2024 Owens Lecture
(Pictured left to right: Alan Flurry, Dani Bassett, Perry Zurn. Photo Credit: Jason Thrasher)
The 2024 William A. Owens Lecture, titled “Curious Minds: The Power of Connection,” brought together an audience of students and faculty from across campus. Hosted by Alan Flurry, director of communications for the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, the event featured a conversation with Dr. Perry Zurn and Dr. Dani Bassett, identical twins whose collaborative work transcends disciplinary boundaries to explore the intricate dynamics of curiosity.
“Curious Minds: The Power of Connection,” a book by co-authors Dr. Zurn and Dr. Bassett served as the focal point of the discussion.
Dr. Zurn, a Provost Associate Professor of Philosophy at American University, is a distinguished scholar in the fields of philosophy and critical theory and provided unique perspectives on curiosity studies that enriched the dialogue.
Dr. Bassett, the distinguished J. Peter Skirkanich Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and renowned for their groundbreaking work in neural and systems engineering, emphasized the pivotal role of curiosity in unraveling the complexities of human brain networks.
From philosophical reflections to innovative neuroscience, Dr. Zurn and Dr. Bassett explained the transformative power of curiosity, emphasizing its role in strengthening the bonds that tie us together as a society.