COEUR d’ALENE — A local scientist is aiming to foster a space where curious community members can pose questions and explore science while building connections.

Brian H. Smith, a behavioral neuroscientist at Arizona State University who now calls Coeur d’Alene home, has launched Science Talk, a free monthly discussion series at the Innovation Den in downtown Coeur d’Alene. 

“Often, science feels so out of reach to most of us,” said Nick Smoot, founder of the Innovation Collective. “We watch documentaries on it, but we don’t often get to talk about it with neighbors. Brian is changing that in North Idaho.” 

Smith’s scientific journey runs from entomology to the intricacies of brains in action. 

After earning his doctorate in entomology from the University of Kansas, Smith embarked on postdoctoral work in neuroethology — the study of animal behavior and its control by the nervous system — with a focus on how insects, especially bees, learn and navigate by smell. 

At ASU, Smith leads a lab that bridges behavior, computation, molecular biology and electrophysiology to decipher how odor signals are translated into decisions. His work examines how insects detect and categorize scents, how learning reshapes neural circuits and how environmental stressors like pesticides and temperature changes impair memory and behavior. 

Smith’s work is being applied to studies of human diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as to the negative effects of heavy metal poisoning on learning and memory. 

Smoot said the Innovation Den exists to empower community members to chase their curiosity, making it a perfect home for Science Talks. There’s no telling what exciting ideas could develop from these community conversations. 

“It is so inspiring to see experts like Brian host community gatherings to simply spark curiosity, connect with new friends and hopefully inspire inventions or big ideas right here in Coeur d’Alene,” he said. 

Science Talks will occur monthly at the Innovation Den, 421 E. Lakeside Ave. 

Find the Science Talk network, projects, class videos, calendar and more at https://buildcities.com/network/science-talk.