Alice Auersperg

{{Short description|Austrian cognitive biologist}}

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| name = Alice Auersperg

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| nationality = Austrian

| field = Cognitive biology, Ornithology, Evolutionary biology

| work_institutions = Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

| alma_mater = University of Vienna

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| known_for = Evolution of intelligence in birds, physical cognition, play behavior, problem-solving, tool-making abilities in parrots and corvids

| awards = Science Prize of the State of Lower Austria, Kardinal Innitzer Promotion Prize

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Alice Auersperg is an Austrian cognitive biologist specializing in the evolution of intelligence in birds. Her research is primarily focused on the physical cognition, play behavior, problem-solving and tool-making abilities in parrots and corvids.{{cite magazine|magazine=American Scientist|title=Even Birdbrains Learn from Experience|first=Jenny Jennings|last=Foerst|url=https://www.americanscientist.org/article/even-birdbrains-learn-from-experience|date=November–December 2013}}{{cite web|website=Ars Technica|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/02/figaro-the-cockatoo-is-back-and-combining-tools-to-golf-for-nutty-reward/|title=Watch a clever cockatoo named Figaro play "golf" for a tasty reward|first=Jennifer|last=Ouellette|author-link=Jennifer Ouellette|date=9 February 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.noen.at/st-poelten/alice-auersperg-neidlinger-wissenschaftlerin-und-clevere-voegel-neidling-alice-auersperg-print-304829293|title=Neidlinger Wissenschaftlerin und clevere Vögel|date=12 December 2021|first=Teresa|last=Lobinger|newspaper=Niederösterreichische Nachrichten}} Since 2011, she has managed the Goffin Lab of Comparative Cognition at the Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in Austria, where she has extensively studied the intelligence of the Tanimbar corella, also known as the Goffin's cockatoo.{{Cite web |title=Das Goffin Lab Goldegg (Niederösterreich)|work=Vetmeduni|publisher=Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien |url=https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/cognition/loeschen-goffin-lab/goffin-lab-goldegg |access-date=2023-02-01 }}

Auersperg graduated from the University of Vienna in 2011.{{Cite web |title=ORCID |url=https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7405-9791 |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=orcid.org}} She wrote her thesis on the spatial awareness of kea (Nestor notabilis).{{Cite journal |last1=Auersperg |first1=Alice M. I. |last2=Gajdon |first2=Gyula K. |last3=Huber |first3=Ludwig |date=2009-05-01 |title=Kea (Nestor notabilis) consider spatial relationships between objects in the support problem |journal=Biology Letters |volume=5 |issue=4 |pages=455–458 |doi=10.1098/rsbl.2009.0114 |pmc=2781911 |pmid=19411271}} She has also published research on the abilities of corvids, parrots,{{Cite journal |last1=Laumer |first1=I. B. |last2=Bugnyar |first2=T. |last3=Reber |first3=S. A. |last4=Auersperg |first4=A. M. I. |date=2017-09-06 |title=Can hook-bending be let off the hook? Bending/unbending of pliant tools by cockatoos |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=284 |issue=1862 |pages=20171026 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2017.1026 |pmc=5597828 |pmid=28878059}} and orangutans{{Cite journal |last1=Laumer |first1=I. B. |last2=Call |first2=J. |last3=Bugnyar |first3=T. |last4=Auersperg |first4=A. M. I. |date=2018-11-08 |title=Spontaneous innovation of hook-bending and unbending in orangutans (Pongo abelii) |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=16518 |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-34607-0 |pmid=30410111 |pmc=6224503 |issn=2045-2322}} to create tools in order to solve problems and complete tasks.

In 2021, she was awarded both the Science Prize of the State of Lower Austria and the Kardinal Innitzer Promotion Prize.{{cite web|url=https://science.apa.at/power-search/8388726618619402084|title=Anerkennungspreise für Alice Auersperg|date=18 November 2021|publisher=Austria Presse Agentur}}

Her first Book was published in Feb.2025: [https://www.brandstaetterverlag.com/?s=der+erfindergeist+der+tiere&id=15896 "Der Erfindergeist der Tiere"].