CafeLitt 106:Mirrors in the Brain - How Our Minds Share Actions and Emotions

Subject: Mirrors in the Brain - How Our Minds Share Actions and Emotions
Date: Thursday 29th. Jan 2009 19:00
Presented by: Shahin Zanganhpour
Place: Basement of Thomson House (Dining room),3650 McTavish St., Montreal, QC, H3A 1Y2
Metro: Peel (sortie Metcalfe) or McGill sortie University
Bus 144 (Map) (Schedule)

Recent findings are rapidly expanding our understanding of a new class of brain cells -- mirror neurons. Some scientists speculate that a mirror system in people's brains forms the basis for social behavior, for our ability to imitate, acquire language, and show empathy and understanding. It also may have played a role in the evolution of speech. Shahin will present an overview of the functional properties of the mirror system as well as a very brief historical look at the discovery of this marvellous system. After discussing the role of mirror neurons in understanding action and imitation, he will end the presentation with an examination of the link between the mirror system and some arguably unique human domains, such as language and culture.

CafeCinema V:Gozaresh(1977) by Abbas Kiarostami

Movie: Gozaresh(1977) by Abbas Kiarostami
Presented by: Morad Sadeghi
Date: 18:00 Sunday 25th Jan 2009
Address: VA - Visual Arts Building 1395 René Lévesque W. Room 323 in the 3rd floor,
Metro: Guy Concordia
CafeCinema Sessions are in English
Enterence: 5$ (this will be for 2 sessions. If you have participated the previous session, you can just show your last ticket(we have the names)).

CafeLitt 105: "The Need for Persian Scientific Language"

Subject: "The Need for Persian Scientific Language"(نیاز به زبان علمی پارسی)
Date: 22th. Jan 2009 19:00
Presented by: Yusef Amiri
Place: Basement of Thomson House (Dining room),3650 McTavish St., Montreal, QC, H3A 1Y2
Metro: Peel (sortie Metcalfe) or McGill sortie University
Bus 144 (Map) (Schedule)

The outline of the talks is includes:
- a quick review of the history of Persian language from the ancient time to present (10-15 minutes)
- formation of European scientific languages and terminology
- Persian Academies (Farhangestan-ha)
- the characteristics of scientific language and terminology
- our choices and why choosing Persian?
- capabilities of Persian in handling scientific needs
- the obstacles for improving Persian
- examples of successful works

CafeLitt 104:French Revolution II

Subject: French Revolution II
Date: 15 th. Jan 2009 19:00
Presented by: Shahdad Heydari
Place: Basement of Thomson House (Dining room),3650 McTavish St., Montreal, QC, H3A 1Y2
Metro: Peel (sortie Metcalfe) or McGill sortie University
Bus 144 (Map) (Schedule)

The french revolution destroyed age-old cultural, institutional, and social structures in France and beyond.It tried to recreate everything in a human society. It has shaped the very foundation of Europe.The goal in this introductory presentation is to show why the Ancien régime became ancient as well as examining cases in which achievement failed to match ambition and how we are still living with its legacy and why the french revolution mattered.

CafeLitt 103: "French Revolution I"

Subject: French Revolution I
Date: 8th. Jan 2009 19:00
Presented by: Shahdad Heydari
Place: Basement of Thomson House,3650 McTavish St., Montreal, QC, H3A 1Y2
Metro: Peel (sortie Metcalfe) or Bus 144 (Map) (Schedule)


We will start this year with a presentation on French revolution by Shahdad Heydari.
The french revolution destroyed age-old cultural, institutional, and social structures in France and beyond.It tried to recreate everything in a human society. It has shaped the very foundation of Europe.The goal in this introductory presentation is to show why the Ancien régime became ancient as well as examining cases in which achievement failed to match ambition and how we are still living with its legacy and why the french revolution mattered.