Science Café presents Dr. Jacqueline Wolf discussing “A High Cesarean Rate and a Low Breastfeeding Rate: How Did We Get Here?”on Wednesday, March 27, at 5 p.m. in the Front Room at Baker University Center.
In the 1970s, women celebrated “natural” childbirth. Yet by 2009, cesarean section was the most commonly performed surgery in the country. How did this surgery become so commonplace? Today, 86 percent of women initiate breastfeeding after giving birth. Yet by the time American babies are 3 months old, the majority are consuming far more formula than human milk. How (and when) did we become a formula-feeding culture?
Wolf, professor of the history of medicine in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, will discuss her research on birth and breastfeeding practices, what sparked her interest in the topics, and some of the historical, cultural and social factors that have shaped the way American women give birth and feed their infants today.
“We like to think of medicine as a dispassionate science,” Wolf said, “but culture and society have always shaped medical practice, and this is especially apparent when you study the medical specialties that touch on infant care and women’s reproductive health.”
Dr. Jacqueline Wolf
Wolf is Professor of Social Medicine in the Heritage College of Medicine at Ohio University and Professor of the History of Medicine with the History Department.
Science Café events are held on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in the Front Room at Baker University Center. They are free and open to students, faculty and staff. Science Café is a venue for students to share their interests informally during a conversation exchange in a friendly setting.
The Science Café is hosted by Dr. Sarah Wyatt, Professor of Environmental & Plant Biology and Vice President of the Ohio University Chapter of Sigma Xi, and Roxanne Malé-Brune, Director of Grant Development and Projects in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Creativity.
Science Café and Café Conversations are sponsored by the Office of Vice President for Research and Creativity and the Ohio University Chapter of Sigma Xi.
Fall 2018 Science Café & Café Conversations
Sept. 19—Dr. Scott Moody, Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences, “Why we need the EPA and ESA for our health?” Watch on A&S TV.
Sept. 26, Conversation—Dr. Laeeq Khan, Assistant Professor of Media Arts and Studies
Oct. 3—Dr. Ronan Carroll, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Watch on A&S TV
Oct. 17—Dr. Natalie Daniels, Associate Professor in the Voinovich School Watch on A&S TV
Oct. 24, Conversation—Dr. Julie Paxton, Professor of Economics Watch on A&S TV
Nov. 14—Dr. Sarah Wyatt, Professor of Environmental & Plant Biology Watch on A&S TV
Dec. 5—Dr. Julie Suhr, Professor of Psychology Watch on A&S TV
Spring Semester 2019
Jan. 23—Dr. Doug Clowe, Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy Watch on A&S TV
Feb. 6—Dr. Lawrence Witmer, Professor of Biomedical Science Watch on A&S TV
Feb. 13, Conversation—Julie Owens, Professor of Psychology Watch on A&S TV
Feb. 20—Science Museum Complex
March 6—Dr. Ryan Chornock, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Watch on A&S TV
March 27—Dr. Jacqueline Wolf, Professor of Social Medicine Watch on A&S TV
April 3—Dr. John Kopchick, Distinguished Professor & Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar Biomedical Sciences
April 10—Dr. Deborah McAvoy, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering
April 11 Research and Creativity Expo
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