Carl Safina, a noted ecologist and Endowed Research Chair for Nature and Humanity at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, appeared as a guest on The Oprah Podcast to discuss the question: Do dogs really love us? The conversation with Oprah Winfrey focused on the connection between humans and animals, especially the bonds people form with their dogs.
Safina was joined by Gregory Berns, an author and neuroscientist known for his MRI research that provides scientific evidence suggesting that dogs do feel love toward humans. The podcast episode also highlighted real-life accounts of dogs saving their owners’ lives.
Safina is recognized for his books Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel and Alfie and Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe. He has written other works such as Song for the Blue Ocean, The View From Lazy Point: A Natural Year in an Unnatural World, A Sea in Flames; and The Deepwater Horizon Oil Blowout. Safina also hosted a PBS series titled Saving the Ocean and contributes to media outlets including CNN.com, National Geographic, The New York Times, Audubon, and The Huffington Post.
He has received several honors throughout his career. Audubon magazine listed him among its “100 Notable Conservationists of the 20th Century.” His awards include the Lannan Literary Award, Orion Book Award, National Academies’ Science Communication Award; John Burroughs Medal, James Beard Medal, George Rabb Medal; Pew and Guggenheim fellowships; as well as a MacArthur fellowship.
“I think it’s really important to understand that when we look into our dog’s eyes or spend time with them,” said Safina during the discussion. “There’s something very real happening there.”
