Welcome to SLAC (Science of Learning & Art of Communication)

The National Science Foundation has awarded our interdisciplinary group of UConn researchers a five-year grant, “The science of learning, from neurobiology to real-world application: A problem-based approach.” We aim to develop transformative models for graduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, training 50 students (including 25 Ph.D. fellows).The “Science of Learning and Art of Communication,” or SLAC, draws on subfields of cognitive science and neuroscience: genetics, behavioral neuroscience, linguistics, education, psychology, and speech-language-hearing sciences. See more

Sep 24 Neuroscience Virtual Seminar Series - Dharap11:00am

Neuroscience Virtual Seminar Series - Dharap

Thursday, September 24th, 2020

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Other
virtual

Sponsored by the Kim Family Fund

Ashutosh Dharap, PhD, Principal Investigator
Neuroscience Institute at JFK Medical Center, Edison, NJ

Host: Dr. Rajkumar Verma, raverma@uchc.edu

Note: Virtual link will be distributed by email to the Neuroscience community. If you are not on this list, but wish to listen to a particular talk, please email Jody Gridley, Gridley@uchc.edu

Contact Information: Jody Gridley, gridley@uchc.edu
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Sep 24 ECOM - Spotlight Series Talk (Drew Johnson)12:15pm

ECOM - Spotlight Series Talk (Drew Johnson)

Thursday, September 24th, 2020

12:15 PM - 01:30 PM

Storrs Campus, Storrs Campus
WebEx

In this ECOM Spotlight Series talk, Drew Johnson will be talking about "Proper Function and Ethical Judgment: Towards a Biosemantic Account of Ethical Thought and Discourse."

Talks will take place online. Please send an email to "aliyar.ozercan@uconn.edu" for the WebEx link.

For the detailed information about, please visit our website: https://ecomresearchgroup.com/speaker-series/

Contact Information: aliyar.ozercan@uconn.edu
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Sep 25 Meaning Group: Arregui and Biezma 20163:00pm

Meaning Group: Arregui and Biezma 2016

Friday, September 25th, 2020

03:00 PM - 04:00 PM

Other
online

Teru Mizuno will be leading the discussion on the paper "Discourse Rationality and the Counterfactuality Implicature in Backtracking Conditionals" by Ana Arregui and María Biezma.

The meeting will be held online via video conference. Details are given in the email announcement and can be obtained by contacting the organizers.

Contact Information: http://meaning.linguistics.uconn.edu/
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Sep 25 CogSci Colloquium: Iris Berent 4:00pm

CogSci Colloquium: Iris Berent

Friday, September 25th, 2020

04:00 PM - 06:00 PM

Storrs Campus, Storrs Campus, Storrs Campus, Storrs Campus
Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/95285812000?pwd=L2NFbFNuamVxNFlGSXF5T0N1bFc3QT09

The Cognitive Science Colloquium Series is proud to present Iris Berent, Ph.D.

Professor in the Department of Psychology at Northeastern University

Friday, September 25th, 4pm, virtually via Zoom

https://zoom.us/j/95285812000?pwd=L2NFbFNuamVxNFlGSXF5T0N1bFc3QT09

Meeting ID: 952 8581 2000
Passcode: R9EXuC

Dr. Berent will provide a talk entitled "How we reason about innateness"

Abstract: Few questions in science are as controversial as the origins of knowledge. Whether ideas (propositional attitudes, e.g., “objects are cohesive”) are innate or acquired has been debated for centuries. Here, I ask whether our difficulties with innate ideas could be grounded in human cognition itself.

I first demonstrate that people are systematically biased against the possibility that ideas are innate. They consider epistemic traits (specifically, ideas, as opposed to horizontal faculties, such as attention) as less likely to be innate compared to non-epistemic traits (sensorimotor or emotive)— those of humans, birds and aliens, and they maintain this belief despite explicit evidence suggesting that the traits in question are in fact innate.

I next move to trace this bias to the collision between two principles of core cognition—Dualism and Essentialism. Dualism (Bloom, 2004) renders ideas immaterial; per Essentialism, the innate essence of living things must be material (Newman & Keil, 2008). It thus follows that epistemic traits cannot be innate. A second series of experiments tests these predictions.

These results show for the first time that people are selectively biased in reasoning about the origins of innate ideas. While these findings from adults cannot ascertain the origins of these biases, they do open up the possibility that our resistance to innate ideas could be in our nature.

I conclude by briefly considering how the dissonance between Dualism and Essentialism can further account for a wide range of other phenomena, from why we are seduced by neuroscience to why we fear the takeover of humanity by AI, and what we think happens when we die.

Please join Iris for a virtual happy hour (open to all) @ 6 PM via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/8587400098?pwd=YmszU2h2UmxNZGJpM1ZMMGZ2c1cvQT09

Open meeting w/ all graduate students @1:30 - 2:00 PM via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/8587400098?pwd=YmszU2h2UmxNZGJpM1ZMMGZ2c1cvQT09

Contact Information: crystal.mastrangelo@uconn.edu
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Sep 28 Meditation Monday4:00pm

Meditation Monday

Monday, September 28th, 2020

04:00 PM - 05:00 PM

Stamford Campus
bit.ly/UConnSHAW_MeditationMonday2020

Our Monday Meditation classes are now online! Guided by Dr. Becky Acabchuk.

Our intention is to offer a virtual space, free and open to the public, to engage in practices that support mental wellbeing and help build community and connection.

Our live, online Meditation Monday classes are open for UConn students, faculty and staff.

Join us every Monday at 4 pm via WebEx:
http://bit.ly/UConnSHAW_MeditationMonday2020
Meeting number (access code): 611 597 667
Meeting password: 6NjqsiNCp53

Contact Information: Dr. Becky Acabchuk
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Sep 29 Become A School Leader6:00pm

Become A School Leader

Tuesday, September 29th, 2020

06:00 PM - 07:30 PM

Other
At Your Computer

For Connecticut educators aspiring to advance their careers and serve in roles as assistant principals, principals, or district-level administrators, the University of Connecticut Administrator Preparation Program (UCAPP) offers an educational leadership program through the Neag School of Education designed to prepare qualified and capable school leaders for all Connecticut schools.

Graduates are awarded a Sixth-Year Diploma in educational administration and are eligible for the (092) certification endorsement as an intermediate administrator in the state of Connecticut.

Attend a virtual information session to learn more.

http://s.uconn.edu/UCAPPInfoSessionsFall2020

Contact Information: kimberly.shirshac@uconn.edu
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Sep 30 Apply For Neag School Alumni Board Scholarship By Oct. 3012:00am

Apply For Neag School Alumni Board Scholarship By Oct. 30

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

12:00 AM - 11:59 PM

Other
Online

The Neag School’s Alumni Board sponsors a scholarship given annually to a graduate student(s) in the Neag School of Education.

The Alumni Board, composed of graduates of the Neag School of Education, created this scholarship as a means of investing in the education and experience of future generations of Neag School students.

Apply by Oct. 30, 2020 at http://s.uconn.edu/scholarship

Contact Information: emurray@foundation.uconn.edu
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Sep 30 Neuroscience Journal Club - Elamin12:00pm

Neuroscience Journal Club - Elamin

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

12:00 PM - 01:00 PM

Other
Blackboard Link

Neuroscience Journal Club

Presenter: Marwa Elamin - Levine Lab

Contact Information: David Martinellii, davidmartinelli@uchc.edu
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Sep 30 Psychology Colloquium: Dr. Stuart Vyse3:30pm

Psychology Colloquium: Dr. Stuart Vyse

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

03:30 PM - 05:00 PM

Storrs Campus
Zoom meeting

We invite you to attend Dr. Stuart Vyse’s talk as part of the psychology colloquium Wednesday, September 30th at 3:30pm via Zoom. Dr. Stuart Vyse, psychologist and writer, contributing editor and columnist for Skeptical Inquirer, professor from Connecticut College will be presenting his talk titled "The Latest in Autism Claptrap and Why Science is Losing". We hope that you will join us!
Event address for attendees:
https://zoom.us/j/6884899144?pwd=THFzczdDZmx1TlczNEZxeWo1dlJHdz09
Meeting ID: 688 489 9144
Passcode: 2020

Contact Information: Shu Jiang shu.2.jiang@uconn.edu
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Oct 1 Neuroscience Virtual Seminar Series11:00am

Neuroscience Virtual Seminar Series

Thursday, October 1st, 2020

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Other
virtual

Sponsored by the Kim Family Fund

Note: Virtual link will be distributed by email to the Neuroscience community. If you are not on this list, but wish to listen to a particular talk, please email Jody Gridley, Gridley@uchc.edu

Contact Information: Jody Gridley, gridley@uchc.edu
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Congratulations to Letty Naigles and Bede Agocha for the grant from CLAS to develop a new course called “Language and Racism,” which is a collaboration between the Cognitive Science program and the Africana Studies Institute.

Congratulations to Nicole Landi who received a new NIH R01 grant “Effectiveness and Predictors of Response for a Technology-based Reading Intervention in the Home,” with co-PI Mike Milham and investigators Fumiko Hoeft and Ken Pugh.

Congratulations to Alex Paxton, who with J. Dixon have an article in UConn Today, which summarizes a recent paper of theirs in PNAS (with Wim Pouw and Steven Harrison): https://today.uconn.edu/2020/05/gestures-heard-well-seen/

Congratulations to Alex Paxton who received a Scholarship Facilitation Fund award for her application “Ad hoc Efforts for Advancing Data Science Education.”

Congratulations to Fumiko Hoeft who received a $3.5M grant to the UCSF Dyslexia Center and will develop a subcontract from UCSF to UConn

Congratulations to Eiling Yee for her paper in Psychological Science - see article about it in UConn Today

Congratulations to Fumiko Hoeft for her NSF Award “Assessing and preventing the detrimental impact of literacy acquisition during COVID-19-related school closure" - see article in UConn Today

Congratulations to Stormy Chamberlain on your 3M NIH Prader-Willi grant

Congratulations to Betsy McCoach on your National Center for Research on Gifted Education grant

Congratulations to Ashley Parker on your prestigious award from the American Speech Language Hearing Foundation -- The Student Research Grant in Audiology. The title of the project is “The Inner-Ear protein Prestin as a Biomarker of Hearing Loss." Congratulations to Ashley and to her advisor, Erika Skoe!

SLAC – Science of Learning & Art of Communication

Welcome new SLAC trainees 2020-2021 & 2021-2022

Sarah Asinari, Megan Chiovaro, Joselyn Perez, Jennifer Richardson,
Kara Vlahcevic, Noelle Wig, Emily Yearling, Nathan Lautz (21-22), Hannah Mechtenberg (21-22),
Oliver McNeil (21-22), Maddie Quam (21-22), Anne Marie Crinnion (22-23)

Events

Happenings

Congratulations to Letty Naigles and Bede Agocha for the grant from CLAS to develop a new course called “Language and Racism,” which is a collaboration between the Cognitive Science program and the Africana Studies Institute.

Congratulations to Alex Paxton who received a Scholarship Facilitation Fund award for her application “Ad hoc Efforts for Advancing Data Science Education.”

Congratulations to Fumiko Hoeft who received a $3.5M grant to the UCSF Dyslexia Center and will develop a subcontract from UCSF to UConn

Congratulations to Eiling Yee for her paper in Psychological Science - see article about it in UConn Today

Congratulations to Fumiko Hoeft for her NSF Award “Assessing and preventing the detrimental impact of literacy acquisition during COVID-19-related school closure" - see article in UConn Today

Congratulations to Stormy Chamberlain on your 3M NIH Prader-Willi grant

Congratulations to Betsy McCoach on your National Center for Research on Gifted Education grant

Check out SLAC Publications

Fall 2020 SLAC Courses

PSYC 5170 SLAC Prof Development Seminar I, 'SICSFLAGS', Fridays 1:30-2:30

PSYC 5570 SLAC Seminar, Fridays 9-12

LING 5010 or PSYC 5500 Research Seminar in Language and Cognition, 'Talk-Shop', Mondays 12:20-1:10

See Curriculum for more information

Events

SLAC Brochure

Welcome new SLAC trainees 2020-2021 & 2021-2022

Sarah Asinari, Megan Chiovaro, Joselyn Perez, Jennifer Richardson, Kara Vlahcevic, Noelle Wig, Emily Yearling, Nathan Lautz (21-22), Hannah Mechtenberg (21-22), Oliver McNeil (21-22), Maddie Quam (21-22), Anne Marie Crinnion (22-23)

Events

Happenings

Congratulations to Letty Naigles and Bede Agocha for the grant from CLAS to develop a new course called “Language and Racism,” which is a collaboration between the Cognitive Science program and the Africana Studies Institute.

Congratulations to Alex Paxton who received a Scholarship Facilitation Fund award for her application “Ad hoc Efforts for Advancing Data Science Education.”

Congratulations to Fumiko Hoeft who received a $3.5M grant to the UCSF Dyslexia Center and will develop a subcontract from UCSF to UConn

Congratulations to Eiling Yee for her paper in Psychological Science - see article about it in UConn Today

Congratulations to Fumiko Hoeft for her NSF Award “Assessing and preventing the detrimental impact of literacy acquisition during COVID-19-related school closure" - see article in UConn Today

Congratulations to Stormy Chamberlain on your 3M NIH Prader-Willi grant

Congratulations to Betsy McCoach on your National Center for Research on Gifted Education grant

Check out SLAC Publications

Fall 2020 SLAC Courses

PSYC 5170 SLAC Prof Development Seminar I, 'SICSFLAGS', Fridays 1:30-2:30

PSYC 5570 SLAC Seminar, Fridays 9-12

LING 5010 or PSYC 5500 Research Seminar in Language and Cognition, 'Talk-Shop', Mondays 12:20-1:10

See Curriculum for more information

Events

SLAC Brochure

Sarah Asinari, Megan Chiovaro, Joselyn Perez, Jennifer Richardson,
Kara Vlahcevic, Noelle Wig, Emily Yearling, Nathan Lautz (21-22), Hannah Mechtenberg (21-22),
Oliver McNeil (21-22), Maddie Quam (21-22), Anne Marie Crinnion (22-23)