Just thought I'd mention a talk I attended for work last night by Lord Winston (he's the guy with the moustache that presents biology programmes for the BBC).
It was called 'what it means to be human' and was mostly about the human brain and evolution. However, he did also talk about neurobiology, how learning occurs at a neurophysiological level and the advantages of learning via positive reinforcement compared with via the fear/-ve reinforcement pathways that go via the limbic system. He mentionned how we should teach children and animals by positive reinforcement and not by coercion or negative reinforcement/punishment, and how society was up the creek because of a culture based on coercion.
Anyway, it would have been of interest to anyone involved with that sort of thing so sorry I'm telling you about it rather than telling you to go!
I went as a biotechnologist (Winston is currently researching the effects of genetic imprinting on nuclear cloning etc.) but my interest in horse behaviour made me want to ask why if he was interested in the learning process of +ve reinforcement he featured KMarks on his last show (although admittedly he was demonstrating the importance of body language rather than the learning process of such -ve reinforcement) but thought I'd better not!
Anyway, the Royal Institution are doing a series of talks and some might be of interest to any science-minded people on here. For example, there is one called 'Is Homo sapiens just another animal? ' by Prof Steve Jones (famous geneticist, has also done some TV work) that might be relevant. See the link to events on www.rigb.org.
This message has been edited by illeroc on Oct 12, 2004 3:19 PM This message has been edited by illeroc on Oct 12, 2004 3:18 PM
Hi Suz, this looks very interesting and particularly useful for us!! I had a quick look on tinternet for any details, but drew a blank. You don't know if we can get a transcript of the talk do you?
The info bit is below. There is no transcript yet but they might include one on the website later. Only that bit I put above was really relevant to us. I'm also going to the Steve Jones one (might be relevant to people here; about humans and animals and the differences between then) and also the one on nanotech.
I saw the most interesting conference ever advertised - www.ciwf.org/conference2005
All about animal sentience and cognition. Have asked for a press pass, even though its not really my field can try to represent our cognitive journal, fingers crossed.
BTW Debbie, I have had your Paul Mc book for ages but need your address.....although its not long til I see you again now at the next module...
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What does it mean to be human?
Robert Winston
The very fact that we ask this question is one of the answers. Humans are phenomenally inquisitive, especially about themselves. That we investigate and experiment, theorise and philosophise in an effort to understand how our bodies work, who we are, and what makes us different, is one of the things that makes us unique.
One of the curious things that sets our species apart from others is that we can recognise ourselves in a mirror. To scientists and philosophers, our capacity to understand a reflection is a sign of one of our most distinguishing features: self-awareness. Self-awareness not only defines us, it also drives our ongoing efforts to understand our very nature.
Since the beginning of history, people have struggled to unravel the mystery of human nature and find out exactly what makes us so special.
In this rare family lecture given by Robert Winston, he will explore what it means to be human by looking at our place within the animal kingdom and the thing that makes each of us truly human – our mind.
Robert Winston is the Editorial Consultant for Human (DK, £30), an all encompassing visual guide to understanding who we are. Tickets will be include a free glass of wine and the opportunity to buy Robert Winston's latest book Human. Robert Winston will be signing copies of the book after the talk.