Sam Kean

Talk Title
The Violinist's Thumb
Description
Traditional science education relies almost exclusively on equations, labs, and other technical lessons, but you can learn a surprising amount of science through narrative storytelling as well—in part because that's how the human brain best remembers information, in story form. (Our memories work that way due to our evolutionary roots.) Sam Kean provides a vivid example of learning science through stories by telling the tale of Nicolo Paganini, a 19th-century musician who was widely considered the greatest violinist who ever lived. Part of the reason for Paganini's success came from the fact that he had a rare genetic disorder, and his life story reveals some fascinating insights about how genes work and especially about the sophisticated gene-environment interactions that are the future of genetic research.

Speaker Biography
Sam Kean is the New York Times bestselling author of six books, including The Icepick Surgeon, The Bastard Brigade, The Dueling Neurosurgeons, and The Disappearing Spoon. He edited The Best American Nature and Science Writing in 2018, and his stories have appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, and Slate. His work has been featured on NPR’s “Radiolab,” “Science Friday,” “All Things Considered,” and “Fresh Air.” He was born in South Dakota and lives in Washington, D.C.