What happens when we read? Join Sophie Gee in conversation

Save the date for a friendly afternoon of Research Conversations on Thursday 15 May from 4.30pm to 6.00pm!

We’re eagerly looking forward to welcoming Associate Professor Sophie Gee to the Pymble Institute in May 2025. Sophie is a professor, writer, mentor, educator and public humanities spokesperson currently teaching in the Princeton University English Faculty and at the University of Sydney, where she is the Vice Chancellor’s Fellow. She is also a highly engaging and erudite communicator and “humanities entrepreneur” who is the founding co-host of the fantastic, new, Australian podcast The Secret Life of Books. Joining us at Pymble Ladies’ College for this special event, Sophie will host a Research Conversations afternoon to share insights into her career, the importance of studying the humanities and ways to celebrate the humanities in the public sphere.

Diving into her academic specialisation in English, Sophie will discuss research into the neurological dimensions of reading and explore what happens when readers engage with characters, plots and settings beyond their lifeworlds. Understanding the science behind reading connects us to empathy and diversity, as well as with histories and geographies we can never experience in our own lifetimes. This topic will be relevant for school students studying English, teachers undertaking postgraduate studies, teachers of all learning areas and parents. Sophie will also share an insight into the world of the Ivy League academic community of Princeton which will be of interest to students considering this future direction.

The Pymble Institute is delighted Sophie can join us in 2025 to discuss the importance of researching humanities subjects in contexts of increasing complexity and diversity. 

Tickets are $15 and will be available soon. To pre-register for this event, please click here.