Students funneled into rows of chairs on Oct. 29 in Webb Hall for Emporia State’s 13th annual Hayes Lecture, presented by Dr. Muhammad Nashatizadeh.
Nashatizadeh, a neurologist, neurohospitalist and movement disorder specialist started his education at Emporia State when he was just 16 years old. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology in 1998 and later earned his doctorate at the University of Kansas.
The lecture, titled “Neurons to Networks,” focused on looking at neuroscience through a more philosophical lens in relation to how people behave. Some students, who attended out of interest for the lecture and were hesitant about the concepts of biology, still found the lecture to be interesting.
“It’s part of our requirements as a chapter, but we always like to attend,” said student Kalia Keosybounheuang, a member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority. “We find the topics very interesting, even if it’s something different than our majors. We’re all in the art department so coming here and learning a little bit about biology was a change, but I think we all learned something.”
Nashatizadeh opened up the lecture to the whole audience, not just those familiar with neurological topics. While the topic of brain networks might have been a foreign topic for some, the lecture’s purpose bypassed traditional scientific jargon and spoke beyond biology.
“The networking aspect of the brain’s always confusing,” said student Carly Welter, another member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority. “Talking a lot about the brain kind of lost me a little bit. But when they started talking more about people’s interaction, making the connections, networking with your fellow peers and how those connections can help you after graduation, as well as talking about future plans after graduation and how your connections you make today can help you in the future was impactful for me.”
Throughout the lecture, Nashatizadeh covered his life experience as a neurologist, focusing on how neuron connections in the brain relate to connecting communities. He told The Bulletin that diverse voices and identities are important to both areas of the brain and community environments.
“It makes me think that who we are is not just about who we are,” said Nashatizadeh. “but about what it is that we do, that’s what actually makes the biggest difference. Because if anybody says I’m like this or that or the other, then that doesn’t define a person. That’s your identity, but where you really make an impact is what it is that you actually do? What is your function? What is your role? What contribution will you make? I think that’s the lesson I take away from diversity in the brain.”
