Understanding and Nurturing the Minds of Boys

An IBSC Online Program

November 17, 2026

For more than two decades, cognitive neuroscience has provided a greater understanding of how the human brain works. In ever-increasing detail, researchers have observed the brain in action and mapped how it develops. This work has contributed to a nascent but expanding field known as neuroeducation. It has also deepened our understanding of sex differences in the brain and the potential impact of those differences in our understanding of how boys engage with the world.

This presentation explores how the available research can be used to enhance educational environments for boys and promote a positive understanding of masculinity and boyhood. The overall aim is to foster a shared understanding of what is strong in boys rather than what is wrong with them, while providing some common “neuro-sense” to enhance the day-to-day interactions between educators and students.

Attend this interactive online session to:

  • Explore how cognitive neuroscience and the emerging field of neuroeducation inform our understanding of how boys' brains develop.
  • Examine how differences in boys’ brain development may influence how they engage with the world around them.
  • Consider practical ways to use this research to enhance educational environments for boys.
  • Foster a shared understanding of what is strong with boys rather than what is wrong with them.
  • Learn to leverage “neuro-sense” to enhance day-to-day interactions between educators and students.

Who Should Attend?

Teachers and leaders in boys' schools interested in understanding boys' brain development and its impact on their learning and growth.

Format

The interactive session hosted on Zoom includes a 45-minute presentation, followed by 15 minutes for Q&A.

Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 4:00 PM EST, 9:00 PM GMT, 10:00 PM CET, 11:00 PM CAT Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 5:00 AM AWST, 7:00 AM AEST, 7:30 AM ACDT, 8:00 AM AEDT, 10:00 AM NZDT
Check the event time in your time zone.
60 minutes

All attendees registered for the live session also gain access to the event recording and any associated resources for 21 days after the event. Even if your schedule cannot accommodate the live event, register so you can watch the recording at your convenience.

Please note: The recording of this event is exclusively for registered attendees’ individual use. We kindly request your cooperation in maintaining the integrity of the content.

Registration

  • IBSC member rate for 1–3 people from the same school: US$185
  • IBSC member rate for 4+ people from the same school: US$165
  • Nonmember rate: US$240

Register before 2:00 PM EST, November 17, 2026.

Group Screening Access for IBSC Members

Interested in using this session for professional development? IBSC member schools can access the recording for group screenings at a discounted rate. Access to the recording is available for 21 days starting Thursday, November 19, 2026. Contact Bruce Collins at collins@theibsc.org for more details.

IBSC member rate: US$1,500

To register for group access, choose the group screening rate option on the registration form. The group screening option includes the recording of the presentation and the Q&A. This option does not include access to the live event. One person will have access to the recording to screen it for colleagues at their member school.

Cancellation Policy

If you are unable to attend, you must cancel your registration in writing by emailing ibsc@theibsc.org by November 3, 2026. IBSC will refund 90% of registration fees if a written request is received via email by this date. No refunds will be made for cancellations received after this date. Schools seeking to register an alternate to replace a participant unable to attend should contact ibsc@theibsc.org.

Please note: Watch your email for login information on November 14, 2026. If you registered for the event later than this date, watch for login information within 24 hours.

Participation certificates: Participants present for the live online session will receive a certificate of participation within two weeks of the event.

Presenter

Michael Nagel 

Dr. Michael Nagel is an Associate Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where he teaches and conducts research in the areas of child and adolescent development, behavior, and learning. He has authored 28 books that focus broadly on educational psychology and human development, with particular emphasis on pediatric brain development. His books are used by parents, educators, and students in libraries across more than 40 countries and at numerous universities, including the University of California, Berkeley; Harvard University; the University of Oxford; Stanford University; the Library of Congress; University College London; Columbia University; and Johns Hopkins University.

In addition to his teaching and research, Nagel has delivered more than 100 keynote addresses and conducted workshops and seminars for teachers and parents at more than 400 schools in Australia and internationally. A sought-after expert, he has appeared as a guest on TV New Zealand Breakfast, Sunrise, A Current Affair, Canada AM, ABC National, Channel 10's 10 Plus, and The Project. Nagel has also contributed as a feature writer for The First Five Years online parenting platform and for Jigsaw and Child magazines, which collectively provide parenting advice to more than one million parents.

Questions?

Please contact Bruce Collins at collins@theibsc.org.