Scientific Research

Neural Adaptation in Changing Ecosystems - An Overview

January 29, 2025

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST

Join speakers Amanda Lauer, Cosima Porteus, and Joseph Santin for the inaugural session of an exciting new collaborative series by the Society for Neuroscience and The Kavli Foundation. Moderated by Wolfgang Stein, this webinar will explore mechanisms by which nervous systems acclimate to human-generated environmental changes, offering insights across different levels of biological organization and species. Presentations and discussions will highlight recent advances in the field, and how diverse species acclimate to shifting ecosystems, making this event a must for anyone interested in the intersection of neuroscience, ecology, and environmental science.

Learning Objectives:

Speakers

Wolfgang Stein, PhD

Wolfgang Stein, PhD, is a neurophysiologist and professor at Illinois State University whose research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying animal behavior, particularly how the nervous system responds and adapts to environmental challenges. He is best known for his research on the stomatogastric nervous system of crustaceans, where he uses electrophysiology, optical imaging, and computational modeling to investigate pattern generating circuits, their plasticity in response to neuromodulation, and temperature effects on neuronal function. His work provides insights into how climate change might impact nervous system function and animal survival. Stein is also a dedicated mentor and advocate for young scientists and committed to mentoring students and advancing science education.

Amanda Lauer, PhD

Amanda Lauer, PhD, focuses on comparative models of hearing loss, the efferent feedback pathways between the ear and brain, and otopathology. She leads a team of scientists, clinicians, engineers, and medical illustrators building a human and animal temporal bone resource for the scientific community. Lauer is also active in mentoring programs aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion in science and supporting early career scientists.

Cosima Porteus, PhD

Cosima Porteus, PhD, is currently an assistant professor in the department of biological sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough. She received her PhD in zoology from the University of British Columbia, Canada, where she studied how fish sense and respond to low oxygen. As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Exeter, Porteus determined why fish exposed to ocean acidification lose their ability to respond appropriately to olfactory cues that are vital for their survival in the wild. Porteus’ lab is researching the effects and physiological mechanisms of anthropogenic stressors on the sensory systems of aquatic animals. In 2023, Porteus was awarded the Society of Experimental Biology President’s medal for the animal section for her contribution to the field of comparative physiology. Porteus is an associate editor for the journal Conservation Physiology and on the editorial advisory board for Global Change Biology.

Joseph M. Santin, PhD

The Santin Lab answers questions about how the nervous system helps animals survive in changing environments. It focuses most of its efforts on animals that experience challenges to the nervous system that tend to be considered massive perturbations These include inactivity of neuromuscular systems (if you don’t use it, you lose it) and impaired oxygen and glucose transport (brain damage in stroke). By learning from animals that evolved ways to get around these problems, the Santin Lab ups its chances of finding new and creative solutions to major human health issues. In addition, it seeks to learn why some animals may be more or less robust to changing environments.

Who can attend these webinars? This webinar will be complimentary.

Will the webinars be available on-demand? Yes, all webinars will be available to watch on demand after the live broadcast.

Will a certificate of attendance be offered for this event? No, SfN does not provide certificates of attendance for webinars.

How do I access the conference on the live day? After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the event link and the option to download calendar reminders.

What are the technology requirements for attending? These webinars are hosted on Zoom Webinar. Instructions for joining and participating in a webinar can be found here.

Can I ask the presenters questions? Yes! You can submit any questions before the webinar through the registration form. During the webinar, you can submit questions through the Q&A box.

I have other questions not answered here. Email digitallearning@sfn.org with any other questions.

Review SfN’s Code of Conduct, rules for virtual events in the Digital Learning Community Guidelines, and communications policies regarding dissemination of unpublished scientific data, listed below. SfN asks that conference attendees respect the sensitivity of information and data being presented that are not yet available to the public by following these guidelines:

Do not capture or publicly share details of any unpublished data presented.
If you are unsure whether data is unpublished, check with the presenter.
Respect presenters' wishes if they indicate that the information presented is not to be shared.

Webinar Refund Policy

What is the cancellation/refund policy for webinars?

If SfN changes fundamental details of the webinar (date, time, or speakers), nonmember registrants may request a registration refund.
To request a refund, please email digitallearning@sfn.org at least 48 hours before the event. Otherwise, refunds are not provided. All webinars are complimentary to SfN members.
SfN webinars can be watched on-demand if someone is unable to attend the live broadcast.

Neural Adaptation in Changing Ecosystems - An Overview

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