05/20/2026
Elephants call each other by name. They grieve. They remember. They communicate across distances in frequencies we are only beginning to hear. What does it mean to truly listen to another species — one with memory, language, and a social world as intricate as our own?
In this Listening Field conversation, we enter the world of elephant communication with two of its most devoted witnesses. Dr. Joyce Poole has studied African elephants since 1975, building a lifetime of knowledge about their behavior, language, and inner lives. Dr. Mickey Pardo led the landmark discovery that elephants address one another with name-like calls — a finding that traveled around the world and cracked open new questions about animal cognition and communication.
Moderated by Katie Surma of Inside Climate News, whose reporting sits at the intersection of science, rights of Nature, and environmental justice, this conversation asks not only what elephants are saying, but what it means for us to finally listen.
This event is free and open to all. Registration is required, and a link to the recording will be emailed.
Called By Name: Listening Into the World of Elephants Elephants call each other by name. They grieve. They remember. They communicate across distances in frequencies we are only beginning to hear. What does it mean to truly listen to another species — one with memory, language, and a social world
