BRAIN DAY FOR SEDBERGH SIXTH FORM BIOLOGISTS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS

Upper Sixth biologists and psychologists gained fascinating insight into the workings of the human brain yesterday after Dr Guy Sutton visited Sedbergh School to talk to sixth form biologists and psychologists.

Dr. Sutton is Director of Medical Biology Interactive, a company delivering seminars and tutorials to the health service, the legal profession, industry and education.

He is Honorary (Consultant) Assistant Professor in the Division of Psychiatry at University of Nottingham School of Medicine and has held previous academic appointments at Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan and Cambridge Universities.

He has lectured in neuroscience and genetics to a range of undergraduate and postgraduate students, including medics, biologists and psychologists and has conducted research projects and data analysis for various organisations, including the Department of Health and the Medical Research Council.

Pupils gained a detailed understanding of the human brain and Dr Sutton explained how speech can be drastically affected by a specific region of the brain as well as how damage to our frontal lobes can affect our personality.

A sheep brain dissection revealed all major parts of the brain and pupils had a rare opportunity to touch the brain and see parts such as the cerebellum and the hippocampus.

Head of Science, Dr. Alisdair McMeechan, said: “It was fantastic to see how engaged our pupils were, asking stimulating and searching questions and responding to Dr. Sutton’s open questions.

It was a brilliant day that brought the subject alive and was a great presentation, pitched just at the right level and appropriate for pupils hoping to study undergraduate courses in Medicine, Biology, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Psychology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, and Philosophy.”

Kate Russell (R), 17, from Skipton, said: “I found Dr Sutton’s workshop and lecture really fascinating, particularly as I’m hoping to go to Medical School and already have an interest in Neurology.

I focused on Neuro-developmental disorders for my EPQ last year. Today, I was really struck by the story of a girl with epilepsy who survived due to having half of her brain removed; the possibilities of making such a difference to people’s lives made me excited about studying this in the future.”

In addition to presenting research at various international conferences and writing for academic publications, Dr Sutton has talked about the theoretical and clinical aspects of his research on television and radio, most recently in the film ‘Beyond The Genome’ for Reelhouse Productions (2016).

He sat on the advisory board for the Wellcome Trust’s 2013 ‘Inside The Brain’ publication. Recent articles include ‘Methods For Exploring The Brain’ and ‘The Epigenetic Brain’ in Psychology Review and ‘Crime and The Brain’ in Catalyst.

He has tutored on ‘A’ level reading parties for students and teachers for several years. He is an associate tutor with Villiers Park Educational Trust, Cambridge and has written and delivered courses for Young, Gifted & Talented.

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