Me being over excited.. because I am a nerd..
As this is my first post, I thought I would start at the beginning. So; this is a short introduction to what I envisage for this blog, why I find the subject matter fascinating and ideally where I am headed with it all! For some of you, I know, this is old news – so please bear with me. This is also my first attempt at blogging etc. so tips and hints are welcomed!
This Blog
For me this blog is partly a forum to explore ideas outside of University, essays are long and stressful, hopefully this will be less so! More importantly, however, I feel that a blog may be a way to open conversations with people about what I do, what implications current research findings might have, and how what other people ties in with my own research interests. For that reason, I will attempt to keep all posts jargon and confusion free and I would love all readers to critique (constructively), challenge, question and comment on my posts. Let me know if what I say touches on something you are interested in, possibly we can develop and explore areas of mutual interest. Also, I wouldn’t mind dispelling some of the ‘deer in headlights’ looks I get when I mention my degree, it seems to close more conversational doors than it opens!
Why do I love it?
I have always be fascinated by how and why people behave in the ways that they do, it was the reason that completed my BSc in Anthropology, which led me to Evolutionary Psychology and then onto Cognitive Psychology/ Neuropsychology. It is the line between the age old nature/nurture (and yes, I am aware that this debate is far more complex than any individual could hope to cover) debate that fascinates me. How much do we know about the individual? Can what we know be generalised? Is generalising helpful? Specifically, I am fascinated by the idea that what is being learnt in Neuropsychology and Neuroscience be helpfully applied to education? If so, how? Or is it, as Bruer claimed in 1997, a ‘bridge too far’? All of these questions get me on a nerd high!
Where do I want to go?
This is a difficult question; really the answer is anywhere that I can explore the subjects above and still put food on the table (and a roof over my head!). Currently, however, I am thinking about applying for a PhD, but nothing is set in stone. I am always on the lookout for opportunities that will further my knowledge or where I can offer what I know in order to provide something new for others, who would benefit from my knowledge, so if you see or hear anything please let me know!
I think that is all for now folks, but I will try and get my first ‘real’ post out soon.
Thanks for reading!
From Mind to Brain and back again. 