J. Mark Sowers Distinguished Lecture explores law, neuroscience through the adolescent brain
The J. Mark Sowers Distinguished Lecture Series continues in February with a presentation exploring how advances in neuroscience are reshaping the legal treatment of young offenders.
Titled “Law and Neuroscience: The Case of the Adolescent Brain,” the lecture will be delivered by BJ Casey, the Christina L. Williams Professor of Neuroscience and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience and Behavior at Barnard College of Columbia University. The lecture will take place on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Fralin Hall Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
Casey is an internationally recognized leader in developmental cognitive neuroscience whose research has played a central role in advancing scientific understanding of the adolescent brain.
During the lecture, she will highlight evidence showing that brain development continues across a life span, with particularly significant changes occurring during adolescence. She will also discuss how emotionally charged situations can strongly influence adolescent behavior and decision-making, as well as research demonstrating that rates of violent offending decline as individuals age out of adolescence. These findings will be considered in the context of emerging policies that apply developmental science to juvenile justice reform.
“The J. Mark Sowers Distinguished Lecture Series is designed to spark meaningful dialogue around emerging scientific insights,” said Kevin Pitts, dean of the College of Science. “Dr. Casey’s research on the adolescent brain not only advances neuroscience but also has profound implications for how we think about responsibility, rehabilitation, justice, and policy.”
Casey pioneered the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the developing human brain and has published more than 250 scientific articles in leading journals, including Science, Nature Medicine, Nature Neuroscience, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Her work has been cited more than 84,000 times and has earned numerous honors from professional societies, including the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and the Society for Neuroscience. She is a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences.
Her research has also influenced policy and practice beyond academia. Casey has served on National Institutes of Health advisory boards and National Academy of Sciences committees focused on adolescent risk-taking and juvenile justice reform. Her work has been cited in amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court, and she has presented to congressional staff, state supreme courts, and federal judges on the adolescent brain. She is a member of the Justice Collaboratory at Yale Law School.
Launched in February 2017, the J. Mark Sowers Distinguished Lecture Series in the College of Science serves as a forum for the exchange of new and innovative ideas in scientific fields.
Generously supported by J. Mark Sowers and Debi Sowers, the series provides opportunities for the university community and the general public to interact with and learn from eminent scholars and industry experts. Sowers, a Richmond-based businessman and longtime supporter of the College of Science, sponsors the series to share his fascination with the sciences.
