Department of Psychology Colloquium Series

"Flutes, Autism and a Different Way of Seeing"

Presented by:  Paul McAuliffe

Renowned flutist Paul AcAuliffe presents a unique program of music, autism education and advocacy.  Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome late in life, he discusses his own autistic journey of self-discovery, plays quiet, soothing music on a wide variety of world/ethnic flutes, humorously describes "living Aspie" in a neuro-typical world, and tells why today's Asperger's kids will be the inventors and innovators of the future.

Originally from Albany, NY, Paul now resides in Panama City Beach, FL.  A flute player, flute maker, storyteller, story social services worker and autism advocate, he's the founder and facilitator of the Bay County Asperger's Support Group, and a member of the constituency Board of the Florida State University Center For Autism & Related Disabilities.  Recently featured on CNN's "Health Minute," he has also been interviewed on numerous NPR affiliates.  He's a member of the Bay Storytellers and has a program called "Flutes & Storytelling:  Two Ancient Arts."  He's a volunteer at Bear Creek Feline Center where he loves to play flutes for the Florida Panthers and other big cats.  His third/latest CD is called "Young Cat Dreams."  HIs goal is to promote multicultural diversity and understanding and to convince people that there is much more to music than what is normally presented by commercial media outlets.

Free Admission

Reception following

Supported by:  UA Department of Psychology, NAMI-UA, and Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic

UA Psychology Department to Host Annual Harold Basowitz Memorial Lecture

The University of Alabama Psychology Department will host the annual Harold Basowitz Memorial Lecture on Friday, February 24, 2012 featuring guest speaker Dr. James Sidanius.  The public lecture will be held at 6:00 p.m. in Room 208 Gordon Palmer Hall on the UA campus.  Dr. Sidanius’s lecture is titled “Under Color of Authority: Terror, Intergroup Violence and the Law: A Social Dominance Perspective”.   

Jim Sidanius is a Professor in the departments of Psychology and African and African American Studies at Harvard University. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Stockholm, Sweden and has taught at several universities in the United States and Europe. His primary research interests include the political psychology of gender, group conflict, institutional discrimination and the evolutionary psychology of intergroup prejudice. He has authored and published more than 150 scientific papers, conducted over 100 invited addresses or conference presentations, and his latest books include “The Diversity Challenge: Social Identity and Intergroup Relations on the College Campus.” (2010) and “The Diversity Challenge: Social Identity and Intergroup Relations on the College Campus.”(2008). Prof. Sidanius was the recipient of the 2006 Harold Lasswell Award for “Distinguished Scientific Contribution in the Field of Political Psychology” awarded by the International Society of Political Psychology and  is a fellow of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology (2011 inductee) and the National Academy of Arts and Sciences (2007 inductee).

The Harold Basowitz Memorial Lecture is sponsored by the UA Department of Psychology in memory of Basowitz, who came to UA in 1940 and remained until called into military service.  Basowitz returned to Tuscaloosa in 1946 and received his undergraduate degree from UA in 1947.  He then went on to complete his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Princeton in 1951.  Basowitz’ distinguished career included administrative roles at the National Institute of Mental Health and Professor of Psychology for many years at New York University.  Basowitz’ lifelong friend, Professor Irving Alexander, is the donor of the Basowitz endowment.

Reception to follow.

Annual Dinoff Memorial Lecture

Featured speaker - Dr. Elizabeth Adele Klonoff of San Diego State University

Lecture title - "Do Data have a Conscience:  Reflections on Research in a Sociopolitical Environment."

Elizabeth A Klonoff vita

Elizabeth Klonoff brief bio

Reception to follow.