Roger Fouts

Fouts had intended on a career working with nonverbal children and needed this job—teaching sign language to a chimp—to pay for graduate school.

[4]: 12  The plan was almost derailed by a disastrous job interview with Dr. Allen Gardner, who felt Fouts' career goals were not aligned with the project's scientific bent.

When introducing a new sign, he would gently guide the chimp toward making the proper gesture (manipulating her hands into the required shapes) while emphasizing social connection over "training.

"[8] Fouts' method proved to be more effective in Washoe's acquisition of new signs, and the Gardners adopted it in future chimp studies.

[11][4]: 188–189 An animal lover since childhood, Fouts struggled with his conflicting responsibilities as a research scientist and chimpanzee guardian.

In 1986, an animal rights group called True Friends broke into a National Institute of Health (NIH) lab in Rockville, Maryland.

The group videotaped AIDS-infected primates held in unfavorable conditions and mailed tapes to Jane Goodall, Roger Fouts and major media outlets.

[13]: 23  In response to the negative press, Congress organized a panel of experts, including Roger Fouts, to address USDA standards for NIH-funded labs.

Fouts urged to panel to require larger cages for chimpanzees (currently held 5' x 5' isolation cubes); he was opposed by every other participant, including primatologist Frans de Waal.