Making Flavorful Cacio e Pepe and a Case for Evolutionary Modeling
Pasta Night in the Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience represents a special opportunity for members of the department—from graduate students and postdocs to junior and senior faculty—to gather in the Rose F. Kennedy Center’s conference room for a night of pasta, wine and scientific discussion. The resulting evening has not only boosted morale; it has provided a light-hearted forum for the exchange of ideas.
“It’s very egalitarian,” said Dr. Alberto Pereda, the professor who introduced the Pasta Night concept to his colleagues. “Anyone can contribute to the conversation, and all points of view are welcome. We seek to address topics that will encourage various points of view.”
Dr. Aviv Bergman provides some background for the discussion of evolutionThe most recent offering, held in November, focused on evolution. Dr. Aviv Bergman, professor and chair of systems & computational biology, served as moderator. His own research, which addresses quantitative problems in evolutionary biology, made him a fitting expert to lead the discussion.
He started by giving an overview of evolutionary concepts and how they’ve come to be, and even provided a whiteboard lesson on the mathematical modeling of evolution. He posited that natural selection is a process, not progress, noting, that it is “not a process influenced by how special a genotype is” but rather that it is “the complexity of that genotype that provides fidelity and fits into the restraints demonstrated by evolutionary modeling.”
Throughout the evening, faculty, postdocs and students posed questions and offered insights, making for a lively back-and-forth in between forkfuls of pasta prepared beforehand by department members in the nearby ninth-floor kitchen space. As has become Pasta Night tradition, the menu included suggested wine pairings, setting the tone for the relaxed and informal gathering.
Members of the neuroscience department and their guests enjoy the discourse over their dinnerHaving faculty, postdocs and students come together to cook, eat and talk about science is one of several ways the neuroscience department aims to foster a spirit of camaraderie while providing a venue for non-structured collective learning. “Alberto and I attend an immersive science course every summer in Woods Hole, MA, where students and faculty are brought together in a setting that breaks down the typically intimidating barriers that can exist in academia,” said Dr. Kamran Khodakhah, acting chair of the department. “We were inspired to replicate that less intimidating atmosphere here at Einstein.”
“Having discussions outside the traditional settings of an academic course or weekly seminar provides a space where students are more comfortable speaking up. In more traditional academic settings, they may feel too shy or intimidated,” added Dr. Pereda.
Topics for Pasta Night discussions are selected based on their potential for controversy or recognition as “hot topics” within science that could spark interest and lively discussion. The two initial Pasta Night topics were “The Connectome” (led by Einstein’s expert Dr. Scott Emmons) and “Consciousness” (led by the distinguished NYU neuroscientist Dr. Rodolfo Llinas), each of which drew excellent attendance. But “Evolution” has produced the largest turnout so far.
“We’re pleased with the enthusiasm that everyone has had for these special evenings,” noted Dr. Pereda. “If space weren’t an issue, we’d like to be able to invite a wider portion of the Einstein community. It’s a truly enjoyable way to connect with colleagues from throughout the department.”
The next Pasta Night discussion, scheduled for May 12, 2016, will be “Beyond Connectomics,” moderated by Dr. Eve Marder, a renowned neuroscientist at Brandeis University and former president of the Society for Neurosciences. The evening menu and other details will be available on the neuroscience website closer to the event. Registration is now open; simply click on the link noted and fill in the form.
Posted on: Thursday, February 18, 2016