Cluster focus

Cognitive science investigates mental abilities such as perception, recognition, categorization, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, judgment, decision-making, language and communication. Studying common problems of mind, brain and behavior involves a variety of disciplines, including cognitive psychology, linguistics, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, philosophy, education, economics, nursing and pharmacy. The field is rooted in the humanities (philosophy and linguistics) with most research being conducted in the social sciences (communicative disorders, psychology and economics) and a future that connects with both computer science and neuroscience. Cognitive science has had a presence on campus for 25 years. This cluster will create a community around the field and become a collaborative umbrella for interests in cognitive sciences. This group will also help UW-Madison be an even more active player in an area where many peer institutions have been interacting for some time.

Cluster accomplishments

  • This cluster has only recently been fully formed with the arrival of two of its three faculty hires in fall 2005 and they are currently developing an ambitious collaborative agenda.
  • The cluster has received an enhancement grant to develop a website to publicize our activities both within and outside campus. Other proposed activities include a seminar series on cognitive science to help integrate and bring together faculty. We are also developing a “small grant” program to support collaborative research within the cluster.
  • The cluster plans to develop an interdisciplinary undergraduate course in cognitive science that would appeal to students from several different academic majors. Many departments see the need to develop cognitive science curricular offerings for their students.
  • A number of cluster faculty are involved in collaborative research projects covering issues such as language acquisition, mathematical reasoning, and category learning.

Cluster structure

This cluster is relatively new to campus, with two of three faculty arriving in fall 2005. The coordinator will hold regularly scheduled cluster meetings in spring 2006 so the group can set priorities, create a plan to develop a speaker series, discuss developing new courses together and explore potential for researching as a group.

Cluster coordinator, faculty and lead dean

Cluster Coordinator

Cluster Faculty

Lead Dean