Secret Science Club & the Dana Foundation present the Dana Foundation Brain Lecture with Neuroscientist Nim Tottenham, TUESDAY, November 12, 8PM @ the Bell House, FREE!

When we are born, our brains don’t have much hard-wiring. But newborn neurons are exquisitely primed to make brain circuits as a baby learns new things. Compared to the minds of other species, young human brains are remarkably plastic and adaptable: Over the course of our prolonged childhoods, over 1 million new neural connections form every second, as we acquire language, play, and interact with parents and caregivers.

At the next Secret Science Club, neuroscientist Nim Tottenham explores human brain development and its relationship to emotional behavior, stress, and well-being. She asks:

--How are early-life experiences linked to emotional functioning in adulthood? Why do some early experiences matter so much?

--How is brain development affected by relationships with parents and primary caregivers.

--Can childhood stress rewire our brains?

--How does brain plasticity in childhood relate to psychological resilience and vulnerability?

Nim Tottenham is a neuroscientist, professor of psychology, and director of the Developmental Affective Neuroscience Lab at Columbia University. Her research examines brain development underlying emotional behavior in humans. She uses brain imaging, behavioral, and physiological methods to examine the development of brain circuitry in children, teens, and their parents, and she is the author of more than 80 scientific papers. A recipient of the National Institute of Mental Health Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (BRAINS) award and the American Psychological Association’s Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology, Dr. Tottenham has been a featured scientist on CNN and NBC news and in the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.

BEFORE & AFTER
--Sample our cocktail of the night, the Smartini
--Shimmy to mind-blowing grooves
--Stick around for the scintillating Q&A

This edition of Secret Science Club—the Dana Foundation Brain Lecture featuring Nim Tottenham, is sponsored by the Dana Foundation. The Dana Foundation is dedicated to advancing understanding about the brain in health and disease through research grants and public outreach.

This Secret Science Club meets Tuesday, November 12, 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Subway: F or G to 4th Ave, R to 9th St.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. Please bring ID: 21+. No cover. Just bring your smart self.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Secret Science Club presents Atmospheric Scientist Sonali McDermid, SUNDAY, October 20, 8PM @ the Bell House, FREE!

Something in the Air! Secret Science Club presents Climate Scientist Sonali McDermid, SUNDAY, October 20, 8PM @ the Bell House, FREE!

When Sonali McDermid first began studying the atmosphere, she was drawn in by the sheer power and dynamism of Earth’s oceans of air. Compared to our planet’s massive size, our atmosphere is thin and insubstantial. Yet, the amount of energy being transported through the system and the resulting storms, wind currents, temperature shifts, and climate zones are phenomenal and fascinating. Changes in the atmosphere can make or break us. 

At the next Secret Science Club, Dr. McDermid explores Earth's phenomenal atmosphere, its relationship to Earth's ecosystems and agriculture systems, and the perils of climate change. She asks:

--Does the way we grow food impact local and global climate? How?

--How do wild ecosystems influence weather and climate—and vice versa?

--What impact will climate change have on the world’s ability to feed itself?

--Can soil help solve the climate crisis?

Sonali McDermid is an atmospheric scientist, climatologist, and professor of environmental studies at NYU. Her research focuses on understanding interactions between climate change and variability, land-use, and agriculture, with an eye towards identifying and quantifying important feedbacks and uncertainties. She employs a variety of tools and datasets, primarily global climate models, but also observed and remote-sensing datasets, and process-based crop models. She has been a featured scientist on Vice News, NPR’s Morning Edition, and ScienceLine.

BEFORE & AFTER

--Imbibe our jazz-infused seasonal cocktail of the night: Autumn in New York (It’ll warm you up as the city cools down.)

--Groove to tunes that blow hot and cold

--Stick around for the scintillating Q&A

This inclement edition of the Secret Science Club meets Sunday, October 20, 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Subway: F or G to 4th Ave, R to 9th St.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. Please bring ID: 21+. No cover. Just bring your smart self.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

UPCOMING SECRET SCIENCE CLUB EVENTS!

Happy fall, everyone! Check out our upcoming events at the Bell House in Brooklyn—and beyond!

--Sun Oct 20, 8pm @ the Bell House, Atmospheric Scientist & Climatologist Sonali McDermid, FREE

--Tues Nov 12, 8pm @ the Bell House, The Dana Foundation Lecture featuring Neuroscientist Nim Tottenham, FREE

--Mon Dec 16, 8pm @ the Bell House, Marine Biologist & Explorer David Gruber, FREE

Psssssst! We will be at Symphony Space in Manhattan on Tuesday, December 3 for a special event: “Handprints on Hubble” with Astronaut & Author Kathryn Sullivan. (Get tickets here and use code SECRET20 to get $20 tickets.)

One more thing! If you missed seeing Sean Carroll's talk about quantum physics and “Something Deeply Hidden” last month at our Secret Science Club North event, you can now watch the entire talk (with an intro by physicist Brian Greene) on C-SPAN’s Book TV.