Birds on the Brain

The Simons Foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences.

Simons Foundation

Registration will close at 2 p.m. on the day of the event. Review the complete list of registration and entrance requirements below.

Memory is more than just recall — it shapes how we navigate the world, interpret our surroundings and understand who we are. But how does the brain store and retrieve information? And what can birds, whose behaviors are strikingly readable through their movements and calls, teach us about the relationship between memory, perception, and behavior?Neuroscientist and Simons Society Junior Fellow Isabel Low studies the black-capped chickadee, a small songbird native to New York with a remarkable ability to remember where it hides thousands of food items. By investigating the neural patterns behind this behavior, Low seeks to unravel how the different parts of the brain communicate to transform memories into actions.Science writer and expert birder Christian Cooper has spent a lifetime observing birds, fascinated by how their movements and migrations reflect broader themes of place, perception, and belonging. Through his work as an Emmy-winning host of the National Geographic series “Extraordinary Birder” and author of Better Living Through Birding, he shares how birding has shaped his own understanding of identity, from the streets of New York City to remote landscapes around the world.Join us as Low and Cooper sit down with Quanta Magazine Senior Biology Editor Hannah Waters for a conversation that explores the intersections of neuroscience, birding, and storytelling. Together, they’ll traverse topics such as how memory links humans and animals, how careful observation can lead to deeper understanding, and what birds can reveal about how we see and remember the world.ABOUT THE SPEAKERS<a href="https://www.simonsfoundation.org/people/isabel-low/" title="https://www.simonsfoundation.org/people/isabel-low/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Low</a> is a postdoctoral neuroscientist in Dmitriy Aronov’s lab at Columbia University. She received her Ph.D. in neurosciences from Stanford University and her B.A. in neuroscience and creative writing from Bowdoin College in Maine. Low’s research investigates how different parts of the brain communicate to transform memories into actions.<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671722/better-living-through-birding-by-christian-cooper/" title="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671722/better-living-through-birding-by-christian-cooper/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Cooper</a> is the Daytime Emmy Award–winning host of National Geographic’s hit series “Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper” and the New York Times best-selling author of his debut memoir, Better Living Through Birding. Practically born with a pair of binoculars in his hands, he served as president of the Harvard Ornithological Club in his college days. He is a vice president of the New York City Bird Alliance, where he advocates for greater, safer access to green spaces for all with a focus on outreach to youth in underserved communities. A longtime activist on issues of racial justice and LGBTQ equality, Christian combined his passions in the graphic short story “It’s a Bird” from DC Comics.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS &amp; DETAILS<ul><li>You must be 18+ to attend this event</li><li>Registration will close at 2:00 PM the day of the event</li><li>Please only register yourself and use your complete first and last name as it appears on your photo ID when filling in the form</li><li>If you have a guest you would like to bring with you to this event, please send them the link to register so they can sign up on their own</li><li>By registering to attend this event, participants agree to follow the <a href="https://www.simonsfoundation.org/code-of-conduct/" title="https://www.simonsfoundation.org/code-of-conduct/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Simons Foundation Code of Conduct</a></li><li>Please note that the Simons Foundation will never ask for credit card information or require payment for registration to our free public events.</li></ul>BUILDING ENTRY PROTOCOL<ul><li>All attendees must be pre-registered and walk-in entry will be denied</li><li>Provide valid photo ID upon entry</li><li>Present your digital or printed Eventbrite ticket confirmation; make sure it is for the correct event and that the name on it matches your ID</li><li>Limited seating is available for this in-person event and is on a first-come, first-served basis</li><li>Admittance to the event closes at 6:20 p.m.</li></ul>Please note that by entering the Simons Foundation buildings, you are attesting that you are not experiencing COVID symptoms and are not knowingly positive for COVID.

EVENT SCHEDULE:Doors open: 5:30 p.m. (No entrance before 5:30 p.m.)In Conversation: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. (Admittance closes at 6:20 p.m.)Reception: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.If alcohol is served at this event, event organizers reserve the right to refuse to serve guests who are not of legal drinking age or who appear to be intoxicated.The Gerald D. Fischbach Auditorium complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and offers accessible seating to visitors with special access needs.Inquiries: sfpresents@simonsfoundation.org

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Birds on the Brain

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