Aron Adam (United States, WK 84-90)

1. What years did you attend Waterford Kamhlaba? (What forms/year group?)
   

1984-1990

2. Please tell us what you have done or are doing at the moment? (e.g.. what you studied and what field you are currently working in)

I am a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of California San Diego. I study the control functions of the human brain – for example how we stop ourselves. www.aronlab.org

3. Could you tell us what inspired you to pursue your career path.

I traveled a lot after my undergraduate degree and tried various career options. In the end I realized I liked the discovery process and mystery of science. My choice of field and topic is a bit arbitrary, but reflects, I suppose, a remote hope of bettering human kind insofar as a better psychiatry and neurology (encompassing the major diseases of our time) will benefit from progress in understanding the mind/brain.

Did Waterford in any way play a role in your career path choice?

If yes: then what has that role been.

We were encouraged by some teachers, such as the venerable Martin Russell, to think outside the box. Others also instilled intellectual curiosity as a core value.

4. What advice would you have for aspiring students who would want to be involved in similar areas of expertise?

Get a broad liberal arts undergraduate education so you can understand the world better; build in some computer science/programming, neurobiology and a few psychology classes and you’ll be good to go.

8. 5. WK crush?

Pernille Hansen!

9. 
   

10. 6. Who was in your WK #squad (friend group)?

    
    Our group was Macarena Palominos, Lucy Delap, Theo Sibiya, Elton Smoor, Muzi Maziya and others.

11. 7. Favourite teacher/Most hilarious teacher?

Favorite: Martin Russell. Most hilarious: Mr Malaza

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