Program Schedule

Monday 20, May
Arrival in Erice - After dinner reception at the marsala room (San Rocco)

Tuesday 21th, May
  • 09:00-09:20 - Welcome by the Director of The International School of Ethology, Stefano Parmigiani (University of Parma, IT)
  • 09:20-09:40 - Introduction to the Conference by Margareth Mc Carthy and Paola Palanza
Session #1
  • 09:40-10:30 - Andrea Pilastro (University of Padova, IT) : Evolution of Anisogamy, Sexual Selection and sexual conflict
  • 10:30-10:50 - coffee break
  • 10:50-11:40 - Greg Ball (University of Maryland, USA) : Sex differences in the songbird brain: hormone plasticity and behavior
  • 11:40-12:30 - Melissa Hines (University of Cambridge, UK) : Human Gender development
  • 12:30-14:30 - Lunch break
Session #2
  • 14:30-15:50 - Selected short presentations
  • 15:50-16:40 - Daphna Joel (Tel Aviv University, IL) : Rethinking sex and the brain: from dimorphism to mosaic
  • 16:40-17:00 - coffee break
  • 17:00-17:50 - Jacques Balthazart (University of Liege, BE) : Sex partner preference in animals and humans
  • 17:50-18:40 - Fr. Alberto Frigerio (Arcidiocesi di Milano, IT) : 'The two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery' (Eph 5:31b-32a)
  • 18:40-19:00 - General discussion

Wednesday 22nd, May
Session #3
  • 09:00-09:50 - Larry Young (Emory University, USA) : Sex differences and similarities in the neurobiology of pair bonding
  • 09:50-10:40 - Debra Bengasser (Temple University, USA) : Sex differences in stress regulation of arousal and cognition
  • 10:40-11:00 - coffee break
  • 11:00-11:40 - Paola Palanza (University of Parma, IT) : Sex biased impact of social and environmental factors
  • 11:40-12:20 - Carola Eva (University of Torino, IT) : NPY system, metabolism and stress response: male/female comparison
  • 12:20-13:20 - Selected short presentations
  • 13:20-15:40 - Lunch and Poster Session
Session #4
  • 15:40-16:30 - Margareth Mc Carthy (University of Maryland) : Immune origins of sex differences in the brain
  • 16:30-17:20 - Armin Ramzah (NIMH, USA) : Sex-Biased Brain Development in Humans: Maps, Mechanisms and Meanings
  • 17:20-17:50 - coffee break
  • 17:50-18:40 - Chuck Rosselli (Oregon University, USA) : Sex differences in kisspeptin expression: a role in sexual differentiation
  • 18:40-19:00 - General Discussion

Thursday 23rd, May
Session #5
  • 09:00-09:50 - Art Arnold (UCLA, USA) : Sex differences caused by sex chromosome genes
  • 09:50-10:40 - Christine Disteche (University of Washington, USA) : Sex differences in stress regulation of arousal and cognition
  • 10:40-11:10 - coffee break
  • 11:10-12:00 - David Geary (University of Missouri, USA) : Evolution of Sex Differences in Trait- and Age-Specific Vulnerability
  • 12:00-13:00 - Selected short presentations
  • 13:00-15:00 - Lunch break
Session #6
  • 15:00-15:50 - Ann Murphy (Georgia State University, USA) : Influence of sex and age on pain perception and morphine action
  • 15:50-16:40 - Roberta Brinton (Arizona University, USA) : Sex Hormones metabolism and Alzheimer disease
  • 16:40-17:10 - coffee break
  • 17:10-18:00 - Kathryn Sandberg (Georgetown University, USA) : Mechanisms underlying increased anxiety and cognitive decline induced by ovarian hormone loss
  • 18:00-19:00 - General Discussion and Closing Remarks
  • 20:30-22:30 - Social Dinner

Friday 24th, May
Free Day - Excursion to Selinunte and Segesta

Saturday 25th, May
Departures