Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Our understanding of brain development and function has fundamentally changed in the past decade. Brain development embody much more than just the simple unfolding of a genetic blueprint but rather represents a complex dance of genetic and environmental events that interact to adapt the brain to fit a particular environmental context. Thus, it is now clear that prenatal, postnatal and early childhood experiences set the brain on a trajectory that profoundly influences not only how children learn and develop but also contribute to health and wellness throughout the lifespan. The speaker will expand on this fascinating topic and also very briefly touch upon the possible effects common drugs and injuries (concussions) may have on the brain. Speaker: Dr. Bryan Kolb A native of Calgary, Bryan Kolb has been professor at the University of Lethbridge for 37 years and was the co-founder of their Neuroscience Department. He has published five books, including two textbooks with Ian Whishaw and roughly 350 ar