On May 24, from noon-1:30 pm, the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies' Center for Neurotechnology Studies presented a lecture by visiting scholars Adriana Gini, MD, and Vito Antonio Amodio, MD, PhD. The program was hosted by Prof. James Giordano, PhD, director of the Center for Neurotechnology Studies. Registration is required.

Dr. Gini presented a talk entitled "Is Morality Innate?"in which she addressed the intriguing question of whether we are born with a sense of right and wrong. Recent studies in infants have shown that rudimentary moral cognition is present, and that education and culture are important elements to moderate and shape it.  Dr. Gini explored the implications of these findings, including whether this knowledge could lead us to employ neurotechnology to achieve moral enhancement/enrichment.

Read more: CNS Guest Lecture May 24

On April 23, the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies  presented a guest lecture by Daniel Hall-Flavin, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Consultant in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at the Mayo Clinic.  Dr. Hall-Flavin's talk was entitled "The Cave that DSM Built? What Arrhythmias and the School of Athens May Have to Teach Us About the Future of Psychiatry."
 
In his talk, Dr. Hall-Flavin addressed how recent advances in medicine have enabled earlier and more specifically targeted interventions to treat disease. Consequently, there has been a substantial decline in both morbidity and mortality for many conditions.  Many illnesses, previously considered fatal, are now known as chronic disease states. However, despite advances made in the field of psychiatry, mental illness continues to be cited as the preeminent cause of global disease burden. This is due to a number of factors, including: 1) the lack of universal consensus as to what constitutes a mental disorder; 2) the dearth of knowledge of biological causation of currently classified mental disorders; and, 3) the inability to target interventions aimed at specific pathophysiologic points at less advanced stages of disease evolution.

Read more: April CCNELSI Lecture

On April 23, the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies' International Center for Terrorism Studies presented a panel discussion entitled "Central Asia Strategic Outlook: Quo Vadis?"  The program addressed recent developments including the change of government in Kyrgyzstan; Kazakhstan's support for nuclear non-proliferation; and issues related to terrorism, insurgency, and Russian and Chinese roles in the region.  Click below to watch video of the event.  (Due to technical difficulties with a webcast internet connection, the video has been split into two segments. )   

Please note: The views of guest speakers are the speakers' alone and do not represent the views of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies or its staff.  The Potomac Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit research organization dedicated to the free exchange of ideas for the purpose of informing public policy.

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The International Center for Terrorism Studies at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies held a special seminar on Tuesday, March 23, from noon until 2 pm, entitled "Inter-Regional Security Challenges: Crime and Terrorism in the Maghreb and Europe."

Panelists included Margaret H. Nardi, Director, Office of Maghreb Affairs, Near Eastern Bureau, US Department of State; Prof. William Olson, Near East and South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University; Dr. Fernando Jimenez,
Former Senior Official of the Government of Spain; and Charlie Szrom, Program Manager, Critical Threats Project, American Enterprise Institute.