Mark Williams | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Bio

My new book “The Connected Species: How the Evolution of the Human Brain Can Save the World” is a #1 Best Seller. Mathew Green, the host of The Art of Teaching Podcast recently wrote “Mark's book was one of the best books I have ever read.”

I have worked with thousands of students, teachers, health professionals, and company directors keen to understand how their brains work, how to perform optimally and maintain a healthy brain. I run programs on the neuroscience of learning, the neuroscience of emotions, how our brains create our reality, and the impact of modern technologies on our brains.

I have an extensive academic background in brain research and teaching. I am a professor of cognitive neuroscience, with over 25 years experience conducting behavioral and brain imaging research focusing on our social skills and how we learn. I have received numerous awards for both my teaching and research, taught the fundamentals of neuroscience to a wide range of students, as well as published more than 70 scientific articles and worked at MIT in the USA and multiple universities in Australia.

I draw on my extensive scientific background to work with schools, companies and the public to develop evidence-based practices using neuroscience to enhance our education, work and personal lives. My work has been highlighted in the media both locally [e.g., The Project, Mirror Mirror (Channel Ten), Our Brain, Magic and the Brain, Music and the Brain, Making Australia Happy (ABC), Sunrise (Channel 7), Screen Time is Affecting Learning (SkyNews)] and internationally [e.g., The Guardian (UK), New York Times (USA), Economist, New Scientist, Leading Edge, (BBC: UK), Science in Action (BBC; International)].

Current position (2)

Director

Rethinking the Brain

Professor

Macquarie University

Degrees (4)

Research Scientist

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2005 to 2007

Academic

Melbourne University

2002 to 2005

PhD (Medicine)

Monash University

1999 to 2002

BSc (Hons)

Monash University

1997 to 1999

Presentations

Presentations (4)

How to create a brain healthy organisation

The most important asset in any organization is…the brains of your people!

We offer insights and information based on decades of research on how the human brain works. Our science-based development, training, and systemic change programs provide all the facts and none of the neuromyths.

In the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in our understanding of the human brain, and how it functions and learns. Many of the older ideas and strategies around learning and memory are incorrect. Recent findings paint a very different picture of the human brain and its capacity for productivity, innovation, and creativity. We have the opportunity to learn and adapt our practices to incorporate many of these findings into new strategies. This course will cover many of the recent findings and discuss the new concepts and ideas around neuroscience in a relevant and practical manner.

Doing Digital Differently

This program can help address the many problems that smartphones and other devices are creating. Productivity, learning, resilience, curiosity, tolerance, and emotional intelligence are all declining whilst stress, anxiety, depression, and suicide are rising. Participants will learn about the evolution of modern technology and the applications that influence so much of our lives. They will also learn how our brains learn and adapt, and why modern technology can be addictive and potentially harmful. They will hear about why it is important to disconnect from their devices to improve their well-being. Most importantly, they will learn simple strategies to get back the time and motivation to connect, socialize, innovate, contribute, and live in the real world.

The neuroscience of habits and how they can be hacked

Our modern lifestyle and constantly evolving technology play havoc with our habits and routines. Many modern devices are designed to capture your attention and drive you to distraction. They are hacking your normal habitual behavior. This is affecting productivity, resilience, curiosity, creativity, innovation, and mental health.

Habitual behavior is an adaptive mechanism that evolved to allow us to concentrate on other things. Think about all the things you do every day without concentrating on them – making coffee/tea, driving to work, showering, brushing your teeth. checking your email etc. How and why our brains can do this is fascinating, and understanding this provides simple ways you can change habits to become more productive both at home and at work.

How to Communicate Better

We are a social species that evolved a brain that is driven to connect and communicate. But most of this evolution occurred hundreds of thousands of years before we had sophisticated language. Face and expression perception, eye gaze, body language, touch, and pheromones all change how we perceive what others are saying. These vital and automatic processes involved in communication occur outside our awareness and impact on the way we understand what other people are trying to communicate to us. Understanding the interaction of these signals will enable you to connect and communicate more effectively.

• Connection is key before real communication can occur
• Communication is not only verbal or written
• Most of communication occurs without our awareness
• How to communicate better

Mark will give very practical advice on how to connect and communicate with a range of people.