Our Mysterious Brain: The Making and Breaking of Memories - AUCKLAND

Emeritus Distinguished Professor Cliff Abraham FRSNZ won the Rutherford Medal in 2025. He will speak about our mysterious brains, and ideas for new treatments emerging from the discoveries made by his research team. 

"The brain is such a complex machine, but it's just made of cells. How do they perform the operations that lead to something as important as storing information? This fascinating mystery has inspired my research for decades" – Cliff Abraham

About the talk

How the brain stores memories has long been mysterious. Intensive research over decades has revealed the mechanisms that change connections between nerve cells in the brain and allow memories to be stored. These mechanisms are affected by a variety of internal and external signals, from genetics to environmental stressors. Importantly, this knowledge helps explain memory decline in neurological disorders, leading to revolutionary ideas for new treatments.

The Rutherford Medal is the highest honour awarded by the Royal Society Te Apārangi in Aotearoa New Zealand. It recognises pre-eminent research, scholarship, or innovation. This talk is hosted by the Society, with support from the Auckland Museum Institute.

About the speaker

Emeritus Distinguished Professor Wickliffe (Cliff) Abraham FRSNZ, of Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – the University of Otago, was awarded the Rutherford Medal in 2025 for breakthroughs in understanding of the neural mechanisms of memory and for providing inspirational leadership for neuroscience in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Prof Abraham established the Brain Health Research Centre at the University and most recently co-led the national Aotearoa Brain Project – Kaupapa Roro o Aotearoa. He is passionate about translating his fundamental research into treatments for neurological disease, as well as mentoring and inspiring the next generation of neuroscientists.