We cannot live without it, but how often do we stop to think about how our brain really works?
In this talk, TED Fellow Dr. Catharine G. Young, a trained Neuroscientist, shares why we are susceptible to falling for misconceptions and misinformation and provides three simple tools that everyone can start using to overcome these shortcuts.
How memories form and how we lose them – Catharine Young
Think back to a really vivid memory. Got it? Now try to remember what you had for lunch three weeks ago. That second memory probably isn’t as strong—but why not? Why do we remember some things and not others? And why do memories eventually fade? Catharine Young gives the basics on memory and memory loss.
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Who is Catharine Young?
Originally from South Africa, Dr. Catharine Young holds a doctorate degree in Biomedical Sciences and currently serves as the Chief Foundation Officer and Executive Director for the Shepherd Foundation. Prior to this position, Catharine served as the Senior Director of Science Policy for the Biden Cancer Initiative. Here she fostered discussion and collaboration within the biotech, technology, science, and academic fields to drive innovative solutions and breakthroughs against cancer.
Catharine has also served as the Senior Science and Innovation Policy Advisor and Head of the DC team for the Foreign Ministry of the UK. Based at the British Embassy, Catharine influenced the science and innovation policies of both the UK and US governments, industry, and academia.
Following her postdoctoral training at Cornell University in Biomedical Engineering, Catharine was selected as a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs. Here she led international engagements on eliminating biological weapons, improving biosafety and biosecurity, and assisting in the DoD’s response to the Ebola outbreak in Western Africa. Catharine also co-founded Blueprint International, a non-profit dedicated to providing novel technological solutions to some of the world’s most pressing social issues.
Recent awards include being selected as a TED Fellow, Alexandria 40 Under 40 and Social Enablers top 100 most inspiring social entrepreneurs. Catharine is an advocate for women in STEM and has been a contributor to major social and media networks including TED-Ed, the Guardian and the UK Science and Innovation Network.
