You and Your Racist Brain: The Neuroscience of Prejudice

In large part, racism stems from the human brain’s tendency to engage in prejudice, a process that allows us to make millisecond judgments based on visual information. These preconceived opinions about other people are instinctual — and they have a basis in neuroscience. Why does the brain do this? Can we use what we know about the neuroscience of prejudice to develop methods to combat and end racism?

About the speaker:

Dr Larry Sherman is a Professor in the Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology & the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the Oregon Health & Science University & the Oregon National Primate Research Center. He is the President of the Oregon Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, with over 80 publications related to brain development & neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis. He serves on a number of national scientific review panels for the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Congressionally-Directed Medical Research Programs, & others.

The Oregon Museum of Science & Industry and Portland Monthly Magazine recognized Dr. Sherman as one of the most innovative people in the State of Oregon. https://rsv.org.au/events/you-and-your-racist-brain/

Co-presented by the RMIT School of Health & Biomedical Sciences and the Royal Society of Victoria.