Weekly sessions (Wednesdays: 6.00-7.30pm)
◾11th September 2019: Not a blank slate: what we get from our parents
We will introduce the concept of nature vs. nurture and give examples of both types of influences. We will discuss the basic principles of genetic inheritance, as well as environmental factors such as parenting style and cultural environment.
◾18th September 2019: It's complicated: interactions between nature and nurture that shape us
We will continue on from the first session by exploring the complex interactions between genes and our environment, discussing examples of complex physical traits, disease, and psychology.
◾25th September 2019: What's sex got to do with it? Sex and gender in current society
In the first part of this session will give an overview of biological sex determination and the affects of hormones on brain development. Later we will discuss gender as a social construct, giving examples from different cultures.
◾2nd October 2019: Many shades of colour: human diversity, race and ethnicity
In the first part we will discuss human genetic diversity and introduce the theory that modern humans originated in Africa. Later we will discuss the difference between race and ethnicity and how it affects our identities.
◾9th October 2019: Finding yourself: personality and mental health
In the final session of the class we will discuss the concept of personality, as well as the biological and environmental factors that influence it. We will also discuss mental health as a spectrum, with examples from various mental health disorders.
Dr Ericca Stamper received her PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. She is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and the EMBL European Bioinformatics Institute. Her current research is in mammalian genomics
Dr Amber Ruigrok is a cognitive neuroscientist with a PhD from the University of Cambridge and currently works as a Research Associate at the Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge and as a Teaching Fellow at Lucy Cavendish College. Amber’s research focuses on sex differences, autism, hormones and their influence on brain development; however her interests span more broadly to sex differences and hormonal influences across human development and the psychiatric system.
Rachell Sánchez submitted their PhD in Sociology and Latin American Studies at the University of Cambridge. Additionally, they hold a BA in Political Science and History from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus and an M.A. in Regional Studies—Latin America and the Caribbean from Columbia University in the City of New York.
Online support
This course will be supported by our virtual learning environment (VLE). You will be able to download course material, contact your tutor and talk to fellow students via the web at a time and place that’s convenient to you. To gain access to the VLE you will need to provide a valid email address when registering for the course.
