The Amazing Ear: The Science Behind Hearing
The human ear is an extraordinary system - sophisticated, delicate, and incredibly sensitive. This talk takes you on a journey from the tiny vibrations of sound waves to the firing of neurons in the brain. Along the way, we’ll meet some of the ear’s unsung heroes: the smallest bones in the body, the microscopic hair cells that dance to sound, and the neurons that carry their signals to the brain. We’ll explore how this amazing system allows us to hear the world around us, and what happens when it doesn’t work as it should. You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at how we test hearing, from simple tones and words to advanced brainwave recordings. Whether you’re curious about the science of sound, fascinated by the ear’s inner workings, or wondering how we measure something as subtle and complex as hearing, this talk reveals the surprising story of how we hear.
Bio
Greg O'Beirne is Professor of Audiology in the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing at the University of Canterbury, and a researcher in the New Zealand Institute of Language, Brain and Behaviour. He is passionate about teaching and was the 2021 UCSA Student Choice Lecturer of the Year for the Faculty of Science. His research interests include auditory electrophysiology (the measurement of tiny electrical signals from the auditory system), and the development of new and improved tests of hearing and speech discrimination in multiple languages, including a new suite of speech tests in te reo Māori.
Event
Tuesday 16 September, 8:00pm @Two Thumb Manchester, 352 Manchester Street, Christchurch Central 8013
Also speaking at this location at 6:30pm is Dr Aisling O'Sullivan
