B.Sc., Ph.D., C.Psychol., Hon.FBSA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Professor Gina Rippon is Professor Emeritus of Cognitive NeuroImaging at Aston University in the UK. Her research involves the use of state-of-the-art brain imaging techniques to investigate developmental disorders such as autism, profiling different patterns of brain activity in autistic children and adults.
Her current research explores the under-recognition of autism in women and girls, especially in neuroscience research. Her new book on this topic: The Lost Girls of Autism (UK)/Off the Spectrum (US) is released in April 2025.
She also explores the use of neuroscience techniques to investigate social processes, especially those associated with sex/gender differences in the human brain. She has published and commented widely on neuroscience and psychology research in this area, challenging traditional sex/gender stereotypes and publishing guidelines to ensure accurate and transparent research in the area. Her book on such topics, ‘The Gendered Brain’, published by Bodley Head and Penguin Random House, came out in the UK in 2019.
Professor Gina Rippon
Illustration by Cornelia Li. See review on Canada's National Post.
She is an outspoken critic of ’neurotrash’, the populist (mis)use of neuroscience research to (mis)represent our understanding of brain-behaviour links, particularly on the topic of sex/gender differences. She campaigns widely against misinformation in science, frequently working with science journalists to ensure their stories accurately reflect what the science has shown. She also works with science writers to ensure they avoid misrepresentation or misunderstanding in their work. She and colleagues have published sets of recommendations and guidelines to ensure accuracy and transparency in science communication.
She is a passionate supporter of initiatives to address the under-representation of women in all spheres of influence, especially science. She has developed brain-based models with which to investigate gender gaps and has acted as a consultant for many professional Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives world-wide, including international businesses’ and policy-making groups such as the UK’s Cabinet Office and the EU.
She is very active in the field of the public communication of science and has made many appearances in science and book festivals across the UK, as well as Europe the US and Australia. She is a member of Robert Peston’s Speakers4Schools and visits schools to talk to students about their brains. In 2015, she was made an Honorary Fellow of the British Science Association for services to science communication.
Critical neuroscience of Gender Publications
Rippon, G., Losse, K. and White, S., 2024. Impression management in sex and gender neuroscience research reporting: the MAGIC guidelines. Nature communications, 15(1), p.2826.
Rippon, G., 2024. Impression management in research reporting: When effects are not really as pronounced as claimed. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(49), p.e2421013121.
Rippon, G., 2024. The Conversation Oct. 14th 2024 Five simple questions can help spot exaggerated research claims over sex differences in the brain
Rippon, G., 2024. The Guardian Feb. 22nd 2024 Take it from a neuroscientist: searching for a ‘male’ and ‘female’ brain is a waste of time
Rippon, G., Eliot, L., Genon, S. and Joel, D., 2021. How hype and hyperbole distort the neuroscience of sex differences. PLoS biology, 19(5), p.e3001253.
Rippon, G., Jordan‐Young, R., Kaiser, A., Joel, D. and Fine, C., 2017. Journal of neuroscience research policy on addressing sex as a biological variable: Comments, clarifications, and elaborations. Journal of neuroscience research, 95(7), pp.1357-1359.
Fine, C., Joel, D. and Rippon, G., 2019. Eight things you need to know about sex, gender, brains, and behavior: A guide for academics, journalists, parents, gender diversity advocates, social justice warriors, Tweeters, Facebookers, and everyone else. Social Justice Warriors, Tweeters, Facebookers, and Everyone Else. Scholar & Feminist Online, 15.
Rippon, G. (2016): The Trouble with Girls? : Why Plastic Brains aren’t Breaking through Glass Ceilings. The Psychologist: 29:918-923.
Rippon, G. (2016) Blame the Brain: Science and Stereotypes; Essay in ‘Science: Not Just for Scientists. British Science Association
Rippon, G. (2016) The Conversation: Feb. 9th 2016: Are Male and Female Brains Really Different?
Rippon, G. (2016) The Conversation: April 1st, 2016: Changing the face of autism: here come the girls.
Rippon, G. (2016) Hippocratic Post: April 11th, 2016: Autism in the 21st Century: missing the girls.
Rippon, G., (2015.) Greetings, Earthlings. New Scientist, 228(3050), p.9.
Rippon, G. (2015) The Conversation: Jan, 16th, Making guys play with dolls won’t create an army of men working as carers.
Fine, Cordelia; Joel, Daphna; Jordan-Young, Rebecca; Kaiser, Anelis; Rippon, Gina (2015): Why Males ≠ Corvettes, Females ≠ Volvos, and Scientific Criticism ≠ Ideology: A Response to “Equal ≠ The Same: Sex Differences in the Human Brain”. figshare.
Rippon, G. (2015) How Men and Women Think
Rippon, Gina, Rebecca Jordan-Young, Anelis Kaiser, and Cordelia Fine.(2014) Recommendations for sex/gender neuroimaging research: key principles and implications for research design, analysis, and interpretation. Frontiers in human neuroscience 8 (2014): 650.
Rippon, G. (2014). The Conversation.: August 15th Arguing over whether girls can’t or won’t study science stops us fixing the problem.
Fine, Cordelia, Rebecca Jordan-Young, Anelis Kaiser, and Gina Rippon.(2013) Plasticity, plasticity, plasticity… and the rigid problem of sex. Trends in Cognitive sciences 17, no. 11 (2013): 550-551.