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News and Events for the Community
The Science of Being Human: Nature AND Nurture
The Nature versus Nurture debate is out-of-date. In this public lecture series, members of The University of Western Ontario Psychology Department will share their research showing that humans are neither the exclusive product of our biology nor environment, but rather their interplay.
Program description:
What: A lecture series aimed at showing how psychological science sheds light on what ‘makes us tick’.
When: The series takes place on four consecutive Thursdays (7-8:30 pm) in April 2012 (the 5th, 12th, 19th , and 26th).
Format: 60 minute talk followed by 30 minute Q and A.
Where: Central Library (251 Dundas Street), Stevenson & Hunt meeting Room A.
April 5: What can twins tell us about human behaviour?
Presenter: Dr. Tony Vernon
Why are some people more extraverted, more conscientious, more intelligent than others? Behavioural genetics is the scientific study of these individual differences, seeking to identify the extent to which genetic and environmental factors contribute to them. I will illustrate how studies of twins have contributed to our understanding of personality.
Dr. Vernon studies individual differences in personality and mental abilities. The majority of his research deals with identical and fraternal twins
April 12: Children’s emotional development: Biological influences in social context
Presenter: Dr. Elizabeth Hayden
Decades of research indicate that children’s emotional styles (i.e., child temperament) are influenced by both biological and environmental factors, but how these influences interact is less well known. In this talk, I will discuss my research on how children’s biological characteristics shape, and are shaped by, their environments.
Dr. Hayden studies children’s emotional development as a function of biological factors and the early environment
April 19: How cultural experiences shape brain function: Evidence from reading and math
Presenter: Dr. Daniel Ansari
One of the hallmarks of our culture is the use of symbols such as letters and numbers. We are a symbolic species. In the present talk I will discuss how the brain becomes enculturated and how biology and culture interact in order to enable us to read and calculate.
Dr. Ansari studies how children learn basic number concepts and acquire arithmetic skills. He uses both brain imaging and behavioural methods in his research.
April 26: The effects of music on brain and body.
Presenter: Dr. Jessica Grahn
Music affects us in many ways, even before we are born. This talk will explore how our musical sense develops over time and the long-term effects of music on brain function.
Dr. Grahn investigates how music affects brain and behavior. Topics include: how music makes us move; how musical training changes brain structure, and whether music can benefit neurological patients. Her research involves both brain imaging and behavioural techniques.
Our Children's Health: How Better Community Design Can Make a Difference? Classes without Quizzes
New research suggests the way we have built our communities over the past few decades is partly to blame for rising rates of childhood obesity, respiratory problems, and mental health issues. Join geography, health sciences and paediatrics professor Jason Gilliland as he explores how community design can affect children's health.
Lecturer: Jason Gilliland, Faculty of Social Science
Date: Thursday, March 22, 2012
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and class begins at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Stevenson & Hunt, Central Branch, London Public Library, 251 Dundas Street.
Registration: Please register for this session online.
Are we alone in the universe? Classes without Quizzes
Could life exist on other planets? Join Gordon "Oz" Osinski, Deputy Director of Western's Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, for a voyage through the solar system and beyond as he discusses the prospects for finding evidence of life in upcoming space missions.
Lecturer: Gordon Osinski, Faculty of Science
Date: Thursday, February 9, 2012
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and class begins at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Stevenson & Hunt, Central Branch, London Public Library, 251 Dundas Street
Registration: Please register for this session online.
Chewing the fat on obesity
Chewing the Fat on Obesity
Exercise and healthy eating are critical in achieving optimal bodyweight. However, new research shows that for some, choosing whether or not to adopt these habits depends less on willpower and more on our relationships with ourselves. Jennifer Irwin, health studies professor at Western, will explore the important questions that need to be asked to get to the root of our bodyweight challenges.
Lecturer: Jennifer Irwin, Faculty of Health Sciences
Date: Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and class begins at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Stevenson & Hunt, Central Branch, London Public Library, 251 Dundas Street
Registration: Please register for this session online.
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