Meet the Locals: Ethan Newnham – science researcher, teacher and student
Glenys Grant
Do you ever wonder what makes you who you are? Ethan Newnham does, and he’s travelling to Oxford University to find out how the brain makes us who we are.
Ethan grew up five minutes from his local pool in Ringwood, learning to swim like many of his classmates. What was out of the ordinary was his love for the diving boards: he learned to flip and twist, training before and after school, hoping that one day he would represent Australia at the Olympic Games.
When a spinal fracture ended his diving dreams at 18, one would have thought he’d slow down. Instead, this made way for Ethan’s newfound obsession with the brain.
Ethan says: ‘I became interested in neuroscience because it combined the microscopic world of biology with big philosophical questions about who we are. At the same time, my family was caring for my grandmother who has Parkinson’s disease, so I knew that the brain wasn’t just fascinating, it had a very strong impact on each of our lives.’
This led Ethan to pursue neuroscience, the study of the brain and nerves, at the University of Melbourne. His degree included exciting projects, like designing an artificial intelligence program to categorise different types of brain cells. Since graduating, he has contributed to Umbrella Dementia Cafes providing social support for people with dementia and their carers.
Melbourne Uni was also where Ethan got his first taste of scientific research. In his current work at the Florey Institute, he investigates how brain cells store memories by recording their electrical signals, which he describes as ‘listening to the brain’.
Ethan applied to study a Master’s degree at the University of Oxford, but he knew that the chances of being accepted were slim. ‘I didn’t think I’d get an interview, so I had planned a holiday for the same period. I ended up on a video call very late at night, sitting on my friend’s bed because we didn’t have a desk. It worked out well though and my friends were right there to celebrate when I found out I had got in.’
He was right to celebrate, being one of only 13 students chosen to learn from the world’s leading neuroscientists. Ethan hopes to study how the brain ages, although hasn’t yet decided which techniques he will use. He credits his journey so far to some influential teachers and mentors, which is why he is also passionate about teaching.
Ethan excitedly told me about the class he created at the Box Hill University of the Third Age (U3A), inspired by his grandfather who taught a class on poetry. Ethan’s class is called ‘The Brain and its Mysteries’, and in it he shares fascinating neuroscience topics in weekly sessions. Topics span psychology, medicine and philosophy, asking questions like ‘Is the brain like a computer?’ and ‘How are we conscious?’.
‘Running my class at U3A is one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever done. I get to share my passion and learn about what the brain means in class members’ lives. Some worked in healthcare or education, some have a family member, close friend or are themselves affected by a neurological condition, and others are just interested in learning something new.’
A new term of Ethan’s class is starting on 15 July, and he’d love to invite members of the community to join his weekly sessions before he leaves for Oxford in September. No prior knowledge is needed and the classes are open to guests, so you don’t need to sign up beforehand. If you would like to participate, you can email Ethan (newnham.ethan@gmail.com) for more information.
In the future, Ethan hopes to open his own neuroscience laboratory and inspire the next generation of scientists as a university lecturer. We wish him all the best on his Oxford adventure.
We thank Glenys Grant and EastsiderNews for the permission to reproduce the article on our website.
The original article can be found on EastsiderNews’ Local Heros page.