Laura Ligouri, teaching Neuroscience, Ethics, and Society in Pettengill G21 NRSC S20 – Neuroscience, Ethics, and Society As our ability to measure, predict, and manipulate brain function progresses, so too does our need to grapple with the societal consequences of neuroscientific discovery. This course invites critical examination of the ethics surrounding real-world neuroscience applications in private and public sectors. With topics that include psychopharmacology and cognitive liberty, neuroimaging for lie detection, weaponization of neurotechnology, and neuroprivacy in an era of data mining, students engage two overarching questions: How does the practice of neuroscience simultaneously mirror and mold social attitudes and policy-making agendas? What does it mean to be a responsible consumer and/or producer of neuroscientific knowledge? Prerequisite(s): NRSC 130, NS/PH 117, NS/PY 160, or PSYC 215. Not open to students who have received credit for NRSC 208.  “A neuroscience course that looks at how we conceive of the ethics and societal implications of neurobiological research. There’s lots of different ways of taking a look at that from neuro technology and whether something’s safe to apply or not to neuroscience in the criminal justice system. So this week was all about looking at neuroscience in kind of an international context, specifically clinical, around trauma and PTSD. There’s so much neurobiological research around trauma and PTSD, we know a lot about the brain and trauma, and so how can we conceive of that research in cross-cultural context where it’s really tough to translate. It’s really tough to apply, it’s really tough to ethically interact. So how can we think about this with a broader lens when most of the research has been done with western communities? So we had three speakers – and she goes to get their names – Decca Deluc, a clinician from Somalia, treasurer of the Somali Community Center of Maine, and co-founder of Cr

Moments from Lab-Based Biological Inquiry Cellular Neuroscience taught by Martin Kruse, associate professor of biology and neuroscience, in Bonney Science Center Room 370 on January 25, 2024. (Theophil Syslo | Bates College)

Zain Ali ‘27 of Lebanon, Ohio, left, Tim Johnson ‘27 of Brewster, Mass., center, and Cate Fleming ‘27 of Brookline, Mass.,during Lab-Based Biological Inquiry Cellular Neuroscience taught by Martin Kruse, associate professor of biology and neuroscience, in Bonney Science Center Room 370 on January 25, 2024. (Theophil Syslo | Bates College)

Campus scenes from Oct. 11, 2024. Students pass by Dana Chemistry on Alumni Walk.

Associate Professor of Neuroscience Jason Castro meets with two of his thesis students in Bonney 283. John Loftus ’22 of Palo Alto, Calif., a double major in neuroscience and art and visual culture (studio art), and Juliet Bockhorst ’22 of Westwood, Mass., a neuroscience major.