Why We Remember – and How to Hold on to What Matters Most
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Speakers
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Charan Ranganath, PhD
About the talk
Dr. Charan Ranganath explains the hidden role memory plays in our lives and how we imagine the future. Author of the New York Times best seller Why We Remember, he has pioneered a new way of thinking about the everyday act of remembering. One of the world’s top memory researchers, his work sheds light on the powerful role of memory in nearly every aspect of life, from recalling faces and names, to learning, decision-making, trauma and healing. Dr. Ranganath is director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at UC Davis and is an affiliated faculty with the Center for Mind and Brain and has appeared in national outlets including the Huberman Lab Podcast, Wall Street Journal, Oprah Daily, BBC, NPR’s Fresh Air and the goop Podcast with Gwyneth Paltrow, to name a few.
Season patrons receive access to a VIP reception and much more!
Why can certain smells, tastes or sounds can trigger unexpected memories? In his research, Guggenheim Fellow Dr. Charan Ranganath traces the role of memory in how we see ourselves and the world around us.
Far more than a record of the past, memory can transform how we learn and shape how we experience the present and future. "To fully appreciate the weird and wonderful ways in which the human brain captures the past, we need to ask the deeper questions of how and why memory shapes our lives," he explains. "The various mechanisms that contribute to memory have evolved to meet the challenges of survival."
The power of memory may be in the potential to prioritize the memories that we need, that help us to move forward, that help us to heal, to grow, to connect to others, to flourish. Dr. Ranganath sees the potential to achieve greater freedom and happiness by leveraging an understanding of the brain's memory processes. "Viewed through this lens, it is apparent that what we often see as the flaws of memory are also its features. We forget because we need to prioritize what is important so we can rapidly deploy that information when we need it."
Enjoy the perks of a season patron
- Admission to all 2025 talks, including reception at 6:15 PM before talk at 7:00 PM
- VIP reception including light hors d'oeurves, beverages and specialty mocktails – catering will be provided by Eating Royally, whose chef-owner once cooked for members of the British royal family
- Complimentary valet parking
- Access to full recordings from the 2025 season