David Eagleman
Smart companies care deeply about creativity—the quality that makes us uniquely human.
One of the World’s Foremost Neuroscientists | Host of PBS’s The Brain | Scientific Advisor for HBO’s Westworld this is the science description this is the neuroscience description
How can we harness the brain for maximum creativity—at work, and school? In The Runaway Species, David Eagleman reveals how any organization can adopt a more innovative mindset by decoding how the mind actually works. In talks, he helps us embrace risk and failure, empower our employees, and build truly creative companies.
“The kind of guy who really does make being a neuroscientist look like fun.”
— The New York TimesTo many, creativity is anecdotal: a highly personal, largely mysterious process that either speaks to you or doesn’t. David Eagleman doesn’t see it that way. He starts with neuroscience—how the brain really functions—and shows that innovation doesn’t have to be a private, enigmatic exercise. Knowing how the mind works means we can understand human creativity—and how to harness it to transform companies, classrooms, and creators. His latest book, The Runaway Species: How Human Creativity Remakes the World is a stunning, full-color collaboration with composer Anthony Brandt on the foundations—and furthest reaches—of creativity. But this isn’t just a celebration of our unique minds: it’s a practical handbook for building more creative companies and institutions. Essentially, it’s about learning how we think—and learning how we can think differently.
Often called the Carl Sagan of neuroscience, he’s the scientific advisor on HBO’s Westworld, a bestselling author, and host of the new documentary The Creative Brain, now streaming on Netflix. Whether he’s expounding on the careful balance between routine and novelty, or how leaders can embrace risk and disruption, he provides a vivid, inspiring take on cultivating the right attitude for discovery. As the host of PBS’ Emmy-nominated series The Brain, Eagleman was the charismatic tour guide through the most impressive series—in content and dazzling style—ever produced on neuroscience. A Guggenheim Fellow and winner of the McGovern Award for Excellence in Biomedical Communication, he’s also traded jokes with Stephen Colbert and been featured in Italy’s Style magazine.
“The hottest thing in neuroscience”
— The TimesEagleman’s accolades—both popular and academic—prove his rare ability to make advanced science relevant, accessible, and fun. The Director of the Center of Science and Law, Eagleman is also the founder of BrainCheck, an exciting new app that test neurocognitive functions. Named a Science Educator of the Year by the Society of Neuroscience, he is also a research fellow in the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. His talk at TED on creating new senses for humans—illustrated by his original invention, the VEST (Versatile Extra-Sensory Transducer), which translates sounds into vibrations for deaf users—earned him a standing ovation on the main stage.
His widely celebrated books include New York Times bestseller Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain and The Brain: The Story of You, of which Stephen Fry says, “on every page there is a revelation so fantastic as to make one gasp.” His short fiction collection SUM was translated into 27 languages, and inspired U2 producer Brian Eno to write twelve new pieces of music, which they performed together at the Sydney Opera House. Recently, Eagleman’s critically acclaimed digital book Why The Net Matters was updated and reissued as an e-book (and audiobook) called The Safety Net: Surviving Pandemics and Other Disasters. In it, he reveals why the advent of the Internet has helped us sidestep the existential threats—from pandemics and natural disasters, to political corruption and economic meltdown—that have brought down previous civilizations. Regardless of the audience, Eagleman can unpack the full range of applications (for memory, business, decision-making, technology, education, the law, and more) we get from a more nuanced understanding of the brain—and make it fun.
“David Eagleman was fantastic. Some audience members noted that they felt he was the best speaker of the season, and one even said he was the best speaker from the past ten years! The audience was captivated and wanted more! He was an absolute joy to work with—so organized, humble and easy-going. We were so lucky to end our season with such a positive, upbeat and interesting speaker!”
Yahoo.com“David Eagleman was one of the most engaging, energetic, intelligent speakers we have had as a keynoter. He is approachable and sincere. We would readily ask him back again without any reservation!”
Virginia Association of Independent Schools“David was great! The feedback has been outstanding and was especially helpful to the smaller project team working on the store traffic issue. Thanks for all your help in making this happen, I couldn't be more pleased with the way it turned out!”
The GapSpeech Topics
The Safety Net Surviving Pandemics and Other Disasters
The Science of Lockdown What Happens to Our Brains in Isolation?
A Fine Balance Finding the Sweet Spot Between Novelty and Familiarity
Human brains seek a balance between exploiting knowledge already earned, and experiencing new surprises. After eons of development, this tension is perfectly—and predictably—refined: too much familiarity and we tune out; too much surprise and we become disoriented. How can companies consistently strike this fine balance when developing consumer products and services?
In this workshop, David Eagleman and Anthony Brandt invite companies to bring the projects their working on, struggling with, or ready to take to the next level, and together, run them through the innovation frameworks and best practices they developed in the process of researching The Runaway Species. Through intensive collaborative brainstorming sessions and real-time feedback from David and Anthony, audiences will generate a ton of ideas quickly, learn to embrace the right kind of risk, and come away inspired, empowered, and ready to innovate.
The Creative Company How to Embrace Innovation and Lean into the Future
Companies that want to take the lead in innovation have to wrestle with a three-headed problem: the future is hard to foresee, most ideas die, and even great concepts may not last. So: What does it take to become a truly creative company? In this talk, David Eagleman argues that all organizations must generate ideas—small, diverse, wild ideas, the more the better—to stay ahead in a world that is constantly changing. He’ll show you how to inspire employees and teams to greater heights, to work on “moonshot” concepts, to learn from failures (even fiascos), and to push beyond the expected. This is easier said than done, but Eagleman, the world’s coolest neuroscientist, is up to the task. Using a handful of great examples—and the advanced science that animates them—he shows you that there’s no one true way to innovate, and that the process is itself not set in stone: it’s something to be reconsidered and reinvigorated. Most importantly, he helps leaders break from “cognitive ossification,” which can stall progress through routine and expectation. The path to breakthrough new products and experiences is strewn with bad ideas—but, surprisingly, good ones, too. Eagleman helps us know which ideas to pursue, which to abandon, and why investing in even the most far-reaching possibilities might be the most practical thing you can do for your company.
The Runaway Species Transforming the World Through Human Creativity
Of all life on Earth, human beings are unique in their capacity to create—and remake—the world. But still, we know so little of this fundamental drive. Where does the urge to create come from? Do all creative acts share a similar set of qualities? And, importantly, is it a force we can all learn to cultivate?
In this moving examination of human creativity, David Eagleman applies the latest findings from the field of neuroscience to issues of immediate and practical importance. To uplift our schools and institutions, businesses and personal lives, Eagleman outlines ways we might stimulate our latent creative urges while nourishing those we already possess. Both a celebration and interrogation of the human spirit, this keynote can help audiences imagine a more creative future for all of us—at a time when innovation may be key to transforming, and saving, our world.
Livewired How the Brain Rewrites Its Own Circuitry
The brain is often portrayed as an organ with different regions dedicated to specific tasks. But that textbook model is wrong. The brain is not hardwired, David Eagleman contends—it is livewired. In this talk, Eagleman presents his new theory of infotropism: why the fundamental principle of the brain is information maximization. In the same way that plants grow toward light, brains reconfigure to boost data from the outside world. Follow Eagleman on a thrilling journey to discover how a child can function with one half of his brain removed, how a blind man can hit a baseball via a sensor on his tongue, how new devices and body plans can enhance our natural capacities, how paralyzed people will soon be able to dance in thought-controlled robotic suits, how we can build the next generation of devices based on the principles of the brain, and what all this has to do with why we dream at night. You will never think about your brain in the same way again.
Your Brain and the Law The Future of Biologically Informed Jurisprudence
Advances in neuroscience are beginning to reveal the limits of our criminal justice system. As scientists probe the brain, we begin to see how many neural problems are linked to anti-social, violent, and criminal behaviors. And as our biology changes, so too does our behavior—making the issue of criminal blameworthiness, of volition, much more complicated than we’ve traditionally understood. In this riveting keynote, David Eagleman—director of the Center for Science & Law—exposes the flaws of our punitive institutions, and helps us imagine a new legal system, more intrinsically tied to scientific research, and one that adjusts sentences, rehabilitation, and incentives depending upon the neurological make-up of the perpetrator. With reference to contemporary cases and the latest in the science of the brain, Eagleman outlines a more cost-effective, adaptable, and ultimately humane system for the benefit of all.
Related Links & Articles
The iPhone Didn't Emerge From Nothing. Here's What Came Before It
Excerpt from The Runaway Species
Why Open Offices Are the Answer … But Only for Now
Where Do New Ideas Come From?
How Your Brain Takes Good Ideas and Makes Them Better
The Brain on Trial
The Possibilian
The Soul Seeker
Related Posts
Interested? Read more news and articles about this fascinating keynote speaker
neuroscience
Your Brain is Plastic: A Live Q&A With Neuroscientist David Eagleman
On August 26th, world-renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman will join The Lavin Agency for a...
innovation & creativity
Building a Creative Company Isn’t Luck—It’s a Science. David Eagleman, the World’s Coolest Neuroscientist, Explains
As machines advance, human imagination will become a company’s most valuable resource. This, says...
innovation & creativity
Understand the Brain. Spark Creativity. The New Book from Westworld’s Scientific Advisor, David Eagleman
Neuroscientist David Eagleman “makes being a scientist look like fun” (The New York Times): he’s a...
science
BrainCheck: David Eagleman's New App Tests Cognitive Health in Under 5 Minutes
How well is your brain working? Just ask David Eagleman. A new iPad app developed by the visionary...
science
Watch More Compelling Scenes from The Brain with David Eagleman
Our calendars are marked: the new six-part series The Brain with David Eagleman debuts on PBS on...
science
The Brain with David Eagleman: A New TV Series Reveals the "Ultimate Story of Us"
"This is the story of how your life shapes your brain, and how your brain shapes your life," begins...
ted speakers
Can Humans Feel Data? Watch Neuroscientist David Eagleman's 2015 TED Talk
Can we create new senses for humans? Is it possible to feel information? Can we experience data the...
ted speakers
TED2015: Truth and Dare, Featuring Lavin Speakers David Eagleman and Neri Oxman
TED2015 starts today in Vancouver, and our President and CEO David Lavin is there for his 10th TED...
science
First Look: Livewired, A New Book by Neuroscientist David Eagleman
David Eagleman is one of a kind—a neuroscientist, Guggenheim Fellow, and bestselling author who...
science
The Future Of Being Human: David Eagleman, Jer Thorp in a new keynote
At Being Human 2013, a recent forward-thinking lecture series, Jer Thorp and David Eagleman...
exclusives
Why Does Time Seem To Slow Down In Dangerous Situations? David Eagleman
Have you ever wondered why time seems to pass by at a snail's pace sometimes? So did science speaker...
science
Why Sharing Science Matters: David Eagleman
Bringing research results from the lab into public discourse can sometimes be costly and time...
science
David Eagleman: Can Neuroscience Change The Justice System?
Our prison system works as a one-size-fits-all institution. Science speaker David Eagleman believes...
science
Time Perception & Keeping Secrets: David Eagleman In Big Think
Science speaker David Eagleman has unlocked fascinating new explanations about the way our brains...
science
Brain Vs Mind: David Eagleman On The True Driver Of Our Behavior
With the onset of President Obama's BRAIN Initiative, neuroscience has been pushed to the forefront...
science
Inception: David Eagleman Critiques The Film's Perception Of Time & Dreams
Inception, the nearly one billion dollar-grossing blockbuster film from director Christopher Nolan,...
science
Does Free Will Exist? David Eagleman Discusses Human Nature In TIME
"Under certain circumstances it might be useful to drop the question of free will and just assume...
neuroscience
Obama's Brain Activity Map Is a Good Investment: David Eagleman, NYT Op-Ed
In a New York Times Op-Ed, neuroscience speaker David Eagleman says that when it comes to what we...
science
We Live In The Past: David Eagleman On Our Perception Of Time [VIDEO]
Why is it that time seems to speed up as we get older and slow down drastically when we're in a life...
big data
Using Big Data To Understand & Prevent Violent Crime: David Eagleman
"We treat incarceration as a one-size-fits-all solution," David Eagleman explains in a recent...
science
FORA.tv Calls David Eagleman's Science Keynote One Of The Best Of The Year
2012 was a good year for David Eagleman, a renowned neuroscientist and internationally bestselling...
health
David Eagleman: Mental Illness Is Real—And It's Important We Understand It
In the wake of the the tragic shootings that took place last week at Sandy Hook Elementary in...
science
The Subconscious Mind: David Eagleman's Keynote On Deep & Secret Thoughts
The mind is a very mysterious thing. Even though we have learned a great deal about how it operates...
science
David Eagleman: Novelty Can Change Your Perception of Time [VIDEO]
"Why does time speed up as you grow older?" science speaker David Eagleman asks in a new talk. "It's...
pop tech 2012
Art & Science Collide: David Eagleman & Jer Thorp At PopTech 2012
“Good science and good art are the same,” David Eagleman said in a recent interview. "Science and...
live events
Lavin Speakers at Pop Tech Conference: David Eagleman and Jer Thorp [PHOTOS]
Neuroscience speaker David Eagleman and big data speaker Jer Thorp delivered talks at PopTech 2012...
social media
Your Brain on Social Media: Neuroscience Speaker David Eagleman [VIDEO]
How much of an impact does social media have on our brains? According to neuroscience speaker David...
science
Guilty: Neuroscience Speaker David Eagleman Explores the Criminal Mind [VIDEO]
“At some point there will be a crime committed...and we will find that the perpetrator had a brain...
net matters
Internet Down! David Eagleman Discusses a Very Real New Threat
In a recent CNN article, neuroscience speaker David Eagleman made a foreboding prediction about the...
science
The Great Neuroscience Debate: David Eagleman Defends the Brain
In a recent article in The Guardian, Lavin speaker David Eagleman debated Raymond Tallis on the age-...
science
David Eagleman: Can Neuroscience Help End the War On Drugs?
This week, neuroscientist David Eagleman spoke at a Google 'Debates' series addressing the war on...
the brain
Meet David Eagleman, "the Malcolm Gladwell of Neuroscience"
We know neuroscience speaker David Eagleman has written a New York Times bestselling book about our...
the brain
"There's Somebody Else in My Head?" Stephen Colbert Talks to David Eagleman
Last night, David Eagleman—one of the most acclaimed neuroscientists today, and certainly the...
the brain
David Eagleman's Mind-bending New Book, Incognito
We might like to think our brains are fundamentally created equal, but David Eagleman, all-star...
the brain
In Defense of Popular Science: Neuroscientist David Eagleman
In a New Statesman interview, neuroscientist David Eagleman talks with incredible candor about a...
neuroscience
David Eagleman: Why Our Legal System Needs Neuroscience
In an article in today’s Daily Telegraph, David Eagleman — acclaimed neuroscientist and author of...
book reviews
With Incognito, David Eagleman Proves Himself a 'Brilliant Scientist with a Gift for Gab.'
After releasing his last book, Why the Net Matters, as an iPad app, neuroscientist David Eagleman...
neuroscience
Neuroscientist David Eagleman: What Motivates People to Care About a Brand?
Neuroscientist David Eagleman, whose unique brand of “guerilla science” was recently featured on...
book reviews
David Eagleman's Sum: A Deceptively Slim Mash-Up of Science, Faith and Literary Fiction
“I’ve never encountered a book quite like the marvelously intelligent and imaginative Sum,” writes...
television
NOVA Profiles Neuroscience Speaker David Eagleman
Neuroscience speaker David Eagleman — who released his latest book, Why the Net Matters, as an iPad-...
technology
Why The Net Matters: David Eagleman Releases Latest Book as iPad App
Non-fiction fans, you knew this day was coming. And now it’s here. David Eagleman — novelist,...
Your Brain is Plastic: A Live Q&A With Neuroscientist David Eagleman
On August 26th, world-renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman will join The Lavin Agency for a...
Building a Creative Company Isn’t Luck—It’s a Science. David Eagleman, the World’s Coolest Neuroscientist, Explains
As machines advance, human imagination will become a company’s most valuable resource. This, says...
Understand the Brain. Spark Creativity. The New Book from Westworld’s Scientific Advisor, David Eagleman
Neuroscientist David Eagleman “makes being a scientist look like fun” (The New York Times): he’s a...
BrainCheck: David Eagleman's New App Tests Cognitive Health in Under 5 Minutes
How well is your brain working? Just ask David Eagleman. A new iPad app developed by the visionary...
Watch More Compelling Scenes from The Brain with David Eagleman
Our calendars are marked: the new six-part series The Brain with David Eagleman debuts on PBS on...
The Brain with David Eagleman: A New TV Series Reveals the "Ultimate Story of Us"
"This is the story of how your life shapes your brain, and how your brain shapes your life," begins...
Can Humans Feel Data? Watch Neuroscientist David Eagleman's 2015 TED Talk
Can we create new senses for humans? Is it possible to feel information? Can we experience data the...
TED2015: Truth and Dare, Featuring Lavin Speakers David Eagleman and Neri Oxman
TED2015 starts today in Vancouver, and our President and CEO David Lavin is there for his 10th TED...
First Look: Livewired, A New Book by Neuroscientist David Eagleman
David Eagleman is one of a kind—a neuroscientist, Guggenheim Fellow, and bestselling author who...
The Future Of Being Human: David Eagleman, Jer Thorp in a new keynote
At Being Human 2013, a recent forward-thinking lecture series, Jer Thorp and David Eagleman...
Why Does Time Seem To Slow Down In Dangerous Situations? David Eagleman
Have you ever wondered why time seems to pass by at a snail's pace sometimes? So did science speaker...
Why Sharing Science Matters: David Eagleman
Bringing research results from the lab into public discourse can sometimes be costly and time...
David Eagleman: Can Neuroscience Change The Justice System?
Our prison system works as a one-size-fits-all institution. Science speaker David Eagleman believes...
Time Perception & Keeping Secrets: David Eagleman In Big Think
Science speaker David Eagleman has unlocked fascinating new explanations about the way our brains...
Brain Vs Mind: David Eagleman On The True Driver Of Our Behavior
With the onset of President Obama's BRAIN Initiative, neuroscience has been pushed to the forefront...
Inception: David Eagleman Critiques The Film's Perception Of Time & Dreams
Inception, the nearly one billion dollar-grossing blockbuster film from director Christopher Nolan,...
Does Free Will Exist? David Eagleman Discusses Human Nature In TIME
"Under certain circumstances it might be useful to drop the question of free will and just assume...
Obama's Brain Activity Map Is a Good Investment: David Eagleman, NYT Op-Ed
In a New York Times Op-Ed, neuroscience speaker David Eagleman says that when it comes to what we...
We Live In The Past: David Eagleman On Our Perception Of Time [VIDEO]
Why is it that time seems to speed up as we get older and slow down drastically when we're in a life...
Using Big Data To Understand & Prevent Violent Crime: David Eagleman
"We treat incarceration as a one-size-fits-all solution," David Eagleman explains in a recent...
FORA.tv Calls David Eagleman's Science Keynote One Of The Best Of The Year
2012 was a good year for David Eagleman, a renowned neuroscientist and internationally bestselling...
David Eagleman: Mental Illness Is Real—And It's Important We Understand It
In the wake of the the tragic shootings that took place last week at Sandy Hook Elementary in...
The Subconscious Mind: David Eagleman's Keynote On Deep & Secret Thoughts
The mind is a very mysterious thing. Even though we have learned a great deal about how it operates...
David Eagleman: Novelty Can Change Your Perception of Time [VIDEO]
"Why does time speed up as you grow older?" science speaker David Eagleman asks in a new talk. "It's...
Art & Science Collide: David Eagleman & Jer Thorp At PopTech 2012
“Good science and good art are the same,” David Eagleman said in a recent interview. "Science and...
Lavin Speakers at Pop Tech Conference: David Eagleman and Jer Thorp [PHOTOS]
Neuroscience speaker David Eagleman and big data speaker Jer Thorp delivered talks at PopTech 2012...
Your Brain on Social Media: Neuroscience Speaker David Eagleman [VIDEO]
How much of an impact does social media have on our brains? According to neuroscience speaker David...
Guilty: Neuroscience Speaker David Eagleman Explores the Criminal Mind [VIDEO]
“At some point there will be a crime committed...and we will find that the perpetrator had a brain...
Internet Down! David Eagleman Discusses a Very Real New Threat
In a recent CNN article, neuroscience speaker David Eagleman made a foreboding prediction about the...
The Great Neuroscience Debate: David Eagleman Defends the Brain
In a recent article in The Guardian, Lavin speaker David Eagleman debated Raymond Tallis on the age-...
David Eagleman: Can Neuroscience Help End the War On Drugs?
This week, neuroscientist David Eagleman spoke at a Google 'Debates' series addressing the war on...
Meet David Eagleman, "the Malcolm Gladwell of Neuroscience"
We know neuroscience speaker David Eagleman has written a New York Times bestselling book about our...
"There's Somebody Else in My Head?" Stephen Colbert Talks to David Eagleman
Last night, David Eagleman—one of the most acclaimed neuroscientists today, and certainly the...
David Eagleman's Mind-bending New Book, Incognito
We might like to think our brains are fundamentally created equal, but David Eagleman, all-star...
In Defense of Popular Science: Neuroscientist David Eagleman
In a New Statesman interview, neuroscientist David Eagleman talks with incredible candor about a...
David Eagleman: Why Our Legal System Needs Neuroscience
In an article in today’s Daily Telegraph, David Eagleman — acclaimed neuroscientist and author of...
With Incognito, David Eagleman Proves Himself a 'Brilliant Scientist with a Gift for Gab.'
After releasing his last book, Why the Net Matters, as an iPad app, neuroscientist David Eagleman...
Neuroscientist David Eagleman: What Motivates People to Care About a Brand?
Neuroscientist David Eagleman, whose unique brand of “guerilla science” was recently featured on...
David Eagleman's Sum: A Deceptively Slim Mash-Up of Science, Faith and Literary Fiction
“I’ve never encountered a book quite like the marvelously intelligent and imaginative Sum,” writes...
NOVA Profiles Neuroscience Speaker David Eagleman
Neuroscience speaker David Eagleman — who released his latest book, Why the Net Matters, as an iPad-...
Why The Net Matters: David Eagleman Releases Latest Book as iPad App
Non-fiction fans, you knew this day was coming. And now it’s here. David Eagleman — novelist,...
Related Links & Articles
The Life-Changing Power of Breath: Introducing New Speaker James Nestor
The way we breathe has changed dramatically over the course of human evolution—and not for the...
Mastering Your Self-Talk: Introducing Award-Winning Psychologist Ethan Kross
The most important conversation we have each day is the one we have with ourselves. In his debut...
YA Sensation Angie Thomas Returns With a New Book
Concrete Rose, the prequel to Angie Thomas’ wildly popular novel The Hate U Give, will hit shelves...
Lavin’s Holiday Gift Guide: A Book for Everyone on Your List
Is there any better way to spend the holidays than curled up with a good book? As this year comes...
Thrive While Working Remotely: Introducing Lavin Speaker Alexandra Samuel
Love it or hate it, remote work isn’t going anywhere—at least not anytime soon. So why not learn...