Neuroscience, Lemony Snicket Talks Part of Snowdon Lecture Series

Upcoming lectures funded by the Edward W. Snowdon Fund focus on children’s book writing, the way human beings perceive brightness and color, and cognitive behavior as it relates to stress and health.

For several years, the family of Edward W. Snowdon '33 has supported a variety of programs through the Edward W. Snowdon Fund.

“Wesleyan is privileged to have special funds available to bring artists, musicians, dancers, writers, scientists, and other renowned people to campus,” says Linda Secord, director of University Lectures and Alumni Programs. ”These campus visitors provide outside-the-classroom learning experiences that would not be possible without generous funding from supporters like the Snowdons.”

The upcoming speakers, co-sponsored by the Edward W. Snowdon Fund include:

Daniel Handler ‘92, novelist, screenwriter, children’s book author, and musician will speak about children’s books at 8 p.m. Oct. 24 in Beckham Hall in Fayerweather Hall. Under the pen name of Lemony Snicket, Handler, who is pictured at right, is the author of the children’s books, A Series of Unfortunate Events. His talk is co-sponsored by English Department and Wesleyan Writing Program.

Dale Purves, the George Barth Gellor Professor for Research in Neurobiology, and director of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at Duke University will speak on “Why We See What We Do: Brightness and Color,” at 8 p.m. Oct. 24 in Kerr Lecture Hall in Shanklin Laboratory. His talk is co-sponsored by the Departments of Biology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and Psychology, the Neuroscience and Behavior Program and the Wesleyan Student Assembly.

Purves will speak again on “Why We See What We Do: Geometry and Form,” at noon Oct. 25 in Exley Science Center Room 121. This talk is co-sponsored by the Biology Department.

Robert Sapolsky, professor of biological sciences, professor of neurology and neurological sciences, from Stanford School of Medicine at Stanford University will speak on “Stress and Health: From Molecules to Societies” at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Goldsmith Family Cinema. His talk is co-sponsored by the departments of Biology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and Psychology, the Neuroscience and Behavior Program and the Wesleyan Student Assembly.

Additional upcoming lectures are posted online at http://www.wesleyan.edu/lectures/liberal.html.