Careers in Science & MedicineAbout the Foutses
Dr. Roger and Deborah Fouts are world-famous for their studies in the realm of chimpanzee and human communication. They are deeply respected for their efforts to have chimpanzees in Africa officially recognized as an endangered species rather than as a threatened one, for their work to provide sanctuaries for chimpanzees used by the U.S. military and in biomedical research, and for promoting legal rights for nonhuman great apes. They created a state-of-the-art chimpanzee facility in 1993, and they co-direct Project Washoe, the first and longest running project focusing on chimpanzee and human communication. Project Washoe’s four signing chimpanzees – Washoe, Loulis, Dar and Tatu – have acquired American Sign Language (ASL) vocabularies and often communicate with each other and with volunteers using ASL. Sadly, Moja the fifth member of this chimpanzee family died on June 6, 2002. Much of the Foutses’ work focuses on protecting chimpanzees in their natural habitat and improving the lives of chimpanzees who are held in captivity. The Foutses have published more than 75 articles in scientific journals and books. In his book 'Next of Kin: What Chimpanzees Have Taught Me about Who We Are', Dr. Roger Fouts, with Stephen Tukel, tells the dramatic story of his personal and professional odyssey from novice researcher to celebrity scientist to impassioned crusader for the rights of animals. Dr. Roger and Deborah Fouts are members of the NEAVS Advisory Board. (Read more about Next of Kin | Purchase Next of Kin from NEAVS |
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