Title: The Science of Connection – Real life stories of school transformation as a result of public engagement efforts

Date: Wednesday 17 April 2024

Time: 1-2pm, tea and coffee will be served beforehand at 12.30pm 

Presenter: Dr Suzanne Zeedyk

Chair: Mrs Dawn Haughton

Venue: Room 103B Clarice Pears building.

If you cannot attend in person but would like to join online please do so with this zoom link https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/85404496046?pwd=TEFtcGwvSjg1NmVqOFYyUkcyQk9idz09 

Meeting ID: 854 0449 6046 Passcode: 718380

Abstract: 

The Science of Connection enables us to see how deeply wired human beings are for relationships.  Even as newborn infants we possess the biological, neurological, physiological capacity for detecting connection (and disconnection) with others.  The sciences of attachment and childhood trauma have helped us to understand how experiences of other people shape human development.  Dr Suzanne Zeedyk, developmental psychologist at the University of Dundee for twenty years, will share the story of how she took her expertise in this area out to the public, finding strategies to help them to engage with the discoveries of developmental researchers.  She will focus in particular on sharing stories of schools in Scotland who have engaged with this material, thereby boosting their confidence in placing relationships at the centre of their practice and policy.  These stories matter because there is still much doubt in our overwhelmed education system about the effectiveness of trauma-informed policies.  Dr Zeedyk’s real life stories of schools and early years settings help us to see where some of the barriers lie in implementing research knowledge.  This talk will treat us to a fascinating journey of the translation of science for the public

BIO:

Dr. Suzanne Zeedyk is a research scientist fascinated by babies’ innate capacity to connect. Since 1993, she has been based at the University of Dundee (Scotland), within the School of Psychology, where she now holds an Honorary Post. In 2011, she stepped away from a full-time academic post in order to establish an independent training enterprise, the aim of which is to help the public understand what science now understands about the importance of emotional connection for human health and happiness. She works internationally with organisations keen to think more deeply about fostering connection, compassion and resilience. In the last 5 years, more than 40,000 people have attended her speaking events. Suzanne’s core aspiration is to strengthen awareness of the decisions we take about caring for our children — because those choices are integrally connected to our vision for the kind of society we wish to build. More information is available on www.suzannezeedyk.com.