After reading this article "'Big Bang Theory' actress Mayim Bialik a real-life scientist" sent to me by the wonderful anonymous Ed of Blawg Review, I realized I am in some ways culturally ignorant (at least of pop culture). The article was very interesting, but I have never heard of Mayim Bialik or her shows Blossom or The Big Bang Theory. Please tell me I am not the only one to whom these are new?
Was I surprised to learn that this comedy show star also has her PhD in neuroscience from UCLA! And she has a book coming out next year "about parenting based on the science of hormones involved in parent-child bonding."
"Not that you need a neuroscience degree to be a good parent... but my reflections on parenting are absolutely informed by my understanding of the hormones of attachment, which were the subject of my thesis," she said.
What was most intriguing to me was her teaching kids about the brain.
As if it's not enough to be a mom and an actress on a popular sitcom, Bialik designed a neuroscience curriculum for homeschooled middle-schoolers. She taught 10 lucky kids all about the brain two years
ago -- everything from the the brain's structure to the spinal cord to how the senses work, in addition to the ideas of the "early heavy hitters" of neuropsychology like Sigmund Freud and Ivan Pavlov.
She will be appearing next Friday at San Diego's Comic-Con. I have heard of Comic-Con. My favorite neuroscientist and zombie guru, Dr. Steve Schlozman, also will be presenting in San Diego. He writes on his blog:
[T]he programs for Comic Con have been released. I’ll be on a three panels and two signings. The Triumph of the Walking Dead will have early release copies and I was lucky enough to contribute a chapter to that collection, and I’ll be discussing with others the history of the modern zombie on Thursday, the video game Dead Island on Friday and writing apocalyptic scenarios on Friday night.
If you attend Comic-Con, I'd appreciate hearing about your experience.
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