SOUTH KINGSTOWN – A visiting neuroscience professor will discuss “how and why you make mistakes (and why you should make more of them)” during a free lecture on April 8 as part of the University of Rhode Island’s Distinguished Visiting International Scholars program.
Michael X. Cohen, associate professor from Radboud University in the Netherlands, will talk about the importance of mistakes and the neuroscience of making and correcting mistakes. The talk will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Richard E. Beaupre Center for Chemical and Forensic Sciences, Room 100, 140 Flagg Road, on the Kingston campus.
According to Cohen, who will visit URI from April 8-12, making mistakes is one of the most important cognitive functions of the brain – second only to learning from them.
A neuroscience researcher at Donders Centre for Neuroscience at the Radboud University Medical Center, Cohen’s lab uses cutting-edge neuroscience methods to measure electrical brain activity in order to understand fundamental mechanisms of cognition and neural circuit dynamics.
“Professor Cohen is one of the pioneers in neuroscience,” said Yalda Shahriari, URI assistant professor of biomedical engineering and host for Cohen’s visit. “He is a prolific researcher who is always working to advance the field, yet his work is extremely accessible – which also translates to his presentation style.”
“The subject matter for professor Cohen’s keynote is certainly something we can all identify with. No one likes to mess up,” Shahriari said. “But his ability to blend humor together with scientific information will give even those with no scientific background a better understanding about why making and correcting these mistakes is not only essential to our development – but even good for us.”
In addition to the public lecture, Cohen’s weeklong visit will include an April 9 scientific lecture for students and faculty at 2 p.m. in the Robert L. Carothers Library and Learning Commons, Galanti Lounge, 15 Lippitt Road, as well as a workshop from 4-7 p.m.
For more information or to RSVP for the public lecture, visit the URI events page.
William Hamilton is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Hamilton@PBN.com.
