Important trends over the past 20 years of neuroscience
What trends would you point to? The editor of Nature Reviews Neuroscience asked a bunch of neuroscientists, including two from Penn; here’s what they said.
What trends would you point to? The editor of Nature Reviews Neuroscience asked a bunch of neuroscientists, including two from Penn; here’s what they said.
Next semester's Book Club choices are... Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst, by Robert M. Sapolsky (author appearance Feb 25, 2021) The Problem of Alzheimer's: How Science, Culture, and Politics Turned a Rare Disease into a Crisis and What We Can Do About It, by Jason [...]
Take one fascinating contemporary book on neuroscience and society Add a half dozen expert faculty leading discussions on particular parts of the book Mix well with a diverse group of students and faculty for a stimulating and informative hourlong discussion! Click here to see the upcoming discussions, and don’t forget [...]
The INS will hold its annual meeting virtually this year, with an awesome program you can find here: https://www.neuroethicssociety.org/2020-annual-meeting-program See also: https://vimeo.com/465933684
The Undergraduate Fellows Program at the Center for Neuroscience & Society at the University of Pennsylvania is made up of juniors and seniors from any school or department who have identified an interest in exploring the intersection of neuroscience and society. Fellows receive access to faculty, distinguished visitors, and special [...]
For those of you home schooling high schoolers or advanced middle schoolers, the CNS developed a high school curriculum on neuroscience with our friends at the Franklin Institute, which has been taught for several years now in Philly public schools. Some of the activities need a classroom, but many do [...]
The School of Engineering & Applied Science is piloting an Engineering Ethics educational program, they need grad students and postdocs with background in bioengineering and/or technology ethics to help develop curriculum materials. For more information or to apply, contact Brit Shields, Ph.D. at bshields@seas.upenn.edu. Applications should include a CV and a [...]
The International Neuroethics Society (INS) and the International Youth Neuroscience Association (IYNA) are pleased to announce a call for submissions for the Neuroethics Essay Contest in 2020. Now in its seventh year, the contest aims to promote interest in neuroethics among students and trainees around the world. Participating authors can [...]
CNS is following the Penn Provost’s recommendation to cancel gatherings through April 17 due to COVID-19 risk. This includes the April 2 Public Talk by Anna Wexler and the April 8th Lunchtime Conversation with Zab Johnson. Stay tuned for announcements regarding events after the 17th. Stay safe and healthy, everyone!
The new PBS NOVA episode entitled "The Violence Paradox" looks at the history and current state of violence in our society. CNS faculty member, Adrian Raine and SCAN alumnus, Asminet Ling are featured in the video for their research using brain scans of murderers and tDCS brain stimulation technology. Check [...]
The CNS's first public talk of the academic year (2019-20) by professor Emily Falk was featured in the Daily Pennsylvanian. Dr. Falk discussed her research on how ideas and behaviors spread, particularly in regards to public health advertising. You can read the full article here: https://www.thedp.com/article/2019/10/center-for-neuroscience-society-public-health-penn
CNS faculty member Allyson Mackey was interviewed on WHYY’s Radio Times and explained the impact of child and family detention on children’s emotional and brain development. You can listen to the show here: https://whyy.org/episodes/the-consequences-of-us-immigration-policies-on-children/
The CNS turns 10 this year and we invited alumni from Neuroscience Boot Camp, Neuroethics Teaching Fellowships, SCAN Graduate Certificate, and Visiting Scholars to celebrate and to discuss what progress we have made in understanding the relation of neuroscience to law, business, the arts, the humanities, and other fields. We [...]
This coming Wed and Thur we will celebrate the official opening of our National Historic Landmark facility dedicated to brain research. As you’ll see from the schedule below, this will be a lively two days of talks and activities, so please swing by for some or all of the program [...]
The BRAIN Initiative Neuroethics Working Group at NIH has drafted a document to “characterize the neuroethical implications that may arise as BRAIN Initiative investments produce new tool/neurotechnologies, and/or those tools/neurotechnologies are applied to advancing the goals of the NIH BRAIN Initiative.” They have posted it here and are requesting public feedback [...]
The CNS and the department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy will host Dr. Peter Reiner of the University of British Columbia, speaking on his current research project: “The mind in your pocket: On the neuroethical implications of smartphones as extensions of our minds." Tuesday, May 7, noon at the [...]
Deadline has been extended to May 3rd! BECOME A NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIETY UNDERGRAD FELLOW FOR 2019-2020! The Center for Neuroscience & Society at the University of Pennsylvania is seeking applications from rising Penn juniors and seniors for its new group of CNS Undergraduate Fellows for 2019-20. This program is intended [...]
CNS faculty Roy Hamilton and Adrian Raine filmed a segment of Nova yesterday, featuring their research using non-invasive brain stimulation to shift people toward more ethical behavior. Here they are with producer and cameraman over at Goddard!
This is the title of a WHYY report this week, featuring Penn scientists Chuck O’Brien and Daniel Langleben. https://whyy.org/segments/what-makes-addiction-a-disease/ For more on this timely topic, be sure to attend the CNS Public Talk next month by Alan Leshner, former director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, who coined the phrase [...]
Poets and Quants, a business school news site, named our own Diana Robertson among the 50 top business professors nationwide! A specialist in business ethics, who incorporates neuroimaging into her research, she has also won numerous teaching awards within Penn. Read about her here: https://poetsandquantsforundergrads.com/2018/11/13/2018-top-50-undergraduate-professors-diana-robertson-university-of-pennsylvania-wharton/
One of the fathers of cognitive neuroscience will be here on Tues, October 23rd, delivering the annual Philomathean Oration at 7:30 (free but tickets required) and joining us for lunch and conversation at the CNS at noon that day.
This year’s talk series focuses on drug policy as it has been informed (or not informed, as the case may be!) by neuroscience. Is the “brain to blame” for addicts’ behavior? Is vaping a kinder, gentler substitute for smoking, or a new scourge? Should we take a fresh look at [...]
Martha Farah will be offering her preceptorial, "Brave Neuro World," once again during New Student Orientation (NSO). Preceptorials are non-credit seminars led by faculty and the goal of Preceptorials is learning for learning's sake. Brave Neuro World: How Will Neuroscience Change Life in the 21st Century? Description: New developments in [...]
Adrian Raine and Roy Hamilton, along with grad student Olivia Choy, have just published a study in Journal of Neuroscience entitled "Stimulation of the Prefrontal Cortex Reduces Intentions to Commit Aggression: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Stratified, Parallel-Group Trial.” You can read veteran science writer Sharon Begley’s report here: https://www.statnews.com/2018/07/02/brain-electric-stimulation-violence/ and read the [...]
Julia Pan, one of the outstanding Penn undergrads who participated in our Undergraduate Fellows program last year, has been actively applying her education in neuroscience and cognitive science to real world problems, including in the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office. Read about her exciting work here. To read more about the CNS [...]
The Center for Neuroscience & Society has established an Undergraduate Fellows Program, in which a small group of highly motivated juniors and seniors explore the interface of neuroscience and society through reading, discussing, attending talks and writing. This year the program was launched with Hilary Gerstein as its Director. (For [...]
Each year, the CNS hosts a half-day retreat for all current and past students in the SCAN program. The 4th Annual SCAN Retreat took place earlier this February. Students and alumni came together for lunch, followed by a series of student presentations in which a few students gave brief overviews of the [...]
Join us on April 17 when Eric Kandel speaks about his life, from his Jewish roots in Vienna to his Nobel Prize winning neuroscience research in the US, with reflections on the relation between science and the arts. Hosted by the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic studies with co-sponsorship from [...]
Watch for an announcement of a rescheduled visit in the fall!
Reminding you about the exciting talk line-up, and announcing the talk locations! Come hear the best-selling author of NeuroTribes, along with scientists speaking on genetic and environmental effects on brain development and controversies on autism. Click here for more information!