Cordelia Fine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cordelia Fine
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Fine in 2010
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| Born | 1975 (age 49–50) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Philosopher, psychologist, writer |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Oxford University (BA Hons Experimental Psychology), Cambridge University (MPhil Criminology), University College London (PhD Psychology) |
| Alma mater | Oxford University Cambridge University University College London |
| Period | 2006–present |
| Subject | Philosophy, psychology, neuroscience |
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Cordelia Fine (born in 1975) is a British writer, psychologist, and philosopher. She was born in Canada. She is a professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia.
Cordelia Fine has written three popular science books. These books are about how our brains work and about common ideas about differences between boys and girls. Her latest book, Testosterone Rex, won a big award called the Royal Society Science Book Prize in 2017.
She also writes for many well-known newspapers and magazines. These include The New York Times and Scientific American.
In 2018, Cordelia Fine received the Edinburgh Medal. This award goes to scientists and technologists who have greatly helped people understand the world and improve human well-being.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Cordelia Fine was born in Toronto, Canada. Her mother is the writer Anne Fine, and her father is the philosopher Kit Fine.
She went to St George's School for Girls in Edinburgh, Scotland. She studied at some of the world's top universities. She earned a top degree in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University. She also got a Master's degree in Criminology from Cambridge University. Later, she completed her PhD in Psychology at University College London.
Her Career in Science
After finishing her studies, Cordelia Fine worked as a researcher at several universities in Australia. She did research at Monash University and the Australian National University. She also worked at Macquarie University.
From 2012 to 2016, she was a special research fellow at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences. She also taught as an Associate Professor at the Melbourne Business School.
Currently, she is a Professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia. She works in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies.
Her Books
Cordelia Fine has written three important books that help us understand the brain and gender.
A Mind of Its Own
Her first book is called A Mind of Its Own. This book explains how our brains can sometimes trick us or show us a different picture of reality. It brings together lots of research about how our minds work.
Delusions of Gender
Her second book, Delusions of Gender, looks at ideas about differences between male and female brains. She argues that claims about these differences are often made too soon. She says they can be based on mistakes or old ways of thinking.
Cordelia Fine also questions the common idea that if boys and girls have different interests, it must be because of biology. She points out that boys and girls often grow up in very different environments. Because of this, it's hard to say that their choices are only due to their "inner nature."
Some people have criticized her views. However, Cordelia Fine has explained that her book is about scientific evidence. It focuses on claims that males and females are "hardwired" to think or feel differently. She believes that how we develop comes from a constant interaction between our brain, our genes, and our environment.
A professor from Stanford University, Ben Barres, said that Fine's analysis in this book should be read by everyone. Other scientists have also supported her work. They agree that false claims about brain differences can be harmful.
Testosterone Rex
Cordelia Fine's third book is called Testosterone Rex. In this book, she examines common ideas about sex differences. She looks at how these ideas are explained by evolution, the brain, and hormones.
In 2017, Testosterone Rex won the important Royal Society Science Books Prize. A writer named Harriet Hall said that Fine's book shows that men and women are not very different, except for their bodies. She argues there is no such thing as a "male brain" or a "female brain." Instead, each person has a unique mix of features.
Awards and Recognitions
Cordelia Fine's books have won many awards and been recognized for their importance.
For Testosterone Rex
- The Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize, 2017
For Delusions of Gender
- Shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for non-fiction 2011.
- Shortlisted for the Best Book of Ideas Prize 2011.
- Shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize 2010.
- Shortlisted by The Washington Post for 2010 Best Non-Fiction Book of the Year.
- Shortlisted for the 2013 Warwick Prize for Writing.
- Named a book of the year by Evening Standard and Guardian in 2010.
- Included on Huffington Post's "22 books women think men should read" list.
For A Mind of Its Own
- One of twelve books long-listed for the UK Royal Society Science Prize 2007.
See also
In Spanish: Cordelia Fine para niños
