Teaching
Based within the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering and our strong link to the Chair of Acoustics and Haptics, our teaching offerings are designed to provide students within the faculty with an introduction to psychological and cognitive neuroscience as they relate to multisensory processing. Additionally, with the important part that virtual reality plays within the CeTI cluster but also because it is in VR where many of the engineering innovations in affective haptics may be best applied, our other seminar course focuses on the opportunities but also pitfalls of using VR in research.
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An interactive approach learning
Prof. Fairhurst's teaching philosophy, shaped by formal training at the University of Oxford, centres on three key principles: critical engagement with primary literature, identifying underlying mechanisms before describing phenomena, and fostering interactive dialogue.
Over two decades of teaching, these principles have guided an approach that emphasises depth over breadth, encouraging students to critically analyse original research, appreciate scientific history—including contributions from underrepresented female scientists— and to develop confidence in collaborative discussions. By focusing on understanding the “why” behind experimental findings, students are taught to link psychological phenomena to their underlying mechanisms, particularly through neuroimaging and cognitive neuroscience methods.
Prof. Fairhurst also values dialogue between student and lecturer as a reciprocal, emotionally grounded exchange built on trust and respect. She focuses on trying to foster and support intellectual curiosity and mentoring, especially among female students. In an era shaped by AI, this approach—anchored in mechanism-focused inquiry, engagement and interactive content, and open communication—aims to ensure students remain motivated, critical, and creative thinkers capable of shaping the questions of tomorrow.