Rounds of Thought - Lectures & Pints - Shane O'Mara

Can societies learn before crisis forces them to? In this thought-provoking talk, Professor Shane O'Mara explores why groups sometimes make poor decisions and what neuroscience and psychology can teach us about building better societies. Drawing on his research into learning, memory, decision-making, and human behaviour, he examines how individual minds become collective decisions and introduces his concept of the 'Cognitive Republic' a new framework for creating smarter, fairer, and more resilient communities. Engaging and accessible, this talk offers fresh insights into leadership, democracy, and how societies can better adapt to the challenges of an increasingly complex world. Professor Shane O'Mara is Professor of Experimental Brain Research at Trinity College Dublin and a leading neuroscientist specialising in learning, memory, decision-making, and human behaviour. A Fellow of Trinity College Dublin, Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, and Member of the Royal Irish Academy, he has published more than 140 scientific papers and is the author of several acclaimed books, including In Praise of Walking. His research explores how individuals and groups think, learn, and make decisions in the real world.