11/06/2026
On Wednesday night, around 200 people gathered for an engaging and thought‑provoking lecture hosted by the Nelson Science Society, featuring 2025 Rutherford Medal winner Emeritus Distinguished Professor Cliff Abraham FRSNZ.
As part of the Royal Society Te Apārangi national lecture tour, “Our Mysterious Brain: The Making and Breaking of Memories,” Professor Abraham explored one of science’s most intriguing questions: how the brain remembers—and why it sometimes forgets.
Drawing on decades of research, he shared insights into how connections between nerve cells change to store memories, and how these processes are influenced by everything from genetics to environmental stress. He also highlighted how this knowledge is helping unlock new ideas for treatments of neurological disorders and memory decline.
A fascinating and inspiring evening—thank you to everyone who came along!