For many stuck in Covid lockdowns, learning a new language offered respite — and possibly gave their brains a boost. Studies find that actively speaking two languages later in life may help to delay the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s and other kinds of dementia. Research also suggests that children who grow up using two languages do better on standardized tests than their monolingual peers. But in many places bilingualism is not always valued. In the United States, for example, white, affluent English speakers are often encouraged to learn a second language, yet many people in poor, minority or indigenous communities are actively discouraged from speaking anything other than English. Join us for a discussion with two leading experts on bilingualism’s role in cognition and how speaking multiple languages may be lauded or frowned on depending on the societal context. Speakers: -Uju Anya, Carnegie Mellon University -Judith Kroll, UC Irvine Moderator: -Rachel Ehrenberg, Associate Editor, Knowable Magazine Related articles: How a second language can boost the brain https://knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2018/how-second-language-can-boost-brain The fragile state of contact languages https://knowablemagazine.org/article/society/2020/fragile-state-contact-languages About This event is part of Reset: The Science of Crisis & Recovery, an ongoing series of live events and science journalism exploring how the world is navigating the coronavirus pandemic, its consequences and the way forward. Reset is supported by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. About Knowable Magazine Knowable Magazine explores the real-world significance of scholarly work through a journalistic lens. We report on the current state of play across a wide variety of fields — from agriculture to high-energy physics; biochemistry to water security; the origins of the universe to psychology. Review articles written by leading scholars from the 50 Annual Reviews journals serve as springboards for stories in Knowable Magazine. Through in-depth features, explainers, articles, essays, interviews, infographics, slideshows, and comics, Knowable Magazine presents insights from research to a broader audience. Connect with us: Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KnowableMag Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KnowableMagazine Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/knowable-magazine/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowablemag/