Calling Future Scientists.
“How scientific discovery gets done" see how the process leading to the eventual discovery of human sex attractant pheromones happened.
Dr. Cutler’s 2022 educational video inspires research students to make a positive contribution to knowledge. Her video informs listeners “how scientific discovery gets done" and about her eventual discovery of human sex attractant pheromones.
Invited by Ursinus College, Dr Winnifred Cutler gave a live-stage presentation to ignite the ‘next generation’ of research students with the excitement that has driven her for decades to work to improve the quality of health care to women.
Engaging the bright minds in her audience, Dr. Cutler conveys the thrill of scientific discovery with warmth and generosity — explaining the building-block model of how original research should contribute to knowledge, while inspiring others to extend the knowledge even further.
“In good science, and maybe good poetry and humanity, there is an interplay between intuition and actual data.”
From Darwin’s observations on evolution, and Dr. Cutler’s early discovery that the moon influences the timing of the fertility cycles of women, she shares her inspirations, mentors, and scientific journey traversing psychology, biology, behavioral endocrinology… leading to her co-discovery of human pheromones in 1986.
Dr. Cutler explains that pheromones are excreted to elicit a response (territorial, mother-infant, menstrual synchrony, sex attractants) to promote the reproductive survival of the species. Chronicling prior research through the 1960’s and 1970’s, up to her own co-authored 1986 published studies on extracted human pheromone ‘essences’ applied to test subjects, Dr. Cutler tells her student audience…
“Pheromones seemed to do something”
That something? Increasing one’s attractiveness to the opposite sex. The media exploded, long before twitter, sparking stories in Newsweek, Time, many tv appearances and led Dr. Cutler to develop two synthesized pheromone fragrance additives. “We made a good potion” she tells the students and details the subsequent three double-blind, published, peer-reviewed studies proving effectiveness vs. placebo in increasing romantic attention.
Watch the full video presentation to share in Dr. Cutler’s goal of inspiring the audience to explore, discover, research, and contribute to knowledge as they enter the field of which behavioral patterns promote good health.
“WARNING: Video for mature viewers only. This scientific lecture was presented by Dr. Winnifred Cutler at Ursinus College to an audience of student research fellows, it contains mature clinical content.”
You will learn so much more from Dr. Cutler’s video!