I'd like to begin by thanking our co-presenting sponsors, the Conte Center at Harvard and Beyond Conflict. Tonight's program is also sponsored by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare and the Lowell Institute. We deeply appreciate the contributions of these organizations that have made this program possible, and we are really happy tonight that a whole posse of people from one of our sponsors.

Our dear sponsor from Harvard Pilgrim are here tonight. So we really thank all of you for your support and welcome.

We've all heard Maha Ma Gandhi's instruction be the change you want to see in the world at the museum this winter and spring, we've embarked on a journey to investigate how to affect that. In the first program of the On Being, on Being Human Series, we learned about healthy brain development and the brain's potential for plasticity.

In the second program, we learned that stress, depression, or mental illness cause physiological as well as chemical changes in the brain. Tonight we will explore the science of consciously changing our brains and the power each of us have to influence humanity in positive ways. Our first speaker, Betsy Levy Pollock, will tell us about her research on generating positive peer pressure for constructive societal change.

Then Richard Davidson will guide us into the realm of neuroscience and give us tools to actually change our. We follow that with a conversation between our two guests. And then finally, we'll take questions from the audience. Please join me in welcoming Betsy Levy Pollock.

Thank you so much for having me tonight. Um, I grew up not far from here and, uh, came to the Museum of Science as a little girl with my parents, so it makes it even more of an honor. And, uh, also my parents got to come tonight, so it's, it's a lot of fun to be here. Um, I wanna talk to you tonight. Um, Dr.

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