Since 2017, the Neuroscience Program has sponsored this interdisciplinary annual lecture that is specifically designed to connect neuroscience to the humanities and humanistic social sciences disciplines at our college on topical issues that we grapple with in contemporary society. Thus far, we have brought to campus national experts that have connected neuroscience with the disciplines of Business, Politics, Theater, Education, and Psychology on topics of decision-making, race, prejudice, bias, and Montessori education.
2024-2025
Translating Neurobiological Insights Into How To Aid Children’s Executive Functions: How Montessori Had Much of This Right
Dr. Adele Diamond, Ph.D.
Canada Research Chair Tier I Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, University of British Columbia
4:15 p.m. in Tarble Room, Brown Hall
2023-2024
Looking at Climate Change from Inside the Brain: How Neuroscience Connects to our Environmental Crisis
Ann-Christine Duhaime, MD
Nicholas T. Zervas Distinguished Professor of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School
8:00 p.m., November 1, presented via Teams
Contact Professor Shubhik DebBurman for a Teamslink
2022-2023
Neurointerventions and the Ontology of Agency
Adina Roskies, PhD
The Helman Family Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Cognitive Sciences, Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth College
4:15 p.m., November 1, presented via Teams
Contact Professor Shubhik DebBurman for a Teamslink
2021-2022
Value Or Values: How University Diversity Rationales Inform Student Preferences And Outcomes
Stacey Sinclair, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, Public Affairs, and African American Studies, Princeton University
Co-sponsors: Office of Intercultural Relations, Office of Faculty Development, The Ethics Center, Department of Asian Studies; Education; Latin American and Latinx Studies; Psychology; Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Program
2020-2021
The Neuroscience of Racial Bias
Jennifer Kubota, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in the Departments of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Political Science and International Relations, University of Delaware
Co-sponsors: Departments of Education, Politics, Psychology, Modern Languages and Literatures, Latin American and Latinx Studies, African American Studies, Ethics Center, International Relations, Offices of Intercultural Relations, and Faculty Development
2019-2020
What Is Montessori Education And Why Should You Care?
Angeline S. Lillard, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, University of Virginia
Co-sponsors: Education and Psychology Departments
2018-2019
Blind Spot: Hidden Biases In Good People
Mahzarin Banaji, Ph.D.
Richard Clarke Cabot Professor of Social Ethics Department of Psychology, Harvard University
27th Annual Volwiler Distinguished Scientist Lecture
2017-2018
Brain, Race, and Theater
Lydia Diamond
Playwright and Author
Co-sponsors: Departments of English and Theater, the African American Studies Program, Office of Intercultural Relations and the Mojekwu Fund
2016-2017
Brains, Business, and the Ballot Box: Using neuroscience to predict purchases and votes
Sam Barnett
CEO & Founder, SBB Research Group , Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
Co-sponsors: Entrepreneurship Program, and the Departments of Politics and Economics, Business and Finance