A Soirée for Curious Minds - Lecture #3

The persistence of stories in thought: From minutes to decades

A Soirée for Curious Minds

A series of evenings full of insight, conversation, and connection!

Brought to you in partnership by:

Glendon College, York University & The Rosedale Centre

The persistence of stories in thought: From minutes to decades

- Prof. Buddhika Bellana

Buddhika Bellana, PhD is an Associate Professor of Science at Glendon College and a cognitive neuroscientist exploring how humans remember, think, and derive meaning from narratives and experiences. Using behavioural and neurocognitive approaches, he maps the neural networks underlying episodic memory and spontaneous thought. He earned his PhD from the University of Toronto and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Toronto. Fluent in both English and French, Prof. Bellana actively engages in graduate supervision, mentorship, and collaborative research at the forefront of cognitive science.

Program:

A Soirée for Curious Minds brings the richness of university-level thinking directly into the community. Designed for inquisitive spirits, the series offers a rare opportunity to engage with exceptional scholars in an intimate, welcoming setting.

Each evening begins with doors opening early, inviting neighbours and friends to gather in our art gallery. Enjoy a glass of wine or sparkling water while a live pianist fills the room with a captivating soundtrack – the perfect prelude to an evening of ideas.

What follows is a thoughtfully curated academic experience, led by esteemed professors from Glendon College, York University, whose teaching and research span literature, psychology, cultural studies, and contemporary political thought.

The series explores big ideas across time and disciplines, from Shakespearean history and the psychology of memory to cultural mythologies and modern populism, offering intellectual depth without pretense. It’s an invitation to learn, be inspired, and to savor conversations that linger, echoing the brilliance of the ideas shared.

Buddhika Bellana, PhD is an Associate Professor of Science at Glendon College and a cognitive neuroscientist exploring how humans remember, think, and derive meaning from narratives and experiences. Using behavioural and neurocognitive approaches, he maps the neural networks underlying episodic memory and spontaneous thought. He earned his PhD from the University of Toronto and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Toronto. Fluent in both English and French, Prof. Bellana actively engages in graduate supervision, mentorship, and collaborative research at the forefront of cognitive science.