Talk: Our brains, our selves

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2026.

Is it our background that creates our identities? Or our families, where we lived, how we were brought up and educated, the jobs we’ve held? Yes, all of the above, but more fundamental than any of these is our brain. This is never more evident than if we lose even a single one of our cognitive abilities. People who develop a brain disorder can find that their identity, their sense of self, can undergo dramatic changes.

This is at the heart of the story told in Our Brains, Our Selves – winner of the 2025 Trivedi Science Book prize. The book’s author, Oxford University neurologist Masud Husain, joins rheumatologist, comedian and author of Are You Really the Doctor?, Matt Hutchinson, in conversation at the Summer Science Exhibition. They will delve into the topic of how our brains create our identity, how that identity can be changed, and sometimes even be restored.

This event is part of the science book talks strand at Summer Science Exhibition 2026.

Attending the event

This event will be held in Theatre 1 at the Royal Society on Sunday 5 July 2026, 3.30pm – 4pm.

• Free to attend as part of Summer Science Exhibition on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to seat availability. We recommend that visitors arrive 10-15 minutes before the session
• You can book advance priority tickets via Eventbrite. For entry slots where priority tickets are now fully booked, walk-up tickets will be available, subject to building capacity. Please be aware you may need to queue for entry
• This talk will take place in person
• A recording of this talk will be available later on theRoyal Society YouTube channel
• Live subtitles will be available
• Travel and accessibility information and details on planning your visit - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements
• Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café

For all enquiries, please email us.