Started the day off with "Why should we be mindful of mindful fullness" by psychologist Peter Naish helped set the scene and the day ahead. It was interesting how our brains are being affected my mindfulness. It seems that our genes is perhaps the best way to help determine the best treatments for each of us. Unfortunately, due to another lecture starting near the same time I had to leave this lecture a bit early to attend the next one.
It was a all very much all about psychology this morning. "Why Facebook won't get you anymore friends" by another psychologist, Robin Dunbar shown evidence as to why using social media such as Facebook and Twitter will not help you increase your network of friends. More like so for professional reasons, but research has shown that on average, people has only got 150 Facebook contacts that would be useful for them. As overtime and due to lifestyle factors, the number of friends will decrease and your contracts will soon become your acquaintances more your friends and family of needs.
Then something happened which was not expected. The fire alarm went off at the university and everyone from all buildings were evacuated off the premises. Taken two hours before anyone were allowed to be back on campus, one of the lecture which I wanted to go was missed and now rescheduled for tomorrow afternoon. This is unfortunate as I have already planned for tomorrow's timetable and will now have to choose which one to attend now that the lecture has been moved.
Decisions, decision!! :(
Following on from this morning's unexpected event, my afternoon began with a nutrition related lecture. "Exercising in later life: the view from the social sciences" reminded me of the recent research experience I worked on during the summer at Westminster (Stay Active This Summer), and still working on the final bit... Sociologist, Emmanuelle Tulle along with her collaborators spoke about how physical activity changes in the older population and how it is different in promoting activity to them compared to younger aged population. Her PhD student, Sarah Palmer also from Glasgow Caledonian University spoke about her PhD work and how using the grandparents as samples to help determine the amount of physical activities carried out over a period of time. Dr Sarah Bell from the University of Exeter also spoke about her PhD work. She too used a group of grandparents as participants to determine the amount of physical activity completed over a period of time. Social barriers were also discussed to illustrate the constrains experienced and how opportunities and potential solutions can be provided to help promote happiness and health.
Following on from that lecture, I had the opportunity to experience the University of Bradford Simulation Centre. Having the BodPod at the University of Westminster is impressive enough as there are only a reward in the country. But having a human simulator as well as a anatomage in the same room with plasma screens on the wall was all too much. It was a brilliant session and could not believe what I was experiencing. Of course the human simulator helps students to understand how human may have an effect when encountering drugs and invasive methods through the use of a computer software. The anatomage was like a very big human anatomy and physiology text book. But it was a very interactive screen. It allows you to see the body inside out of different human body systems, allows you to dissect body parts to see it in 3D. What's more but they also has an autopsy software where professionals work and liaise with the police department and the post mortem department to understand the cause of death through seeing scans of a person post death.
Attending the "Digital Health" session was an eye opener for me to see the latest digital technologies available in the world of science. It was interesting to hear from professionals about their latest discoveries and how it has an effect in the digital health environment. From digital diagnosis to wearable devices, issues were discussed to seek solutions providing opportunities to widen participation and removing barriers.
To end the day, I finally attended the "Women and the trouble with science" chaired by Dallas Campbell, BBC presenter with a panel of female science professionals ranging from academics, researchers to those working in the workplace. Issues such as barriers of women to be involve in science to the brain biology; different aspects of why women are being underrepresented in the STEM field. To be fair, I think this topic will continue to be debated into the future as this can go one forever. But hearing views from different professionals whether they are male or female was an eye opener. During the debate, 'People like me' resource pack and app https://www.wisecampaign.org.uk/about-us/wise-projects/people-like-me was promoted to help engage girls into science.
To be fair, I think this debate has motivated and spurred me on to do my best in my degree...
