First Fridays Connected, the virtual series, returns with a new format but still bringing you lively discussions, DJ sets, and live music performances wherever you may be. Hosted and Moderated by neuroscientist and science communicator, Dr. Yewande Pearse (February, March) and biomedical scientist and international advocate for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) inclusion, Dr. Knatokie Ford (April, May, June). This season we'll explore Los Angeles at the Intersections.
First Fridays Connected Mixtape 2021: Selections from the amazing live performances from this season's First Fridays Connected. Stay Tuned for details on the upcoming 2022 season!
2021 Season: Los Angeles at the Intersections
We asked what’s been on your mind, and Angelenos delivered! The dynamic communities in our global metropolis, Los Angeles, responded with a flood of forward-thinking ideas, civic mindedness, a commitment to environmentalism, and an overwhelming pride in our collective culture and resources. For this season’s First Fridays Connected 2021, we’ll explore Los Angeles at the Intersections, a celebration of science and culture. Neighborhood murals reflecting this city’s state of mind, climate activism across all communities, the transforming habitats of humans and animals, and cuisines of the city as L.A.’s cultural signifiers, we’ll find that the ties that connect the city together are strongest at the intersections.
2021 First Fridays Connected
Feb 5: Solace In Science
Mar 5: Home x Habitats
Apr 2: Climate Crisis
May 7: Culture x Cuisine
Jun 4: Murals of Los Angeles
Our Hosts For the 2021 Season
FEBRUARY/MARCH
Dr. Yewande Pearse is a neuroscientist and science communicator. She gained her Ph.D. from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London, and is a Postdoctoral Fellow at The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA. Dr. Pearse hosts a monthly radio show and podcast called Sound Science on Los Angeles's legendary Dublab radio, and is host of Inside Biotech, a podcast from Biotech Connection Los Angeles. As an advocate for science accessibility, Yewande has spoken at various events at the intersection of science and culture, has appeared as a guest expert in several videos for the meditation app Headspace, and written for TEDMED and Massive Science.
APRIL/MAY/JUNE
Dr. Knatokie Ford is Founder and CEO of Fly Sci® Enterprise, an education and media consulting organization focused on leveraging the power of storytelling to promote social change. As a biomedical scientist and social entrepreneur, she is an international advocate for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) inclusion. Dr. Ford previously served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Obama White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
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