Hey all! This month we’re partnering with the Atlanta Science Festival to bring you a special Brainy-themed Nerd Nite. This year, the Science Festival and Brain Awareness Week overlap ever-so-much, so we thought we’d cover them both at once. We hope to see you, and probably some new faces from the Science Festival crowd at Manuel’s on Thursday.

More about the ASF here: http://atlantasciencefestival.org/
…and a special “ASF science of beer” event: http://atlantasciencefestival.org/events/event/1053
More about Brain Awareness Week: http://www.dana.org/BAW/

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What: Nerd Nite ATL, No. 18: Science Festival/Brain Awareness Edition
Where: Manuel’s Tavern, 602 N. Highland
When: Thurs, 3/26, 8pm (get there early to beat the ASF crowd)
Cost: $5
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“A (MRI) Snapchat with the Brain”, by Candace Fleischer, Ph.D.

What makes us depressed? Is it the mind, the body, or is it really all in our head (literally)? Advances in MRI technology have enabled direct visualization of the ways in which the brain is altered by disease, furthering our understanding of the molecular basis behind depression.

Bio: Candace Fleischer is a postdoctoral fellow in biomedical engineering at the Emory University School of Medicine. Candace is from the Seattle area and currently lives in Atlanta with her husband.

“Seeking neuro-enlightenment: Interactions between monks and neuroscientists,” by Brian Dias, Ph.D.

Brian Dias was born and grew up in Mumbai, India. He obtained BSc and MSc degrees in the Life Sciences in India before moving to Austin, Texas where he received a PhD in Neuroscience. Growing up in India, he never envisioned pursuing research and science. At times he sees himself as a wannabe beach volleyball player and/or Radio Jockey trapped in the body of a neuroscientist.
Brian’s scientific career thus far has seen him working with rats, lizards, flies, birds, and currently mice. He is currently pursuing projects that are aimed at understanding how ancestral experiences influence the physiology and consequently behavior of descendant generations.
Brian has been part of the Neuroscience faculty of the Emory Tibet Science Initiative and at Nerd Night will share his experience learning from and teaching Neuroscience to Tibetan Buddhist monks.

“Sex, Drugs & Pain – what more is there?” by Anee Murphy, Ph.D.

Morphine was first described as a potent pain reliever in 1522 and remains the primary drug for the alleviation of acute and chronic pain. Recent studies indicate that morphine does not work as effectively in females as it does in males. Dr. Murphy will present data on the brain regions that mediate morphine’s action and how these regions are different in terms of their anatomy and physiology in males and females. The impact of age on opiate effectiveness will also be discussed.

Bio: Dr. Anne Murphy obtained her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Cincinnati. Following a postdoctoral fellowship in the Netherlands, she joined the faculty at the Univ. of Maryland School of Medicine in the Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology. Fourteen years ago, she met the man of her dreams at a conference in Capri, Italy, moved to Atlanta, and joined the faculty at Georgia State University, where she is an Associate Professor and Associate Director in the Neuroscience Institute. When not teaching or doing research, she enjoys fine wine and spending time on soccer fields with her two amazing sons.