The three-day conference showcased a myriad of captivating discussions and talks on the operation of the human mind and brain, led by a dynamic community of researchers
The 10th edition of the Annual Conference of Cognitive Science (ACCS-X) concluded at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur on Tuesday. According to a press release issued by the institution, the three-day conference featured a myriad of intriguing talks and discussions on the functioning of the human mind and brain. It brought together a vibrant community of researchers, including students and faculty in the fields of Cognitive Psychology, Neuroscience, Computer Science, and Linguistics.
Hosted under the aegis of the Association for Cognitive Science (ACS) at the Department of Cognitive Science, IIT Kanpur, the conference received support from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and guidance from the Association of Cognitive Science. Faculty from various institutions within the country, such as IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Bhubaneswar, IIIT Hyderabad, IIIT Delhi, Centre for Behavioural and Cognitive Science (University of Allahabad), University of Hyderabad, National Brain Research Centre (Manesar, Haryana), NIMHANS Bengaluru, and IISc Bengaluru, among others, attended the event.
Prof. Ark Verma, the conference convener, initiated the proceedings with a welcome note alongside Prof. Narayanan Srinivasan, Head of the Department of Cognitive Science at IIT Kanpur. The formal inauguration was conducted by Prof. S. Ganesh, Director of IIT Kanpur.
During his keynote address, Prof. Marc Brysbaert from Ghent University in Belgium emphasized what psychologists can learn from engineers in approaching significant problems and enhancing research practices. Subsequent sessions covered attention and perception, learning, memory, and language, with student presentations from various academic departments across the country.
Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and former director of IIT Kanpur, along with Prof. Harish Karnick, Honorary Professor of the Department of Cognitive Science, IIT Kanpur, delivered key addresses.
The inaugural day concluded with a presentation by the event sponsors, Sanki – Tobii, showcasing an innovative portable eye-tracking device for conducting experiments in real-world settings.
The second day focused on discussions about the intricate relationship between emotions and cognition, cognitive disorders, and interventions. The third day centered around cognitive control, featuring presentations and engaging dialogues among researchers from across the country.
The final session, themed around creativity and aesthetics, featured researchers presenting their work and engaging the audience with insightful findings. The Best Oral Presentation and Best Poster Presentation, dedicated to the late Professor V S Chandrasekhar Pammi, were presented by Prof. Surampadi Bapi Raju of IIIT – Hyderabad during the valedictory session.
