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Public Activities and Academic Education

We undertake a wide range of public activities, including science talks, workshops and visits. These are aimed at all age levels, from school-children thinking about Psychology as a career to older individuals who are interested in learning more about the topic. We also host academic courses and conferences; these help us to contribute to the broaded education and training of UK and European scientists in current research questions, as well as demonstrating the latest software packages and experimental approaches (e.g. structural and functional imaging). A few examples of recent activities are provided below, and feel free to contact Alison Roberts for more information.

Public Talks and Workshops

  • 'Neuropsychiatric Genetics' (July 2009): Will Davies talked to sixth-form students in South Wales about genetics and psychiatry as part of Cardiff University's 'Widening Access' programme.
  • Mapping the Mind"Mapping the Mind": Natalia Lawrence and colleagues helped sixth-form students from Cardiff High School undertake psychology experiments, and showed them our brain imaging facility. [pdf]

    "I now see the more practical side of psychology and how there are many topics within psychology"
    "I liked the questions and answers session at the end of the day. The students were really enthusiatic and friendly."
  • "I'm a vision expert – ask me a question": In collaboration with Casimir Ludwig from Bristol's Department of Experimental Psychology, Simon Rushton helped over 100 people (from kids to the elderly) learn more about shape changes during self-movement. [Bringing Science to life@Bristol]
  • ESRC's Festival of Science (March 2008): Stephanie van Goozen and colleagues' research on antisocial behaviour was a central part of this event in which young offenders were given the opportunity to interview academics on youth crime.
  • Cardiff Sci Screen: The Sci screen at the Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff is a crosscutting event promoting the engagement of society in biomedical science. It uses film to explain and inform the wider social interpretations and implications of developments in biomedical science. After a short academic introduction, a film is screened. At the end of the film, a panel discussion with biomedical and social scientists takes place with the audience to discuss some of the issues brought up during the film. [More Info about Sci Screen]
    • "The Human Centipede" (Chapter, October 2010): In discussions related to the movie, Andrew Lawrence touched upon themes of disgust, the nature of disgust as an emotion, how science studies emotions like disgust and why people enjoy horror movies. [Disgust pdf]
  • Brain Awareness Week: Neuroscientists in the School, including Trevor Humby, took part in workshops designed to teach school children about the brain and central nervous system. See here for ideas about how to stimulate children's interest in the brain. [Workshop Info]Students Working on Computers
  • FSL/Freesurfer Course, the 15th Annual British Chapter of the International Society for Magenetic Resonance in Medicine and MEG UK 10: The School of Psychology has held the FSL Imaging Course (Sept 2007) and been the location for MEG UK 10. Both of these brought UK and European students and researchers to Cardiff to present data, and learn about the latest imaging techniques. [FSL] [MRI Leaders Visit Cardiff]

Television, Radio and Newspapers

  • Genetics and Development: Will Davies was a consultant for the BBC4 documentary 'Growing Babies: War in the Womb' (December 2008). The programme aimed to educate expectant mothers, science enthusiasts and doctors about the genetic basis of in utero development.
  • Sweet consumption and violence: Research by Stephanie van Goozen and colleagues highlighted the link between confectionery consumption in childhood and number of convictions for violence in adulthood. [BBC] [Telegraph] [Sky] [pdf]

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         Effect of voice pitch on preference for different singing voices:     John Culling featured as an expert on "The Welsh Tenors" TV series made by BBC Wales.
  • Reducing noise confusion in noisy environments: John Culling's interest in modelling speech perception in noisy environments has important implications for the development of better hearing aids and cochlear implants, but also for the design of environments that facilitate hearing when there is a large amount of background noise. [NewScientist] [Spark]
  • Human memory and its disorders: Kim Graham was interviewed for Radio 4 "Sharpen Your Memory" with Mariella Frostrup. This six-part radio series aimed to explore different aspects of human memory. [Listen Online]
  • Eyewitnesses and cryptic crosswords: A study by Michael Lewis revealed that when an eye witness does cryptic crosswords prior to viewing an identify line up they perform more poorly. Featured on BBC Radio 4 'All in the Mind' programme. [BBC] [Guardian] [pdf]
  • Do You Know About Your Fertility? Jacky Boivin and Laura Bunting's fertility test aimed at alerting women to lifestyle factors which could limit their fertility was discussed in the media. [Fertility Studies@Cardiff] [FertiQoL]