Matrescence: The Science and Lived Experience of Becoming a Mother
Becoming a mother changes everything; not just a woman's life, but her brain, body, and sense of self.
Science now has a word for this profound transformation: matrescence. Yet despite being one of the most universal human experiences, it remains strikingly under-researched and under-supported.
Hosted by MOHARA, this roundtable brings together three very compelling voices on the subject exploring what actually happens during this transition, from the neuroscience of the maternal brain to the lived reality of new motherhood, and how the concept has become popularized.
As a venture studio that builds technology in regulated fields like healthtech, we're especially interested in where AI and thoughtful product design could help close the gaps this transition so often leaves unaddressed. It's the second in our series on emerging science and technology, following our recent conversation on AI in fertility tech.
Our Speakers
Dr Jodi Pawluski - Neuroscientist, psychotherapist, and author based in Rennes, France. With 15+ years researching the maternal brain and perinatal mental health, her work challenges the outdated "mommy brain" myth, revealing how profoundly and purposefully the brain is remodelled through motherhood.
Lucy Jones - Award-winning journalist and author of Matrescence (2023), the landmark book that brought the concept into the mainstream. Drawing on neuroscience, evolutionary biology, sociology and lived experience, she reframes motherhood as one of the great developmental transformations of human life.
Sophie Nazerian - is the co-founder of Noor, a community-powered platform helping women find trusted health practitioners. Driven by her own postpartum challenges, Sophie is dedicated to making collective knowledge accessible so no woman has to navigate her health journey alone.
What to Expect
A moderated, intimate conversation on the science, the social experience, and the future of how we understand and support matrescence, including where technology could meaningfully help. The session will close with a short live Q&A, giving attendees the chance to put their questions directly to our speakers.
Come curious. Leave with a completely new understanding of one of life's most significant transitions.
Spaces are limited — register to secure your place.