'Our Mysterious Brain' - national Rutherford Medal lecture tour announced

How does our brain remember – or forget? What happens to the nerve cells in our brain to cause this? Emeritus Distinguished Professor Cliff Abraham FRSNZ will speak about our mysterious brains, and ideas for new treatments emerging from the discoveries made by his research team. 

How the brain stores memories has long been mysterious. This "fascinating mystery" has inspired Prof Abraham's research for decades: "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?"

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 Aparangi in Aotearoa New Zealand. It recognises pre-eminent research, scholarship, or innovation. 

Tour dates

Book your tickets for the following locations and dates: 

• Auckland: 19 May 
• Christchurch: 27 May 
• Hawke’s Bay: 9 June 
• Nelson: 10 June 
• Dunedin: 18 June 
• Wānaka: 26 June (bookings not required)
• Wellington: 14 July 
• Manawatū: 21 July 

Biography

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.