Mar 31
Media Arts Center: Digital Gym Cinema San Diego, CA
TicketsDr. Monique Smith
Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion Professorship, University of California-San Diego
Au Hasard Balthazar— The science of caring: The psychology of empathy between animals and humans
Program Description
Dr. Monique Smith will address the theme of Animal Perspectives in Film through the specific topic of Empathy and Compassion on screen.
Film Synopsis
The story of a mistreated donkey and the people around him. A study on saintliness.
This thoughtful and unique French film reveals the surprisingly deep connection between Marie (Anne Wiazemsky), a sensitive farm girl, and her cherished donkey, Balthazar. Though Marie and Balthazar are eventually separated when she gets older, the tale follows both the young woman and the donkey as they contend with the hardships of the world. Although Marie and Balthazar often encounter cruelty from the various people they meet, they also find small moments of beauty.
About the Speaker
Dr. Smith received both her B.A. and M.A in Psychology from California State University San Marcos (2007, 2011), and her Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Oregon Health & Science University (2016). She conducted her postdoctoral training at Stanford University with Dr. Robert Malenka. Dr. Smith is a HHMI Leading Edge Fellow, and a recipient of the Early Career Researcher Award from the Society for Social Neuroscience (S4SN). She has also been the recipient of a NRSA F31 from NIAAA, a Neurobiology of Disease Fellowship from the OHSU Brain Institute, a School of Medicine Deans Fellowship from Stanford University, and a Whitehall Foundation Research Grant.