The Center for Cognitive Sciences

     We are an interdisciplinary research center serving as the foundation for research in the cognitive sciences at the University of Minnesota.  Our members represent 14 University departments and 6 colleges.  The Center originated in the 1960's as a meeting ground for faculty and students with interests in cognitive science.

Mission

      The Center provides its members with opportunities to share their insights on recent advances and develop interdisciplinary research collaborations. The Center's primary mission continues to be the facilitation of interdisciplinary research and teaching in cognitive science.  The Center for Cognitive Sciences receives strong support from the University of Minnesota and its constituent departments and colleges.

     Within the Center for Cognitive Sciences, conceptualizations and ideas evolve and broaden, collaborations develop, departmental boundaries evaporate, and dialogues take place between basic and applied research. As the field of cognitive science has emerged, the Center has evolved as the interdisciplinary cognitive sciences center of the University of Minnesota.

Members

     Member specialty fields include:

• Child Development, CEHD
• Computer Science, IT   
  
• Dentistry, DENT
  
• Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, CBS
  
• Educational Psychology, CEHD
  
• Electrical Engineering, IT
  
• Information and Decision Science, CSOM
  
• Kinesiology, CEHD
  
• Linguistics, CLA
  
• Mechanical Engineering, IT   
  
• Neuroscience, MED
  
• Philosophy, CLA
  
• Psychiatry, MED
  
• Psychology, CLA
  
• Radiology, MED
  
• Speech Language Hearing Sciences, CLA    

CBS= College of Biological Sciences
CEHD= College of Education and Human Development
CLA= College of Liberal Arts
CSOM= Carlson School of Management
DENT = School of Dentistry
IT= Institute of Technology
MED= Medical School

Faculty

     Faculty members and students share in the resources of the Center, participate in its governance, and are responsible for creating a vigorous and rigorous intellectual environment. They collaborate on research, share ideas, criticize, educate, and persuade. Each week numerous research groups and seminars meet to discuss specific research topics. These groups are a mix of faculty and students. Weekly colloquia feature members of the Center and visiting speakers from other universities and from industry.

      Several cognitive scientists in industry in the Twin Cities have been invited to be Affiliated Scientists of the Center. These members participate in Center functions and serve as resources outside of the University community. Several Center students have also successfully completed industrial internships at companies in the Twin Cities area. 

Support

     The Center's graduate and undergraduate programs of training and research are supported by a number of agencies, including:

  The National Institute of Child Health and Development

  The National Science Foundation

  The National Institute for Mental Health

  3M Company

  Research grants held by Center faculty

     The Center receives important funding support from University of Minnesota schools and colleges, including:

  The Graduate School

  The Carlson School of Management

  The College of Education and Human Development

  The College of Liberal Arts