Leading Scientist Rises to Challenge of the Brain

News release from the Royal Society of New Zealand

23 August 2010

For immediate release
 

Leading Scientist Rises to the Challenge of the Human Brain

Award winning scientist Professor Richard Faull, Director of Auckland University’s Centre for Brain Research, is this year’s Royal Society of New Zealand Distinguished Speaker.

Professor Faull has spent his life in awe of the human brain. His dedication to unraveling its mysteries led him to the ground breaking discovery that, contrary to popular belief, the brain is capable of regenerating cells.

“I’m forever amazed at the complexity and beauty of the human brain.  It’s the last frontier and presents so many challenges,” says Professor Faull.

It is these challenges that will be presented in his nationwide series of talks on ‘The Challenge of the Human Brain.’

“Despite all our research we still don’t even know what constitutes an original thought.  But we are starting to see through the haze, to begin to understand some of the marvels of the human brain. We get to the top of one mountain and, my gosh, there are still further ranges of Himalayas before us which are even higher.”

The Distinguished Speaker Series, run by Royal Society of New Zealand with sponsorship from the Becroft Foundation, is an annual lecture series given by an eminent scientist who is a strong communicator in their field of research. Previous speakers include Robert Lord Winston, Professor Sir Paul Callaghan and Professor Robert Kirshner.

Professor Faull’s talks begin in Wellington on 2nd September before heading to Dunedin, Christchurch and Hamilton. The tour ends in Auckland with a talk that will be recorded for Radio New Zealand.

All lectures are free and open to the public.

Wellington Wednesday 2 September, 6pm, Te Marae Te Papa
Dunedin, Thursday 9 September, 6pm, Hutton Theatre, Otago Museum
Christchurch, Friday 10 September, 6pm, Christchurch Art Gallery Auditorium
Hamilton, Thursday 30 September, 7.30pm, Gallagher Concert Chamber, Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato Campus
Auckland, Wednesday 13 October, 6.30pm, Auditorium, Auckland Museum

More information can be found at www.royalsociety.org.nz

ENDS

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