ABSTRACT

Anyone who has ever loved a dog knows that they make our lives better in countless ways. Our physical, mental, emotional, and social health all benefit from our bond with dogs. This is not just a trick of our anthropomorphizing imaginations - down to the structure of our brains and the release of hormones, scientists are able to measure the positive impact dogs have on us and the love we have for one another. This talk will explore the fascinating science behind the myriad ways that dogs make us happier, healthier, and better connected.

About the Speaker:

Jen Golbeck is a computer scientist and a Professor in the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her research addresses artificial intelligence, social media, and malicious online behavior. Her five golden retrievers have a million social media followers across their online empire, and inspired her to combine her love of dogs, psychology, and science communication to write The Purest Bond. Golbeck has degrees in economics and computer science from the University of Chicago, psychology from Harvard, and a PhD in Computer Science from UMD.