Abstract: We are at a pivotal point in human history.  Research in the laboratory, the classroom and in society has shed new knowledge and understanding on, how humans learn, behave and build relationships. For instance, this research has revealed that cognition and emotion are both essential for learning. We also recognize that neurodiversity, which is the subtle variation in how an individual human brain differs in structure and function, is not only a celebration of the human condition but also key to human flourishing.

My research and experience over the last two decades has explored cognition, emotion and neurodiversity in both laboratory and education policy.. My talk will provide a broad overview of our research specifically discuss and share, insights into music and emotion, their role in learning in autism spectrum disorder and the need to train the emotional brain in education to cultivate not just human well-being but human flourishing.

About the Speaker: Nandini Chatterjee Singh is a cognitive neuroscientist and currently Senior Project Office at UNESCO MGIEP (Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development), in New Delhi, India. Following a successful research career at the National Brain Research Centre, India where she conducted brain imaging research on biliteracy, dyslexia, autism, music and emotion. She is focused on translating neuroscience research from laboratory to the classroom. She joined UNESCO MGIEP in 2017, where she leads research and development focused on mainstreaming social emotional learning (SEL) into education systems.  She designs courses that combine SEL with cognition and academic knowledge using interactive, immersive, digital pedagogies including digital games. Her purpose is to reimagine education, using the science of learning to build societies that are equitable, peaceful and sustainable.