Federico Rossano
@federicorossano.bsky.social
Cognitive scientist and conversation analyst. Associate Professor at UC San Diego. Director of Comparative Cognition Lab at UCSD. Proud father of two.
We live with dogs, talk to them constantly, and still know surprisingly little about how they experience the world.
I spoke with @sciam.bsky.social about what dog-cognition research is revealing.
What does your dog really understand about you?
www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
I spoke with @sciam.bsky.social about what dog-cognition research is revealing.
What does your dog really understand about you?
www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
What your dog really thinks about you
Science is helping to peel back the layers of how dogs process the world around them
www.scientificamerican.com
September 18, 2026 at 4:29 PM
We live with dogs, talk to them constantly, and still know surprisingly little about how they experience the world.
I spoke with @sciam.bsky.social about what dog-cognition research is revealing.
What does your dog really understand about you?
www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
I spoke with @sciam.bsky.social about what dog-cognition research is revealing.
What does your dog really understand about you?
www.scientificamerican.com/article/what...
I started out very skeptical of dogs “talking” with buttons. So we decided to test the claims.
In this first part of my conversation with NOVA’s Particles of Thought: how do you turn an internet phenomenon into science? And why bother?
🎧 How Dogs Talk
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
In this first part of my conversation with NOVA’s Particles of Thought: how do you turn an internet phenomenon into science? And why bother?
🎧 How Dogs Talk
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
How Dogs Talk
Podcast Episode · Particles of Thought · September 15 · 33m
podcasts.apple.com
September 16, 2026 at 6:08 PM
I started out very skeptical of dogs “talking” with buttons. So we decided to test the claims.
In this first part of my conversation with NOVA’s Particles of Thought: how do you turn an internet phenomenon into science? And why bother?
🎧 How Dogs Talk
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
In this first part of my conversation with NOVA’s Particles of Thought: how do you turn an internet phenomenon into science? And why bother?
🎧 How Dogs Talk
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
UCSD Cognitive Science Department is hiring an Assistant Professor incorporating novel computational approaches in the study of biological and/or artificial intelligence.
I have had the privilege of working in this department for 10 years and the intellectual environment really is unique. 1/3
I have had the privilege of working in this department for 10 years and the intellectual environment really is unique. 1/3
September 15, 2026 at 1:30 AM
UCSD Cognitive Science Department is hiring an Assistant Professor incorporating novel computational approaches in the study of biological and/or artificial intelligence.
I have had the privilege of working in this department for 10 years and the intellectual environment really is unique. 1/3
I have had the privilege of working in this department for 10 years and the intellectual environment really is unique. 1/3
Reposted by Federico Rossano
UC Irvine Cognitive Sciences is hiring! Focus on social cognition, broadly construed. Come be my colleague :)
I am not on the search committee but happy to talk about the campus, environment, careers, etc any time.
recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF10411
I am not on the search committee but happy to talk about the campus, environment, careers, etc any time.
recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF10411
Assistant Professor - Cognitive Sciences
University of California, Irvine is hiring. Apply now!
recruit.ap.uci.edu
September 3, 2026 at 12:23 AM
UC Irvine Cognitive Sciences is hiring! Focus on social cognition, broadly construed. Come be my colleague :)
I am not on the search committee but happy to talk about the campus, environment, careers, etc any time.
recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF10411
I am not on the search committee but happy to talk about the campus, environment, careers, etc any time.
recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF10411
Happy International Dog Day! 🐶
A great day to celebrate dogs and learn more about how they think, learn, and communicate.
At @cclabucsd.bsky.social , we study dogs of all kinds, from puppies and working dogs to the dogs who share our homes.
Want your dog to take part in science?
cclab.ucsd.edu
A great day to celebrate dogs and learn more about how they think, learn, and communicate.
At @cclabucsd.bsky.social , we study dogs of all kinds, from puppies and working dogs to the dogs who share our homes.
Want your dog to take part in science?
cclab.ucsd.edu
August 26, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Happy International Dog Day! 🐶
A great day to celebrate dogs and learn more about how they think, learn, and communicate.
At @cclabucsd.bsky.social , we study dogs of all kinds, from puppies and working dogs to the dogs who share our homes.
Want your dog to take part in science?
cclab.ucsd.edu
A great day to celebrate dogs and learn more about how they think, learn, and communicate.
At @cclabucsd.bsky.social , we study dogs of all kinds, from puppies and working dogs to the dogs who share our homes.
Want your dog to take part in science?
cclab.ucsd.edu
Chimpanzees usually fail a simple pointing task that human infants and dogs pass.
In our new iScience paper, we provide a possible explanation: once their attention is engaged, chimpanzees use human pointing to find hidden food 73% of the time.
Attention may be the missing piece.
In our new iScience paper, we provide a possible explanation: once their attention is engaged, chimpanzees use human pointing to find hidden food 73% of the time.
Attention may be the missing piece.
August 20, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Chimpanzees usually fail a simple pointing task that human infants and dogs pass.
In our new iScience paper, we provide a possible explanation: once their attention is engaged, chimpanzees use human pointing to find hidden food 73% of the time.
Attention may be the missing piece.
In our new iScience paper, we provide a possible explanation: once their attention is engaged, chimpanzees use human pointing to find hidden food 73% of the time.
Attention may be the missing piece.
You might have heard about our citizen science study on dogs and cats using buttons and soundboards to communicate with humans. Today, on #TritonGivingDay we are reaching out to ask you to donate to support all research efforts @cclabucsd.bsky.social is engaged in. We REALLY need your help!
April 29, 2026 at 2:44 PM
You might have heard about our citizen science study on dogs and cats using buttons and soundboards to communicate with humans. Today, on #TritonGivingDay we are reaching out to ask you to donate to support all research efforts @cclabucsd.bsky.social is engaged in. We REALLY need your help!
Reposted by Federico Rossano
Do you research social interactions and collective behavior?
IIMAS-UNAM is hiring an Associate Researcher "C". PhD in psychology, anthropology or sociology + publications required. Women encouraged to apply. Maximum age 39 (♀️) and 37 (♂️).
📅 Deadline: June 1, 2026
📄 tinyurl.com/3dzc5nz4
IIMAS-UNAM is hiring an Associate Researcher "C". PhD in psychology, anthropology or sociology + publications required. Women encouraged to apply. Maximum age 39 (♀️) and 37 (♂️).
📅 Deadline: June 1, 2026
📄 tinyurl.com/3dzc5nz4
tinyurl.com
April 15, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Do you research social interactions and collective behavior?
IIMAS-UNAM is hiring an Associate Researcher "C". PhD in psychology, anthropology or sociology + publications required. Women encouraged to apply. Maximum age 39 (♀️) and 37 (♂️).
📅 Deadline: June 1, 2026
📄 tinyurl.com/3dzc5nz4
IIMAS-UNAM is hiring an Associate Researcher "C". PhD in psychology, anthropology or sociology + publications required. Women encouraged to apply. Maximum age 39 (♀️) and 37 (♂️).
📅 Deadline: June 1, 2026
📄 tinyurl.com/3dzc5nz4
New paper alert with Stephan Kaufhold, Mia Borzello and David Kirsh!
How well does cognition studied in the lab reflect cognition in the real world?
Much of what we think we know about cognition rests on methodological assumptions that have become so established that they often go unexamined.
How well does cognition studied in the lab reflect cognition in the real world?
Much of what we think we know about cognition rests on methodological assumptions that have become so established that they often go unexamined.
March 16, 2026 at 4:01 PM
New paper alert with Stephan Kaufhold, Mia Borzello and David Kirsh!
How well does cognition studied in the lab reflect cognition in the real world?
Much of what we think we know about cognition rests on methodological assumptions that have become so established that they often go unexamined.
How well does cognition studied in the lab reflect cognition in the real world?
Much of what we think we know about cognition rests on methodological assumptions that have become so established that they often go unexamined.
Thrilled to announce our new paper with @elisafelsche.bsky.social , @christophvoelter.bsky.social and Josep Call on how orang-utans and chimpanzees cooperate strategically based on the partner's incentives. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Orang-utans and chimpanzees cooperate strategically based on the partner’s incentives
Chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes, are often regarded as a model species for the evolution of human cooperation. However, whether chimpanzees' decision-mak…
www.sciencedirect.com
March 7, 2026 at 4:17 AM
Thrilled to announce our new paper with @elisafelsche.bsky.social , @christophvoelter.bsky.social and Josep Call on how orang-utans and chimpanzees cooperate strategically based on the partner's incentives. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Only 12 years from the day we collected the first data point for this fun project… all my fault! Sorry! Very proud of the spaghetti tube apparatus. As an Italian, walking into the zoo with a pack of spaghetti every testing day made for some fun interactions. Thank you Christoph, Elisa and Josep!
Far too long in the making.. but finally out in #AnimalBehaviour @asab.org:
Orang-utans and chimpanzees #cooperate strategically based on the partner’s incentives.
doi.org/10.1016/j.an...
w/ @elisafelsche.bsky.social , Josep Call & @federicorossano.bsky.social
Orang-utans and chimpanzees #cooperate strategically based on the partner’s incentives.
doi.org/10.1016/j.an...
w/ @elisafelsche.bsky.social , Josep Call & @federicorossano.bsky.social
March 6, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Only 12 years from the day we collected the first data point for this fun project… all my fault! Sorry! Very proud of the spaghetti tube apparatus. As an Italian, walking into the zoo with a pack of spaghetti every testing day made for some fun interactions. Thank you Christoph, Elisa and Josep!
I had a blast participating in a @novapbs.bsky.social
deep dive with Christina Hunger, hosted by Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt.
If you are interested or skeptical about dogs trained with soundboards to communicate with humans, I hope you will check it out. And check out the NOVA documentary as well
deep dive with Christina Hunger, hosted by Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt.
If you are interested or skeptical about dogs trained with soundboards to communicate with humans, I hope you will check it out. And check out the NOVA documentary as well
March 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM
I had a blast participating in a @novapbs.bsky.social
deep dive with Christina Hunger, hosted by Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt.
If you are interested or skeptical about dogs trained with soundboards to communicate with humans, I hope you will check it out. And check out the NOVA documentary as well
deep dive with Christina Hunger, hosted by Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt.
If you are interested or skeptical about dogs trained with soundboards to communicate with humans, I hope you will check it out. And check out the NOVA documentary as well
Today at 9pm ET/PT is the US premiere of the @pbs.org NOVA documentary "Can Dogs Talk?". It covers the project @cclabucsd.bsky.social has been running with thousands of button trained dogs. It is a true honor to be on NOVA and we hope you will find it engaging: www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vi...
Can Dogs Talk?
Do speech buttons really allow dogs to talk to us? Scientists investigate.
www.pbs.org
February 4, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Today at 9pm ET/PT is the US premiere of the @pbs.org NOVA documentary "Can Dogs Talk?". It covers the project @cclabucsd.bsky.social has been running with thousands of button trained dogs. It is a true honor to be on NOVA and we hope you will find it engaging: www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vi...
A brief extract from a fun livestream with awesome colleagues hosted by Dr. Anne Valuska, organized by
@templetonworld.bsky.social and Purina.
Let's give non-human animals a real chance to show us how intelligent and capable they are. We can only benefit from engaging with nature with an open mind
@templetonworld.bsky.social and Purina.
Let's give non-human animals a real chance to show us how intelligent and capable they are. We can only benefit from engaging with nature with an open mind
October 21, 2025 at 7:28 AM
A brief extract from a fun livestream with awesome colleagues hosted by Dr. Anne Valuska, organized by
@templetonworld.bsky.social and Purina.
Let's give non-human animals a real chance to show us how intelligent and capable they are. We can only benefit from engaging with nature with an open mind
@templetonworld.bsky.social and Purina.
Let's give non-human animals a real chance to show us how intelligent and capable they are. We can only benefit from engaging with nature with an open mind
On September 28th at 18:30 the French language premiere of the documentary "Can dogs talk?" will air on @iciradiocanada.bsky.social Découverte series
@cclabucsd.bsky.social work on soundboard trained dogs is a central piece of this documentary. English versions will air on NOVA and CBC in early 2026
@cclabucsd.bsky.social work on soundboard trained dogs is a central piece of this documentary. English versions will air on NOVA and CBC in early 2026
September 27, 2025 at 3:36 PM
On September 28th at 18:30 the French language premiere of the documentary "Can dogs talk?" will air on @iciradiocanada.bsky.social Découverte series
@cclabucsd.bsky.social work on soundboard trained dogs is a central piece of this documentary. English versions will air on NOVA and CBC in early 2026
@cclabucsd.bsky.social work on soundboard trained dogs is a central piece of this documentary. English versions will air on NOVA and CBC in early 2026
I had the most wonderful time presenting our current progress on this project to the amazing @interspecies-io.bsky.social community! If you could not attend but are interested in finding out more about our work, check out the lecture here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpjF...
May 20, 2025 at 11:52 PM
I had the most wonderful time presenting our current progress on this project to the amazing @interspecies-io.bsky.social community! If you could not attend but are interested in finding out more about our work, check out the lecture here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpjF...
Thank you so much for the invitation! Very much looking forward to giving this talk and connecting with your community!
🚀 New talk: Can Our Pets Tell Us What They’re Thinking? with @federicorossano.bsky.social
Join this lecture and explore the potential and limitations of button-based devices for interspecies communication! 🐶💭
📆Saturday, May 17 ⏰4 pm GMT |12 pm EST |9 am PST 🔗Register here: https://rb.gy/w8ikcn
Join this lecture and explore the potential and limitations of button-based devices for interspecies communication! 🐶💭
📆Saturday, May 17 ⏰4 pm GMT |12 pm EST |9 am PST 🔗Register here: https://rb.gy/w8ikcn
May 6, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Thank you so much for the invitation! Very much looking forward to giving this talk and connecting with your community!
Reposted by Federico Rossano
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, owners have been training their dogs to “tell” them what they want by mashing buttons with their paws to express words in various human languages. A UCSD study began to explore the practice further and now includes participants in dozens of countries worldwide.
A new global study allows dogs to ‘talk’ to their owners by pressing buttons that say human words - The World from PRX
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, owners have been training their dogs to “tell” them what they want by mashing buttons with their paws to express words in various human languages. A UCSD study began...
theworld.org
April 25, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, owners have been training their dogs to “tell” them what they want by mashing buttons with their paws to express words in various human languages. A UCSD study began to explore the practice further and now includes participants in dozens of countries worldwide.
Today (April 30th) is 🔱 #TritonGivingDay Please donate to support the students in @cclabucsd.bsky.social studying 10,000 pets from 47 countries in the largest Animal Communication study ever attempted! We need your help tinyurl.com/2s3ksem2 ! This beauty is Parker! @ucsandiego.bsky.social
April 30, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Today (April 30th) is 🔱 #TritonGivingDay Please donate to support the students in @cclabucsd.bsky.social studying 10,000 pets from 47 countries in the largest Animal Communication study ever attempted! We need your help tinyurl.com/2s3ksem2 ! This beauty is Parker! @ucsandiego.bsky.social
Thank you to @npr.org , @kpbssandiego.bsky.social @theworld.org and @MarcoWerman for covering our study on pets communication: theworld.org/segments/202...
If you are interested in participating in the study check out: cclab.ucsd.edu
If you are interested in participating in the study check out: cclab.ucsd.edu
theworld.org
April 22, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Thank you to @npr.org , @kpbssandiego.bsky.social @theworld.org and @MarcoWerman for covering our study on pets communication: theworld.org/segments/202...
If you are interested in participating in the study check out: cclab.ucsd.edu
If you are interested in participating in the study check out: cclab.ucsd.edu
Reposted by Federico Rossano
Charles Southwick Conservation Education Award nominations! Deadline May 21st!
Know someone living in a primate habitat country that has made a significant contribution to formal & informal conservation education in their country? Please nominate them 1/2
Know someone living in a primate habitat country that has made a significant contribution to formal & informal conservation education in their country? Please nominate them 1/2
April 20, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Thank you
@ucnewsroom.bsky.social for creating this informative and even handed representation of the challenges and opinions around pets pushing buttons to communicate with humans. See below a few papers we published on it. We have 3 more on the way (one about cats)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTnV...
@ucnewsroom.bsky.social for creating this informative and even handed representation of the challenges and opinions around pets pushing buttons to communicate with humans. See below a few papers we published on it. We have 3 more on the way (one about cats)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTnV...
Are TikTok’s “talking" dogs legit — or just a clever trick? Science explains
YouTube video by Fig. 1 by University of California
www.youtube.com
April 17, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Thank you
@ucnewsroom.bsky.social for creating this informative and even handed representation of the challenges and opinions around pets pushing buttons to communicate with humans. See below a few papers we published on it. We have 3 more on the way (one about cats)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTnV...
@ucnewsroom.bsky.social for creating this informative and even handed representation of the challenges and opinions around pets pushing buttons to communicate with humans. See below a few papers we published on it. We have 3 more on the way (one about cats)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTnV...
A poem for these highly unpredictable times:
Si sta come
D’autunno
Sugli alberi
Le foglie
We feel like
In Autumn
On trees
The leaves
By Giuseppe Ungaretti
Si sta come
D’autunno
Sugli alberi
Le foglie
We feel like
In Autumn
On trees
The leaves
By Giuseppe Ungaretti
April 7, 2025 at 12:47 AM
A poem for these highly unpredictable times:
Si sta come
D’autunno
Sugli alberi
Le foglie
We feel like
In Autumn
On trees
The leaves
By Giuseppe Ungaretti
Si sta come
D’autunno
Sugli alberi
Le foglie
We feel like
In Autumn
On trees
The leaves
By Giuseppe Ungaretti
Reposted by Federico Rossano
We are less than a week away from our first ever Detection Dog Trials event with MAN-K9 at UCSD! We hope to see you there, this Saturday & Sunday March 8th & 9th! 🐕🐾
The scent detection dog trials will take place on March 8th-9th in La Jolla (CA) at UC San Diego. Professionals and civilians will be competing on different days, judged by professional judges and receiving prizes. This is going to be a one of a kind event and hopefully the first of many.
March 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
We are less than a week away from our first ever Detection Dog Trials event with MAN-K9 at UCSD! We hope to see you there, this Saturday & Sunday March 8th & 9th! 🐕🐾
The scent detection dog trials will take place on March 8th-9th in La Jolla (CA) at UC San Diego. Professionals and civilians will be competing on different days, judged by professional judges and receiving prizes. This is going to be a one of a kind event and hopefully the first of many.
February 23, 2025 at 7:40 PM
The scent detection dog trials will take place on March 8th-9th in La Jolla (CA) at UC San Diego. Professionals and civilians will be competing on different days, judged by professional judges and receiving prizes. This is going to be a one of a kind event and hopefully the first of many.