Neurobiologist Sam Wang wowed the Princeton Chamber audience with “Welcome to Your Brain” last February, and here’s another – rare – chance to hear him. He keynotes the Princeton Research Symposium on Saturday, December 5, at 9 a.m. at the Friend Center (breakfast at 8:30).

In addition to the keynote by Wang, nearly 40 grad students and post docs will present their work on everything from imagining the inside of the sun to understanding the morality of deception. Another keynoter, Emily Carter, will speak at 4 p.m. on novel material designs for energy technology.

In addition to the full-day seminar on December 5 the university hosts two concurrent seminars on Friday, December 4.

Friday’s 2009 Princeton Sports Symposium is fully subscribed, but I bet if you brought your checkbook and paid the $50 admission they’d let you in. Big names here, and lots of panels on digital media & social media. Breakfast at nine, talking starts at 10 a.m. Friday in the Friend Center on Olden Street.

Just down the street in the Carl A. Fields Center, at the corner of Prospect and Olden, will be “The Role of Science and Technology in African Development,” sponsored by the Wesley L. Harris Scientific Society. Discussions will include potential partnerships in the areas of energy, environment, and health. The event is free and open to everyone.

Looking for a new business idea? New place to market? Maybe the answer is under your nose. Tap the resources of your local Ivy League university.