This talk is part of the Texas Science Festival (Feb. 16-Mar. 26). Click here to register and to see a schedule of all the events.

What powers our ability to partner with another person and live together in ways that help keep us healthy and thriving? Two scientists—an evolutionary biologist who studies the brain and a relationship researcher in family sciences—offer their unique perspectives. Learn about the origins of human love and strategies for overcoming what often stands in the way of maintaining a happy marriage or romantic relationship.

Featuring:

• Dr. Lisa Neff is an associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at UT Austin. Much of her research has focused on the early years of marriage and aims to understand the risk factors for marital decline. More recently, she has begun examining whether the ways in which couples navigate their relationship difficulties may change across the lifespan. Dr. Neff has served as an associate editor for prominent journals in her field and has received several awards for her contributions to relationship science, including the Caryl E. Rusbult Early Career Award from the Society of Personality and Social Psychology.
• Dr. Steven Phelps is a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and director of the Center for Brain, Behavior and Evolution at UT Austin. His research explores why individuals and species vary in their social behavior, looking for clues from social neuroscience, gene regulation and evolutionary genetics. He writes and speaks frequently about the intersection of science and society, and his work has appeared in Aeon, The Atlantic, and The New York Times.