When: October 1, 2025, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where:
The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., Philadelphia,
Add to Calendar: iCal | Google
Join the Penn State Eberly College of Science for a special night at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Nikki Crowley, Huck Early Career Chair in Neurobiology and Neural Engineering, associate professor of biology and of biomedical engineering, and director of the Penn State Neuroscience Institute at University Park, will discuss how the brain assesses risk, the factors that influence our choices to take risks, why risk-taking can be both adaptive and necessary, and how this process changes during development and aging.
Following Nikki’s presentation, you’ll hear from Eberly College alumna Jayatri Das ’99, now chief bioscientist at the Franklin Institute. As the lead developer of Your Brain — a national award–winning exhibit about the neuroscience and psychology of the human brain — she will share information with you to allow for a self-guided tour through the space.
Finally, join Dean Tracy Langkilde, Nikki, and Jayatri for a reception where they will answer questions and continue the conversation.
The opportunity for the Eberly College of Science to visit the Franklin Institute and bring science on the road is made possible by the Keller Family Endowment for Alumni Experiences in Science.
Matt and Karen Keller, both Class of 2000 graduates in biochemistry and molecular biology, created the endowment with the Penn State Alumni Association to support science programming and educational offerings associated with Eberly College of Science professors, researchers, and/or students.