How does our brain remember – or forget? What happens to the nerve cells in our brain to cause this? Emeritus Distinguished Professor Cliff Abraham FRSNZ won the Rutherford Medal in 2025. He will speak about our mysterious brains, and ideas for new treatments emerging from the discoveries made by his research team.

How the brain stores memories has long been mysterious. Intensive research over decades has revealed the mechanisms that change connections between nerve cells in the brain and allow memories to be stored. These mechanisms are affected by a variety of internal and external signals, from genetics to environmental stressors. Importantly, this knowledge helps explain memory decline in neurological disorders, leading to revolutionary ideas for new treatments.

The Rutherford Medal is the highest honour awarded by the Royal Society Te Apārangi in Aotearoa New Zealand. It recognises pre-eminent research, scholarship, or innovation. This talk is hosted by the Society, with support from the Auckland Museum Institute.

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