The McGaugh-Gerard Lecture on Learning and Memory

The McGaugh-Gerard lectures are made possible by the McGaugh-Gerard Endowment that was established by Dr. James L. McGaugh and the family trust of the late Dr. Ralph W. Gerard. The lectures are free to the public and are intended to encourage public education, scientific discourse and exposure to world class science.

Drs. McGaugh and Gerard were friends and colleagues who shared a mutual respect for one another as well as for their research in neuroscience. Dr. Gerard arrived at UC Irvine in 1964 and helped founding Chancellor Daniel G. Aldrich, Jr. organize the new campus. He was appointed the first Dean of the Graduate Division. Dr. McGaugh also arrived at UCI in 1964 and was interviewed by Dr. Gerard for the position of founding chair of Psychobiology, which is now known as the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior. Of Gerard, Dr. McGaugh remarks “I felt privileged to know him, as he had a highly distinguished career in physiology and was one of the founders of the Society for Neuroscience. After he retired he invited me to meet with him in his home on Friday afternoons for many interesting discussions of science, campus activities and other matters.” It is a fitting tribute to Gerard’s memory and the two scholars’ friendship that this lecture bear their names together.