans’ uniqueness for expanding our knowledge of ourselves and the world, remarking that “we can plan things way ahead of our time, we have a sense of our own life and the end of it. That affects our work, we share knowledge,” she said. For Neiworth, this ability makes research essential for solving problems that will extend to future generations.
When asked about her reasons for retiring, Neiworth said, “I had planned to retire after the tamarins died naturally and was committed to stay until they were gone to avoid having them go to a sanctuary somewhere.” Despite her retirement, Neiworth doesn’t plan on leaving this field of research anytime soon. Neiworth has already been working with the Alveus Sanctuary to raise awareness about primates and the importance of protecting biodiversity.
“Most primates are endangered species now because their environment has been encroached upon. Sometimes it’s climate change, sometimes it’s a natural disaster, but mostly, it’s us. And so I think if people know more about animals or they’re watching them a lot and they learn more about them, they’ll appreciate them more, they’ll become more attached to them and they might try harder to protect biodiversity and protect animals,” said Neiworth.
But beyond Neiworth’s insights into human cognition, what stood out were the valuable connections she formed with members of the Carleton community, reflected by the large number of faculty and students who attended her retirement lecture. Dr. Cathy Lawrence, a Carleton alum who delivered the opening speech, highlighted this quality of Neiworth.
“Mention names of any past student who took one of Julie’s courses or worked in her labs or was advised by her and she remembers them. Whether you refer to someone from the Class of ‘89 or a most recent grad, Julie remembers you, and has followed your career.” said Lawrence.
Professor Flores-Montoya said, “she is someone who instinctively extends a hand to those in need and her compassion knows no bounds, reflected not only in her relationships with students and colleagues, but also in her profound connection with animals.”
Psychology Professor Lawerence Wichlinski said, “She’s been instrumental in helping to launch the careers of many Carleton students over the years.”
Neiworth has had a long and cherished career at Carleton. In spite of her departure, Neiworth maintains the firm belief that research is a core element of our lives. “What we should be trying to do is save the planet, and protect its biodiversity, allow the animals that are still out there to have a healthy environment,” said Neiworth. “I think of this as sort of a Jenga puzzle. So you can grab your stick and tip the whole thing over, but you have your stick. That’s the short term. That’s not the point of the game. The game is to keep the tower up. So, we need to try to keep the tower up.”
Julie’s retirement lecture, along with the opening remarks delivered by her first comps student captured her essence: she is an extraordinary teacher, scientist, and mentor. Her life’s work has been dedicated to the betterment of the lives of both human and non-human animals, as well the intellectual growth of those around her. Through her teaching she consistently challenged her students to think deeply, critically, and independently while fostering an environment in which they could thrive intellectually. Through her research, she expanded our understanding of both the differences and similarities in cognition across a wide variety of species. As a mentor, she consistently showed her unwavering support for her students and colleagues. Julie is a role model that embodies the highest values of Carleton College. Above all, she is an exceptional human being who will be deeply missed by her colleagues and students. She is someone who instinctively extends a hand to those in need and her compassion knows no bounds, reflected not only in her relationships with students and colleagues, but also in her profound connection with animals. This commitment is evident in her continued work at the Alveus Sanctuary, where she sustains her legacy through the care of primates. It has been an honor to be able to call Julie Neiworth my colleague and mentor. We carry forward the responsibility of advancing her legacy, confident that her contributions will continue to endure for generations to come.