Professor Gina Rippon is Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Neuroimaging at the Aston Brain Centre, Aston University. She is a Past President of the British Association for Cognitive Neuroscience. Her research involves state-of-the-art brain imaging techniques to investigate developmental disorders such as autism. She is also researching issues associated with unrecognised females on the autistic spectrum. Her book on this topic is due to be published by MacMillan next year.
Neuroscience techniques
Her research also involves the use of neuroscience techniques to explore social processes, particularly those associated with sex/gender issues. She is a passionate supporter of initiatives to address the under-representation of women in all spheres of influence, especially science, and advocates an understanding of ‘the neuroscience of belonging’ as a framework to address such gender gaps.
She also writes on the impact of gender stereotypes in early years development:
She is an outspoken critic of ’neurotrash’, the populist (mis)use of neuroscience research to (mis)represent our understanding of brain-behaviour links, particularly on the topic of sex/gender differences. She also draws attention to other sources of misinformation, such as mainstream science communication and even research papers themselves and is currently leading a project to develop guidelines for more responsible communication.
Her book on such topics, ‘The Gendered Brain’, published by Bodley Head and Penguin Random House, came out in the UK in February 2019. It has been described as “Highly accessible…revolutionary to a glorious degree” (Observer).
Internationally recognised
She is active in the field of the science communication and has spoken at many events in the UK and worldwide, including the Sydney Opera House and the EU Commission. She has given keynote addresses to business organisations and to government policy groups, including the UK’s Cabinet Office and the Government’s Gender Equality Unit. She also writes for popular science outlets such as New Scientist, Scientific American and The Conversation, as well as contributing to programmes such as BBC’s Horizon, Woman’s Hour and The Infinite Monkey Cage. In 2015, she was made an Honorary Fellow of the British Science Association for services to the communication of science.
In collaboration with TTS
As a guest contributor to the TTS Talking Early Years podcast series, Gina will bring her research and insights to the forefront. With a focus on gender, Gina will share the importance of discussing gender in the early years. What sorts of gender differences might we see, and how do we promote a more gender-inclusive practice in education?
