Date: September 15, 2008
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

October 5 SINAI FORUM FEATURES DR. MICHAEL CHOROST

A photo can be found at: http://www.pnc.edu/cd/news/newsphotos/forum2008.html

The Sinai Forum Presented by Purdue University North Central will feature guest speaker Dr. Michael Chorost on Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Elston Middle School in Michigan City . His appearance is sponsored by The Duneland Health Council.

Chorost, an internationally recognized authority in the field of bionics and medical technology, will present the talk, “Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human.”

Born with severe hearing loss in both ears due to an epidemic of rubella, Chorost learned to talk at age 3 ½ after receiving hearing aids. In 2001 he lost his remaining hearing, receiving a cochlear implant shortly afterward.

With “wit and grit” Chorost weaves his personal experience as a cochlear implant recipient into his program. His best-selling book, by the same title as his talk, deals with the advances that have been made and will be made in the field of bionic technology.

His book earned wide acclaim. It was named as an Editor's Choice in “ Reader's Digest's” August 2005 issue. It won the PEN/USA Book Award for Creative Nonfiction in 2006 and has been optioned for the screen. It was published in the United Kingdom and translated into Japanese. He has written for “The Washington Post,” Wired,” “The Futurist,” “The Scientist,” “Technology Review,” “Sky,” “Stanford Medical Report” and “The Best American Science Writing 2006.” He wrote a TV special on brain implants, “The 22nd Century,” shown on PBS.

His book will be available for purchase and he will be on hand to sign copies after the program.

This is the 55 th season of the Forum. This season is dedicated to the memory of Forum founder Sylvia Bankoff. All Sinai Forum programs are held at Elston Middle School , 317 Detroit St. , Michigan City . Subscription tickets may be purchased in person from the Michigan City Public Library, Kabelin Hardware, 512 Andrews Ave. , LaPorte and at PNC - Porter County Graduate Center , 600 Vale Park Road , Valparaiso . Subscriptions may be purchased via credit card by calling (219) 785-5697. Any student with a valid ID will be admitted free.

Additional information about the Sinai Forum Presented by Purdue University North Central is available at www.sinaiforum.org .

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