Las Positas College will host William C. Dement, M.D., Ph.D., regarded as the "Father of Sleep Science," who will present a lecture, "The Essentials of Sleep," at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 19, in the Multi-Disciplinary Building Lecture Hall, Room 2420. Tickets are on sale for $10 at the Bookstore; permit parking is $2.
"Dr. Dement is a true legend - a giant in the history of science," said Las Positas College Psychology Instructor Ernest Jones, Ph.D. "He, more than any other person, has been responsible for the development of our understanding of sleep, dreams and the effects of sleep deprivation."
Dement is a best-selling author, Stanford University professor, founder of the first sleep disorders clinic and sleep research center, and the world’s leading authority on sleep, sleep deprivation, and the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. In his lectures, Dement discusses why "drowsiness is a red alert," demonstrates why healthy sleep is essential for optimal performance and productivity, and addresses the hazards of "sleep debt," often due to common sleep disorders.
The Las Positas College Department of Psychology brings world-renowned speakers and events to the campus and Tri-Valley community. A frequent Las Positas College visitor was the late Kim Peek, the super-savant who inspired the Oscar winning film, "Rain Man," starring Dustin Hoffman. Past speakers also have included Dr. John Ratey, best selling author and associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School; Stanford University Professor Robert Sapolsky, world renowned neuroscientist and expert on stress; and Temple Grandin, portrayed in an award winning HBO movie and regarded as the world’s most accomplished and best-known adult with autism.
