The Group Dynamics Seminar series is considered one of the longest running seminar series in the social sciences. It has been running uninterruptedly since it was founded by Kurt Lewin in the 1920’s in Berlin. The seminar series runs every semester on a theme chosen by faculty organizer/s who are affiliated with the Research Center for Group Dynamics at the Institute for Social Research. A very important feature of this seminar today is its interdisciplinary nature. Recent themes have included political polarization, evolution and human behavior, and cultural psychology.
The Winter 2025 RCGD Seminar Series
The Winter 2025 RCGD Seminar Series will feature speakers invited and hosted by faculty affiliated with the Research Center for Group Dynamics. These multidisciplinary talks will cover a variety of topics in social science, including social cognition, structural racism, romantic relationships, and cognitive health. Check the schedule for updates to this series that will convene on select Mondays at 3:30 at the Institute for Social Research.
These events are held Mondays from 3:30 to 5.
In person:Â ISR Thompson 1430, unless otherwise specified.
As permissions allow, seminars are later posted to our YouTube playlist.
Andrew Todd
UC Davis (Social Inference Lab)
Title TBA
March 17, 2025
Andy Todd is the director of the Social Inference Lab and an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at UC Davis. He received a B.A. in psychology from Michigan State University and a M.S. and Ph.D. in social psychology from Northwestern University.
Allison Earl hosts.
Donte Bernard
University of Missouri
Title TBA
March 24, 2025
Dr. Donte Bernard’s program of research examines the direct and indirect pathways by which racism compromises the mental and behavioral health and well-being of Black children, adolescents, and emerging adults. Anchored by cultural ecological models recognizing the importance of risk and resilience at the individual and contextual level, his research leverages both quantitative and qualitative methods to identify how Black youth identify, cope with, and navigate racism-related experiences across sensitive developmental periods. Ultimately, the goal of his research is to eliminate racial disparities in mental and behavioral health through informing policy and intervention development targeting the reduction of racism and its related health consequences.
Myles Durkee hosts.
Courtney Thomas Tobin
UCLA
Title TBA
April 7, 2025, 3 to 5:30 pm
Courtney Thomas Tobin will speak on April 7, 2025, on a topic related to cognitive aging in older Black Americans. The title and abstract are TBA.
DeAnnah Byrd
Arizona State University
Title TBC
April 14, 2025, 3 to 5:30 p.m.
DeAnnah Byrd is an assistant professor at ASU studying the effects of risk (chronic conditions, biological and psychosocial stressors) and protective (coping, social support, etc) factors on memory and cognitive changes in older African Americans. Byrd's research aims to improve cognitive outcomes for African Americans. Her RCGD talk will be on April 14, 2025. The title and abstract are TBA.