Science and Social Science
Introduction to Human Evolution [CANCELLED]
Following recent interest in the life and works of Charles Darwin on the occasion of the bicentenary of his birth, this course will provide an introduction to the fossil evidence for human evolution. We will focus on the major groups of fossils in the human lineage right the way from the split with our last common ancestor with chimpanzees up to the modern day. We will then use this morphological evidence to explore general trends in human evolution, including the origins of bipedalism (upright walking), dietary changes and adaptations, the origins of material culture and language, as well as increases in brain size in relation to body size and their implications for advanced cognitive ability. The course will be fully illustrated and no previous knowledge is required.
Georgia Mortzou BA MPhil MSc PhD
Term: Autumn
Day: Monday
Start Date: 12 October 2009
Time: 7-9pm
No. of weeks: 7
Full fee: £41.00
Art, Science and Maths
The link between art and science is much closer than many people think. Both are concerned with understanding the world we see around us, and it is only comparatively recently that have become distinct disciplines. In the Renaissance, for example, many of the most accomplished artists were also first-rate scientists (e.g. Leonardo and Della Francesca), and many scientists were interested in the foundations of music (e.g. Galileo and Kepler).In this course we shall consider how science and mathematics have been used in the arts over the ages. We shall discuss such topics as the golden section in architecture and painting, the use and history of perspective, the origin or musical scales and the mathematics of harmony, colour theory, and the many optical effects we see in nature, such as rainbows and the colour of the sky and clouds. No knowledge of maths and science will be assumed.
Prof Malcolm Ludvigsen
Term: Autumn
Day: Tuesday
Start Date: 13 October 2009
Time: 7-9pm
No. of weeks: 10
Full fee: £59.00
Understanding Ourselves and Others using Transactional Analysis
Have you ever wanted to learn more about yourself and your interactions with the people and organisations around you? Transactional analysis includes a number of models which can help us to understand various aspects of ourselves and our social world. They allow us to examine a wide range of questions about our own motivations and how we interact with other people. Using a combination of lectures, group discussions and individual exercises, with a strong focus on practical application, this course will introduce you to some of the basic concepts in Transactional Analysis and show you how to apply them in everyday life.
Pam Wells BA PhD
Term: Autumn
Day: Saturday
Start Date: 24 October 2009
Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
No. of weeks: 3
Full fee: £82.50
The Geology and Scenery of some Scottish West Coast Islands
The aim of this fully illustrated course is to provide the geological background to the glorious scenery of the islands of Iona, Staffa, Mull, Colonsay, Islay, Jura and Arran. Moreover, as these islands straddle the principal tectonic units of northern and central Scotland, our studies will also encompass the 3000 million year history of this segment of the earth's crust. Finally, and importantly, students' geological knowledge will be extended into the challenging realm of regionally deformed and intensely metamorphosed rocks, and hence the course is not suitable for absolute beginners.
Tony Benfield BSc CGeol FGS
Term: Autumn/Spring
Day: Tuesday
Start Date: 03 November 2009
Time: 7.15-9.15pm
No. of weeks: 14
Full fee: £83.00
Northern England 's Glacial and Pre-glacial Past: the Story of the Last 65 Million Years
Following a brief revision of Plate Tectonics, we will turn to the opening of the North Atlantic when molten magma was intruded into the rocks of North Yorkshire, review the consequences of the Alpine earth movements, but focus mainly on the causes and effects of the many alternations of cold, sometimes glacial, conditions and warm, interglacial, climates that characterise the last two million years. The course will be fully illustrated with colour slides, videos and rock specimens.
Tony Benfield BSc CGeol FGS
Term: Autumn/Spring
Day: Monday
Start Date: 09 November 2009
Time: 2.15-4.15pm
No. of weeks: 13
Full fee: £77.00
Medicine and Society
Have you ever reflected upon what role you play within the healthcare setting? Are you interested in exploring the shifting notion of the family? Do you wonder whether religion and religious beliefs influence the development of medicine, science and related technologies? We will discuss these questions in light of reproductive and scientific technologies. Key themes throughout the course will be the competing notions of the family, the influence of religion and religious groups, the rise of the patient and the power of experiential knowledge, the professionals’ experiences and the competing discourses of rights and responsibilities. We will discuss various technological developments including sex selection technology and stem cell research. Policies around these technologies shall also be discussed in relation to countries that have played a key role in their development, such as the UK, Australia and America. A variety of sources will be drawn upon throughout the course and no prior knowledge is required.
Laura Machin BA MSc PhD
Term: Spring
Day: Monday
Start Date: 25 January 2010
Time: 7-9pm
No. of weeks: 5
Full fee: £29.50
Parapsychology: a Controversial Science
Paranormal themes permeate popular entertainment and parapsychology is currently taught and researched at several universities in the UK, yet it is a controversial and fringe area. This course will examine the phenomena that parapsychology studies (e.g. telepathy, precognition, psychokinesis and apparitions). The experimental methods that parapsychology uses will be assessed and its findings will be evaluated from different perspectives, leading to an assessment of controversies about parapsychology between ‘sceptics’ and ‘believers’. Psychological approaches to understanding spontaneous paranormal experiences and models of belief in the paranormal will also be considered. Participants in the course will have the opportunity to take part, informally, in parapsychological-like experiments and group discussion will be encouraged. This course aims to give people with an interest in parapsychology impartial information about the science and psychology behind it and equip them with critical evaluative tools.
Caprice Lantz BA MA
Term: Spring
Day: Wednesday
Start Date: 27 January 2010
Time: 7-9pm
No. of weeks: 8
Full fee: £47.50
Positive Psychology for Everyday Life (Online)
What makes people happy? Does happiness lead to success or does success to happiness? Why do some people enjoy their jobs more than others? What can people do to live long, healthy lives? Much of applied psychology focuses on the disease model (e.g. examining what is wrong with people and how to help people to overcome their problems). Positive psychology, a new and growing field, studies optimal human behaviour (e.g. what is right with people and how it is that some people lead such happy lives). This exciting online course will provide students with an understanding of positive psychology by examining theory and research with an emphasis on applying their learning to personal lives and work. Topics such as positive emotions, self-esteem, resilience, creativity, optimism, and character strengths will be discussed and students will be invited to assess and further develop their own levels of happiness. All learning will take place via distance learning, making this an ideal way for those with busy schedules to engage. There is no requirement to be online at any specific point in time, making this a truly flexible learning experience. Applications must be received at least one week in advance of termly start dates.
Caprice Lantz BA MA
Term: Summer
Start Date: 26 April 2010
No. of weeks: 10
Full fee: £99.00
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