Brains and Trains: How a Railroad Worker Blew Our Minds with Nadine Charanek
- Day: Wednesday
- Date: April 30, 2025
- Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
- Location: In Person @ Carleton University
- Price: $50 +HST
Room and Parking Information will be sent by email 1-2 days prior to the lecture date.
Overview
Ever wondered how a railroad worker’s really bad day gave us a front-row seat to the mysteries of the mind? Buckle up — this lecture will take you on a wild ride through the brain’s greatest hits!We’ll start with history’s best (and worst) ideas about the mind, leading up to the ultimate plot twist: Phineas Gage, the man who turned a work place accident into a groundbreaking neuroscience lesson. Spoiler alert — it involves a flying iron rod and a whole lot of personality change.But that’s not all! We’ll cover some brain basics and explore the MVP of questionable decisions and impulsive thoughts — the prefrontal cortex, hanging out right behind your forehead like the world’s most underappreciated executive assistant. By understanding this brain structure, you will understand why people run a red light or worse, cut their own bangs at 2 a.m. It’s going to be a mind-blowing experience!
About the Lecturer
Nadine is a 4th-year PhD candidate in Cognitive Science, specializing in the neuroscience of brain function and memory.
With a decade of teaching experience, I am passionate about creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences that bridge theory with real-world applications. My teaching philosophy revolves around student interaction, curiosity-driven learning, and humor — because the best learning happens when students are actively involved and having fun.I use platforms like WooClap, conduct live experiments, and design immersive activities to transform the classroom into a dynamic learning environment.Beyond academia, I bring my expertise to applied research. For over a year, I’ve been contributing to military research with the Department of National Defence, and I’ve collaborated on projects at the National Research Council and multiple research labs at Carleton University. My work spans both in the lab and the field, applying cognitive science to solve real-world challenges. Whether I’m leading a lecture, conducting research, or cracking a well-timed brain joke, my goal is always the same: to spark curiosity and inspire others to explore the mysteries of the mind.
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