Language expert presented research, Dartmouth's efforts
Published December 1, 2003; Category: ARTS & SCIENCES
A 400-year anniversary is an important milestone, and Professor Laura Ann Petitto was asked to participate in the festivities as the Pontifical Academy of Sciences of Vatican City celebrated in early November.
In early November, Dartmouth Professor Laura Ann Petitto met Pope John Paul II as part of the 400th anniversary of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences of Vatican City. Petitto, one of the world's leading scientists in the emerging field of educational neuroscience, was invited to the celebration both to present her research on language development and brain processes and to discuss Dartmouth's initiatives regarding this new discipline. Credit: Rodolfo Felici.
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For this occasion, members of the academy, which consists of scientists worldwide, chose two scientific fields of research to highlight during the celebration. Academy members told Petitto and the other invited scientists that they judged the two disciplines as likely to make contributions to the improvement of human life in the next 100 years. The first, the emerging field of "Mind, Brain and Education," also called educational neuroscience, delves into the complexities of the environmental and biological processes that contribute to the growth of the human brain throughout child development. The second, "Stem Cell Technology and other Innovative Therapies," involves genetic research to address a variety of diseases and related bioethical issues.
As one of the leading scientists working in educational neuroscience, Petitto, Professor in the departments of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Education, and Chair of Education, was invited both to present her research on language development and brain processes and to discuss Dartmouth's initiatives regarding this new discipline as part of a series of panel discussions Nov. 7-11.
"I was very happy that Dartmouth's work to link education and the brain was recognized," says Petitto. "It's a fairly new discipline that has exploded and now Dartmouth has achieved this international recognition."
Pope John Paul II, in his welcoming address to the academy members and invited scientists at the 400th anniversary gathering, said, "In encouraging your work I have emphasized the spiritual dimension always present in the search for truth. I have also affirmed that scientific research must be directed toward the common good of society and the integral development of its individual members."
By SUSAN KNAPP
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