The science forum had a remarkable turnout as guest speaker Harriet Bowden, an associate professor in Spanish at UT, explored the topic of how the brain learns language.

Bowden started learning Spanish as a young child and continues to speak it throughout her successful career. She spent a semester of college in Spain, studying abroad, and later went back to Spain to study and receive her master's degree. 

Bowden's main topic of research is second language acquisition. The concept might sound complicated, but the lecture simplified things and gave a clear thought process to the audience. 

Student's should definitely come out and enjoy these interesting topics. They are free for the public and you are able to gain knowledge in fields you did not know before. Mark Littmann, professor in science communication at UT

"Learning about the study of acquisition can tell us how the brain works with second language and how it can be useful to certain parts of the brain," explained Bowden.

Bowden also gave the crowd some encouraging words saying, "There is hope in a second language, and the brain can learn to receive it like a native, you just have to work at it."

Bowden ended her discussion with an explanation of a new, conceptual approach to research. She believes that if researchers use the methodologies from neuroscience to investigate a second language, they will be able to better understand how to teach the language more efficiently.

Mark Littmann, professor in science communication and organizer for the science forum, is very pleased with the lineup of the Fall 2009 speakers.

"Student's should definitely come out and enjoy these interesting topics. They are free for the public and you are able to gain knowledge in fields you did not know before," Littmann said.

Lydia Barry, graduate teaching associate in Spanish said, "This forum made it very clear that you can learn a second language after puberty efficiently."

"You can become a native like speaker," Barry said. "With the added lecture notes I understand now that you can use different memory systems to do so."

The UT Science Forum meets every Friday at noon.