UT BRAINSTORMS: A Conversation on the Brain
The Department of Neuroscience at the University of Texas at Austin presents UT Brainstorms: A Conversation on the Brain. The purpose of UT Brainstorms is to connect with the community to inform and educate about neuroscience research and the influences it has on our daily lives. We seek a two-way conversation where we share our expertise about the brain and we listen to what it means in people’s lives and to the challenges they face as it relates to the brain.
When: The dates for the 2021 UT Brainstorms Series are listed below. A different topic and faculty speaker will be featured each date. Please check back regularly to learn more about upcoming speakers and topics!
Where: All Brainstorms public outreach events are currently virtual, and will be livestreamed at: Youtube.com/c/UTbrainstorms.
2021 Virtual UT BRAINSTORMS
Live Streamed at: Youtube.com/c/UTbrainstorms

Jonathan Pierce, PhD
The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Neuroscience
The Drunken Brain: A Conversation About How Science Discovers Drug Targets to Unravel Addiction
Thursday, January 21, 2021 7:00 PM Central
WATCH VIDEO HERE ↗

Michela Marinelli, PhD
The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Neuroscience
The Fooled Brain: A Conversation on How We Are Easily Misled When Processing Information and Making Decisions
How do we navigate scientific information, and how do we know what to believe? This presentation reviews basic principles that allow accurate interpretation of data in a world full of imprecisions, irrationality, and lies. It will tap into notions of behavioral economics, experimental design, & probability/statistics, with a sprinkling of psychology.
Thursday, February 25, 2021 7:00 PM Central
RSVP HERE ↗

Harold Zakon, PhD
The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Neuroscience
The Sensing Brain: A Conversation About Animals, and Humans, with Extraordinary Sensory Systems
Thursday, March 25, 2021 7:00 PM Central
RSVP HERE ↗

Nigel Atkinson, PhD
The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Neuroscience
Topic TBA
Thursday, APRIL 22, 2021 7:00 PM Central
RSVP HERE ↗

William Schwartz, M.D.
The University of Texas at Austin
Dell Medical School, Department of Neuroology
Topic TBA
Thursday, May 20, 2021 7:00 PM Central
RSVP HERE ↗
PAST UT BRAINSTORMS
2020-21 Series
- August 27, 2020: The eLearning Brain: A Conversation about Socializing and Connecting in Virtual Classrooms, Dr. Kristin Patterson
- October 15, 2020: 2020 Stresses on the Brain: A Conversation on the Neuroscience of Studying and Focusing in a Challenging Time, Dr. Michael Mauk
- November 12, 2020: The COVID Brain: A Conversation About How COVID May Impact Our Brain Health, Dr. Esther Melamed
2019-20 Series
- September 6, 2019: The Floating Brain: A Conversation about Navagation, Memory, and Weightlessness in Space, Dr. James Knierim
- October 12, 2019: The Parkinson's Brain: A Conversation about Brain Circuits, OScillations and Deep Brain Stimulation, Dr. Charles Wilson
- November 16, 2019: The Embodied Brain: A Conversation about Intersecting Physical and Mental Health, Dr. Marisa Toups
- December 5, 2019: The Remembering Brain: A Conversation About How Memory Contributes to Children and Adults’ Ability to Navigate the World, Acquire New Knowledge, and Imagine Their Future, Drs. Christine Coughlin, Hannah Roome, and Nicole Varga
- January 24, 2020: The Student Brain: A Conversation about the Neuroscience Behind Effective Studying, Dr. Michael Mauk
- February 15, 2020: The Cyberman Brain: A Conversation about Mind Control, Dr. Boris Zemelman
- March 7, 2020: The Ancient Brain: A Conversation about How Our Brains Evolved, Dr. Harold Zakon
- May 28, 2020: The Threatened Brain: A Conversation about the Neuroscience of Stress and Resilience, Dr. Michael Drew
- July 23, 2020: COVID on the Brain: A Conversation about Viruses, Pandemics and Vaccines, Dr. Daniel Leahy
2018-19 Series
- September 29, 2018: The Craving Brain: A Conversation about Vulnerability to Drug Addiction, Dr. Micky Marinelli
- October 18, 2018: The Developing Brain: A Conversation about Learning During Childhood & Adolescence, Dr. Alison Preston
- November 10, 2018: The Inflamed Brain: A Conversation about Immune Responses, Addiction, Depression & PTSD, Dr. R. Adron Harris
- December 13, 2018: The Artificial Brain: A Conversation about Brains, Computers, and Artificial Minds, Dr. Michael Mauk
- January 19, 2019: The Curious Brain: A Conversation about How Basic Neuroscience Research Can Have Unexpected Clinical Relevance, Dr. Alex Huk
- February 21, 2019: The Distracted Brain: A Conversation about Attention, Memory, and ... Uh, I Forget, Dr. Jarrod Lewis-Peacock
- March 23, 2019: The Diminishing Brain: A Conversation about the Search for a Cure for Alzheimer's Disease, Dr. Michael Mauk
- April 18, 2019: The Regenerating Brain: A Conversation about how Growing New Neurons Relates to Learning, Anxiety and Depression, Dr. Michael Drew
- May 9, 2019: The Listening Brain: A Conversation about our Sonic World, Music and Hearing Impairments, Dr. Nace Golding
2017-18 Series
- September 16, 2017: The Forgetting Brain, A Conversation about Memory, Alzheimer's, and Other Memory Disorders, Dr. Michael Mauk
- October 14, 2017: The Miswired Brain, A Conversation about Autism, Dr. Audrey Brumback
- November 9, 2017: The Eloquent Brain, A Conversation about Language and Thought, Dr. Alexander Huth
- January 27, 2018: The Addicted Brain, A Conversation about Alcohol and Drug Addiction, Dr. Robert Messing
- February 15, 2018: The Frightened Brain, A Conversation about Fear and Anxiety, Dr. Michael Drew
- March 24, 2018: The Plastic Brain, A Conversation about Learning and Memory, Dr. Laura Colgin
- April 21, 2018: The Vulnerable Brain, A Conversation about Predisposition to Alzheimer's and Other Neurological Disorders, Dr. Jonathan Pierce
- May 17, 2018: The Electrical Brain, A Conversation about Neural Signaling and Epilepsy, Dr. MacKenzie Howard
- June 9, 2018: The Broken Brain: A Conversation about How Brain Damage Informs Us About Brain Function, Dr. Michael Mauk