Community Corner
New Arts and Science Center in Pacifica Hosts Conversation Series
The George Greenstein Institute launches "Courage by the Sea: The Minds of Ocean Heroes" this month at the Oceana Art Gallery in Pacifica.
The George Greenstein Institute (GGI) now has a hub in Pacifica.
After being in Los Angeles, Singapore, Baltimore and Tuscon, the arts and science center, known for parsing through current neuroscience research and bringing brain knowledge and applied neuroscience to a broad audience, moved their headquarters to Pacifica just this past summer.
Founder M.A. Greenstein, Ph.D., a life long mentor of creatives in applied neuroscience, mindfulness and design thinking, envisioned the institute and conceived the Inventio!Brains System to bring her experiences to a broad audience of people curious about their brain and how to make it work better for them.
The Inventio!Brains System strengthens our understanding of the brain and teaches us how to make our brains work better for us, according to
Sarah Kornfeld, chief innovation officer/executive producer of GGI, which has a team of experienced and deeply curious systems thinkers, designers and researchers from the fields of neuroscience, cognitive, and contemplative psychologies, as well as cultural creatives and established artists from the visual and performing arts.
"I have had a lifelong dream to create an institute that integrates neuroscience and embodied practices. Establishing the Institute in Pacifica exemplifies this dream, and has inspired an even greater dream: to develop a hub for the remarkable invention coming from neuroscience/biotechnology and the shared practices of arts/science and futures," said M.A. Greenstein, Ph.D., founder and chairperson. "We are committed to bringing the wonder of brain knowledge to a broad audience and sharing how this knowledge can be applied to everyday experiences. This first Inventio!Conversation goes to the heart of GGI: What is courage, how do we grow it, and what are the ways our brain /mind processes, supports and develops it?"
Inventio!Conversations are experience based events produced by GGI and the public is invited to attend the kick-off of the six-month series on Sept. 27 at Oceana Art Gallery in Pacifica.Inventio!Conversations brings applied neuroscience in conversation with those in the fields of policy, art and design, screen cultures, wellness, futures, and education. This first conversation called "Courage by the Sea: The Minds of Ocean Heroes" will explore how courage is cultivated and grown on mental, emotional and physical levels.
The conversation will be led by Greenstein and guest Inventio!s, Amy Critchett, Executive Producer, The Bay Lights, Co-founder and Executive Director of Illuminating the Arts, Marine Biologist and NeuroConservation leader Wallace J. Nichols, Ph.d., journalist, Jaimal Yogis, and bioethicist and civil rights leader, Dr. September Williams.
“We’ve asked these heroes to participate in the launch because they exemplify our definition of an ‘Inventio!’,” said Kornfeld. “An ‘Inventio!’ is a person who has spent a focused period time with an open mind, a passion for inquiry and an understanding that the brain plays a major role in how they think. Inventio!s know how the world is influenced by neurological functioning. These are leaders in their fields who have thrown their lives into often dangerous situations to make global change.”
GGI, founded in 2010 in honor of Colonel George Greenstein, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon known for his problem-solving skills within the American medical system, is modeled in the great tradition of the Aspen Institute, an international nonprofit dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue.
Greenstein's vision for the institute stems from her professional life as an internationally recognized science researcher, arts curator, journalist and Arts Center faculty member, where she taught artists and designers how to design with the brain in mind.
"What a delight and surprise to have an applied neuroscience institute choose our town!" said Courtney Conlon, CEO, Pacifica Chamber of Commerce. "We agree with GGI that Pacifica is a remarkable, brain healthy town where people love to learn new things, breathe great air and stimulate their brains. We see some of the most remarkable ocean vistas in the world every day and have heroes of all kinds in our waters. GGI's Inventio!Conversations™, "Courage by the Sea: The Minds of Ocean Heroes" is a perfect start to a celebration of the institute joining our community and our tradition of coastal people who dare to be great, using their bodies and minds to make a difference in the world."
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Inventio!Conversations inaugural event will be held Friday, September 27, at the Oceana Art Gallery 150 Eureka Drive, Pacifica California. Tickets can be purchased at http://couragebythesea.eventbrite.com/
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