Over the past two decades, advances in neuroscience have dramatically enhanced our understanding of the brain and of the neurobiological basis of psychiatric illness. Yet keeping pace with such advances remains fraught with challenges. The field is vast and constantly evolving and the clinical relevance is not always clear. Another key barrier to learning neuroscience is the way these findings are communicated outside of the scientific community.
While researchers may receive training and feedback on traditional forms of scientific communication (such as giving scientific talks and writing for journals), relatively little time is devoted to honing the unique skills required to communicate to a broader audience, including trainees and other healthcare providers.
To address this challenge, the National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative, in collaboration with Liz Neeley, executive director of The Story Collider, has developed a series of brief talks focused on recent advances in neuroscience. We conceptualize these presentations as being a hybrid between a Moth story, a TED talk, and a PechaKucha talk. Each one is intended to capture one core concept in neuroscience and make it clear, relevant, and accessible for a broad audience. This year’s event will feature six new talks, presented by residents and faculty from Yale, Penn, Temple, and Brown on a range of cutting-edge topics.
While the content of the session is focused on neuroscience and psychiatry, the challenge that these talks address is one that we all share—namely, how do we translate cutting edge basic science so as to make it relevant and accessible to a broad, clinical audience?
All of the speakers for this session took part in a course on Effective Scientific Communication and then received 1:1 coaching to produce their talk. We would welcome the opportunity to think with other faculty at the medical school about how similar strategies might be used within their own specialties.
Please join us for what looks to be a fantastic session!
“This ‘Stuff’ Is Really Cool”: Cutting Edge Neuroscience and the Future of Psychiatry
Friday, July 27, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
789 Howard Avenue, Fitkin Amphitheater, LMP1094
For more information contact: david.a.ross@yale.edu