Scientific Controversies: Octopus Umwelt

Dive into the wild world of octopus senses and glean insight into how these creatures really perceive their surroundings.
About this Event

What does it mean to have a mind when your arms can think for themselves, and what might an octopus dream about? Over 500 million years ago, human and octopus evolutionary paths diverged, yet in the dark depths of the ocean, nature drew from a shared genetic blueprint to construct a mind radically different from our own—one equipped with decentralized nervous systems, color-shifting skin, and complex problem-solving abilities. The octopus offers concrete proof that intelligence is not a human anomaly.

In this episode of Scientific Controversies, host and director of sciences Janna Levin brings together two leading scientists examining this uncanny awareness from opposite ends of the biological spectrum—bridging the macro world of behavior with the micro realm of genetics. Comparative psychologist and marine biologist Dr. Alex Schnell (National Geographic: Secrets of the Octopus) draws on extensive field research in cephalopod cognition, memory, and complex behavior to illuminate how an octopus perceives, navigates, and experiences its world. Dr. Caroline Albertin decodes the octopus at the molecular level—tracing the novel genes, cellular frameworks, and embryonic pathways that assemble this mind from the inside out.

Together, they will investigate what these brilliant creatures reveal about the nature of consciousness and the rules of evolution, re-examining fundamental questions about perception, the origins of the mind, and what it truly means to be intelligent.

Come early to experience Cephalopod Facility: Masters of Camouflage, a live encounter with dwarf cuttlefish from Columbia University's Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. Attendees will get an up-close look at these ocean shapeshifters and discover how their brains control instantaneous camouflage in real time.

Before and after the conversation, enjoy grooves and visuals by DJ Black Helmet and stargazing in the garden with the Amateur Astronomers Association (weather permitting). Food will be available for purchase, alongside a special-edition patch designed by artist Andrea Lauer, which will also be available for purchase.

The program is presented alongside Tuomas A. Laitinen’s exhibition —a multi-sensory installation about octopus intelligence, sleep, and consciousness in Pioneer Works’ main hall. Siphon will be open throughout the evening.

Please note that seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a free, in-person event at Pioneer Works and will also be streamed on Substack.

About the Speakers

Dr. Alex Schnell is a comparative animal psychologist, National Geographic Explorer, and marine biologist renowned for her research in animal behavior and cognition. Having held research positions at institutions including the University of Cambridge, the Marine Biological Laboratory, and Macquarie University, Dr. Schnell specializes in unraveling the mysteries of the cephalopod mind, memory, and complex behavior. She served as the lead storyteller, producer, and on-screen expert for National Geographic’s Emmy Award–winning series Secrets of the Octopus (Disney+), and frequently collaborates with the BBC and Netflix. Through her fieldwork and public storytelling, Dr. Schnell works to deepen our understanding of non-human minds and foster conservation through empathy.

Dr. Caroline Albertin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Assistant Curator of Malacology at Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology. A leading researcher in cephalopod genomics, Dr. Albertin co-led the landmark team that sequenced the very first octopus genome. At the Albertin Lab, her research program focuses on understanding cephalopod development and evolution at the molecular and cellular levels, establishing these extraordinary animals as compelling model systems for comparative evolutionary research. Formerly an Assistant Scientist and Hibbitt Early Career Fellow at the Marine Biological Laboratory, her work explores how novel genes and genomic reorganizations give rise to complex body plans and decentralized nervous systems.

Janna Levin is the Claire Tow Professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. A Guggenheim Fellow, she has contributed to our understanding of black holes, extra dimensions, and cosmology. She is the founding director of sciences at Pioneer Works and the founding editor-in-chief of the magazine . She often contributes to news, documentaries, and radio, including as the presenter of the NOVA feature Black Hole Apocalypse on PBS and as a contributor to CBS, CNN, BBC, and NBC. She has authored books on black holes and the universe—Black Hole Blues, How the Universe Got its Spots, and Black Hole Survival Guide—as well as a PEN award–winning novel, A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines. You can find her current writings in .

Pioneer Works presents Scientific Controversies: Octopus Umwelt as part of its Ocean Season, a series of programs exploring our relationship to bodies of water, supported by funding from Dalio Philanthropies. Science programming at Pioneer Works is supported by the Simons Foundation International and administered by the Simons Foundation's Science, Society & Culture division.