New York Loves to Walk

Research shows that walking sparks creativity and can improve your mood, and New Yorkers know it’s the best way to see the city. Psychologist Catherine Hartley, Ph.D. (NYU) joins this program to discuss her research into the effects that novel experiences—like walking a new route—have on increasing brain activity and enhancing happiness.  

Accompanying the talk: a screening of The World Before Your Feet, which follows Matt Green on his quest to walk every block of New York City. Following the screening, try out the science for yourself: take a meandering walk in the neighborhood, led by Green and the film’s director Jeremy Workman (Secret Mall Apartment), looking for the quirky landmarks of Astoria, and discussing the topics of the day. The walk makes its way to Socrates Sculpture Park, and back to MoMI, about 90-minutes total. RSVP recommended. 

Schedule of Events 

12:00 p.m. Screening: The World Before Your Feet  FREE, RSVP encouraged

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. conversation: Walking and the Brain with Dr. Catherine Hartley FREE, RSVP encouraged

3:30-5:00 p.m. Walk led by Matt Green. Meet in Fox Amphitheater FREE, RSVP encouraged

Special Guests 

Dr. Catherine Hartley is a Professor of Psychology and Neural Science at New York University. She received her B.S. in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University and her PhD in Psychology from NYU. Her research program focuses on characterizing the brain dynamics and cognitive processes that underpin learning, memory, and decision making from childhood to adulthood. Her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Mental Health and Drug Abuse, and her research has been recognized with awards from the National Academy of Sciences and others. A central goal of her research is to understand the adaptive benefits of how individuals learn and make decisions at different developmental stages, as well as how specific learning and decision-making biases contribute to psychological vulnerability or resilience. 

Matt Green is a former civil engineer who quit his job and walked across the United States in 2010, from Rockaway Beach (Queens) to Rockaway Beach (Oregon). On the last day of 2011, he took the first steps of what turned into a 10,000-mile quest to walk every block of every street in all five boroughs of New York City. With no goal other than paying attention, he spent more than 12 years wandering from one neighborhood to the next, immersed in the sidewalk life of the city, chatting with locals, photographing and researching everything that caught his eye. This endeavor is the subject of the film The World Before Your Feet. 

Shoshannah Buxbaum (moderator) is an audio producer at Science Friday. She’s particularly drawn to stories about health, psychology, neuroscience and the environment. Prior to joining Science Friday, she guest-hosted Utah Public Radio’s weekly science and research show, UnDisciplined. She started her career in television at New Jersey’s PBS Station, where she produced daily news segments and the station’s weekly public affairs shows. She holds a master’s degree from CUNY’s Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, with a health and science reporting concentration and audio specialization.