Ep75 In memory of Dr Hal Markowitz. Autumn Sorrells on behavioural enrichment, connections, and making a difference for animals

This podcast is dedicated to Dr Hal Markowitz (1934-2013)

"Hal argued that an unnatural stimulus is better than a natural environment with no stimulation." 

- Autumn Sorrells

Let’s welcome Autumn Sorrell, the Animal Care Director at Elon Musk’s neuro-tech company, Neuralink. She attributes her career to being heavily influenced by the Father of Environmental Enrichment, Dr Hal Markowitz, with whom Autumn worked for the last 10 years of his life. As such, this podcast is the celebration of his life.

Autumn undertook an undergraduate agricultural animal science programme at the University of Missouri, Columbia and graduate work at Purdue University. She was granted a scholarship from the USDA to study livestock behaviour and learned to ask animals questions about their environment and preferences. During her undergrad, Autumn pursued various internships in different zoos, reading journals trying to learn more about the behavioural design of enclosures, including one by Hal. This paper inspired her to contact Hal to complete a PhD under his wing.

Following communications, Autumn discovered Hal was no longer taking students due to an upcoming surgery removing his throat and tongue. Despite this, she still went to his university where she learnt about lab animal husbandry, becoming the husbandry, behaviour and enrichment manager.

Autumn then retells Hal's story, starting with no parental guidance by 14 years of age. He got into an engineering college in Pennsylvania, becoming a full-time engineer in Dougal aircraft company. He noted one part was broken but was dismissed. Following the planes launch, people died, leaving Hal traumatised causing him to leave. He then pursued a PhD in psychology.

Hal then became a student-teacher of experimental psychology at Oregon State, where he met his future Krista. Another student asked Hal to study seals at Washington Park Zoo. Whilst there, Hal recommended himself to be the Director of Education and Research. Eventually, Hal was fired due to his behavioural engineering being unnatural, so was pulled despite their popularity with the public. He argued that an unnatural stimulus is better than a natural environment with no stimulation.

Autumn explained behavioural engineering which aims to return power to the animal by making its environment responsive. Although the term is influential, progress is slow. She referenced its initial popularity with Peter Singer’s book ‘Animal Liberation’ (1975). However, Hal believed little steps are good progress, just keep focusing on what you can do. Additionally, Hal encouraged making connections, as they are critical to the improvement of animal husbandry, making positive progress. Autumn then discusses Hal's latest book; Enriching Animal Lives, which explains how anyone in any animal sector can improve lives.

Autumn then concludes by reminiscing about Hal’s love for opera and symphony, and his love of word games such as scrabble. She also remembered his love of puns and his playful manners.

Listen on your favourite player or directly HERE

Listen to Ep69 with Jill Mellen HERE

Remembering Hal Markowitz HERE

List of Hal Markowitz’s books HERE

Become a member of PAWS HERE