#4 Nerd Nite Hamilton – 11th December, 2023
Talk #1: Breathing Like Crap: A No-Nonsense Guide to Fixing Your Respiratory Mess
Do you know if you breathe properly? Spoiler alert… you’re probably doing it wrong! Learn about the power of your breath with Orthopedic & Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist, Nicole Smith. From dribbling with a sneeze to chronic low back pain, learn how your breathing mechanics are the foundation of how well your body moves and feels.
Speaker Info: Nicole Smith is a Registered Physiotherapist with a demonstrated history of working in the health, wellness, and fitness industry, and additional training in Pelvic Health Physiotherapy. With an extensive background in Yoga and Mindfulness, Nicole is committed to providing holistic patient-centred care with an emphasis on functional movement, self-empowerment and healthful living. With her Master’s of Science in Physiotherapy (McMaster University) and Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology (University of Florida), you will be sure to gain a wealth of mind-body knowledge!
Talk #2: What a Mess… Striving to Untie the Knot of Structural Injustice
Many recent discussions on issues of injustice within social and political philosophy accept the claim that structural injustice is a serious threat to the pursuit of social equity. The more complex the systems and institutions that organize our societies become, the more nuanced and collaborative our approach to rectifying these injustices must be. This is thanks to the fact that injustice produced by structures is a result of collective participation within these structures. So where do we start? How do we start? Emerging theories for how we might understand the nature of this form of injustice (as well as our resulting responsibility to remedy it) have made many notable strides. But the question remains: how do we, as individuals, practically engage with a problem as complex and messy as this one? How do we become part of the solution, rather than contributing to the problem? I discuss some practical and integrative approaches for how we might set ourselves up for success when striving to work with others to untie the knot that is structural injustice.
Speaker Info: Alana Jolly is a doctoral candidate in social and political philosophy at McMaster University. Her research focuses on social justice issues, particularly structural injustice. She studies the nature of this form of injustice, how we might understand our political responsibility to address it, as well as the foundational changes we should consider making to support individuals as they endeavor to fulfill this shared responsibility.
Talk #3: Returning to Eden? A Psychological Exploration of Creation Myths
It’s easy to make fun of ancient cultures for believing in myths that clearly never happened. But what if believing in myths means something different? Myths should not be interpreted as though they literally occurred, but to see whether they point to some deeper truth about the world or human nature. Depth psychology, and Jungian psychology in particular, offers a framework for making sense of myths that does not depend on believing in them literally. In this talk, Alex Rose will provide a very brief introduction to this framework, and then use it to share a few depth psychological interpretations of the story of Adam and Eve’s Fall in the Garden of Eden.
Speaker Info: Alex Rose is a graduate student at the University of Toronto who has always been fascinated by world mythology. He is currently studying philosophy of science and cognitive science. He is interested in how agency arises from the way organisms interact with their environments, and how that applies to our social lives. He was formerly a reporter and podcaster with the Canadian Jewish News.