Melinda Mills on sociogenomics : Podcast

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The work Melinda Mills on sociogenomics : Podcast represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in European University Institute. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Continuing Resources.

Label

Melinda Mills on sociogenomics : Podcast

Title remainder

Podcast

Contributor

• Edmonds, David, 1964-
• Mills, Melinda

Host

• Edmonds, David, 1964-

Interviewee

• Mills, Melinda

Interviewer

• Edmonds, David, 1964-

Subject

• Big data
• Genetics -- Technique
• Sociogenomics

Language

eng

Summary

About this Podcast: When considering the causes of social behaviour there has traditionally been fierce debate over 'nature versus nurture'. The idea that behaviour can be explained through either nature or nurture alone is no longer mainstream thought. Despite this, different academic fields tend to explain behaviour largely according to their own discipline. In this conversation Melinda Mills, Nuffield Professor of Sociology at University of Oxford describes how an encounter with researchers from other fields, namely biology and genetics, led her to break free from the limits of her own field. Mills originally studied the sociology and demography of families and family formation from a purely social science perspective. This included factors like when people choose to have a child, what a woman's age is when she first gives birth, or the number of children someone might have. In reflection, Mills explains that, ?I was looking at them in a very socially deterministic way. I was looking at things such as childcare institutions or gender equality or the kind of jobs that women and men have, and was childcare available and affordable and . . . I was using those as explanations and predictors." Mills now studies 'sociogenomics' which combines social science and genetics, with a particular emphasis on how these interplay in the areas of inequality and life course. This involves collaboration, with each part of the triad - social scientists, biologists, and geneticists - bringing their research to the table. This has led to the discovery of new knowledge across the fields. The effort also harnesses the use of big data within genetics technology, tapping into databases like the UK Bio Bank and direct-to-consumer testing services like 23andMe.--

Member of

• Social science bites

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Series statement

• Social science bites
• SAGE research methods