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Wallace J. Nichols , a marine biologist and environmentalist, has proposed an idea that may galvanize conservation movements based on neuroscientific evidence that suggests our brains deeply crave the ocean. In fact, he launched what he calls a mind-ocean initiative named BLUEMiND , with the hopes of merging the fields of cognitive science and oceanography. The group will be holding its third conference this May to facilitate discussions regarding the burgeoning field of neuroconservationism , with a major focus on exploring the biological basis of our emotional connection with the ocean and the environment. Your brain on ocean A Responsibility Problem According to many scientists, the verdict is in: climate change is real and human-caused. [1] Fortunately, debates regarding the science of global warming have somewhat subsided and discussions regarding solutions have emerged. Needless to say, the world will continue to heat up and the oceans will continue to rise absent large-scale...

Last month, I wrote a post called “ Uncovering the Neurocognitive Systems for 'Help This Child ,'” where I suggested that understanding certain facts about our brains is not enough to get us to do the 'right thing.’I argued that we also have to 'outsmart' our least rational tendencies and get ourselves to apply our knowledge to real-life problems. This month, I want to explore a different aspect of the relationship between knowledge and practical action. I want to ask, 'What happens when researchers ground their work in a controversial scientific framework, but use it to introduce a set of ideas that could make a meaningful contribution?' The case I have in mind is Darcia Narvaez and Jenny Vaydich ’s use of Paul D. MacLean ’s ‘ Triune Brain Theory ’ to ground work on emotional and ethical ‘expertise development.’ Jenny Vaydich Darcia Narvaez In their paper entitled “ Moral development and behavior under the spotlight of the neurobiological sciences ,” Narva...