Cognitive Science:
What is it,
and How can I study it at RPI?
What is Cognitive Science?
Cognitive Science
• Cognitive science is the science of cognition,
which covers reasoning, decision-making,
learning, memory, perception, and action.
• It can thus be seen as the study of mind, but these
minds can be human minds, animal minds, robot
minds, or whatever minds.
• Cognitive science is an inherently interdisciplinary
study; it is informed by the fields of philosophy,
psychology, computer science, neuroscience,
linguistics, anthropology, biology, education,
mathematics, and robotics.
• Cognitive Science is a young science. In fact, the
term ‘cognitive science’ was coined only in 1973.
Cognitive Science as one of the
‘Basic’ Sciences
• Personally, I believe that at some point in the
future, cognitive science will be regarded as one
of the ‘basic’ sciences, in line with physics,
chemistry, and biology.
• Indeed, I believe that cognitive technology is
going to be the next ‘revolution’ in technology.
Cognitive Ergonomics
• Designing tools with an eye for our cognitive abilities
(and hence the constraints it imposes on that technology):
cognitive ergonomically designed tools should ‘fit’ our
abilities to take in and process information, and act on it.
Smart Cockpit (really?)
Better interfacing
with Tom Cruise!
Cognitive Prosthetics
Using EEG’s (brain
waves measured
at scalp), patients that
can’t move their arms
learn to control a cursor
on a screen
- Wadsworth Research
Lab, Albany, NY
Sensory Substitution
Former blind, Jens Naumann
can now see good enough to
‘drive slowly around in a parking lot’
thanks to a brain vision implant
Seeing with Sound
See with tongue
Cognitive Augmentation
Australian Art-Performer
Stelarc has a
third arm which he can
control using his
abdominal muscles
???
Cognitive Robotics
Robocup
Roomba
PERI passes one section of the
WAIS-R IQ test!
Artificial Intelligence
How can I study cognitive
science at RPI?
Cognitive Science at RPI
• In 1991-1992, the Philosophy Department merged with the Psychology
Department to form the Department of Philosophy, Psychology, and
Cognitive Science.
• In 2003, this became the Department of Cognitive Science, one of only
about 15 dedicated Departments of Cognitive Science in the world
• In 2004, we created a PhD program in Cognitive Science
• We are currently working on a B.S. undergraduate major in Cognitive
Science; hopefully in place by Fall 2009
• About 20 faculty
• 5 Laboratories:
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CogWorks Lab (Cognitive Modeling)
RAIR Lab (Artificial Intelligence and Reasoning)
PandA Lab (Perception and Action, Virtual Reality)
Human-Level Intelligence Lab
Cognitive Architecture Lab
Minds & Machines Program
• For the past dozen or so
years, the Minds &
Machines Program has
served as a undergraduate
program in Cognitive
Science
• Students become members
by declaring a major or
minor in Philosophy,
Psychology, or (once in
place) Cognitive Science
in addition to their
primary major (often
computer science, but any
major is welcome to the
program)
What do I get out of the Minds &
Machines Program?
• Advisement on which courses to take in order to pursue
your specific interests within cognitive science
• Discussion of ideas in cognitive science and technology
with other students and faculty
• Luncheons (free lunch!) during which guest speakers,
faculty, and students share their latest ideas
• Get actively involved in any of our research labs
• Do science as well as engineering, investigate as well as
design, think critically as well as creatively
• Be prepared for ‘cognitive revolution’
• Develop professional connections to find internship and
job opportunities (and letters of recommendation)
How do I Enroll in the Minds &
Machines Program?
• Contact the Director:
– Bram van Heuveln
– heuveb@rpi.edu
• Orientation meeting:
– sept. 3 (next wed.), noon, Sage 4101
Coming Soon: A BS in Cognitive
Science!
• We are planning to offer a BS in Cognitive
Science
• If all goes right, this starts in the fall of
2009
• If interested, you can transfer into this
major by that time.
Core Curriculum for BS in
Cognitive Science
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Minds & Machines
Introduction to Cognitive Science
Introduction to Logic
Cognitive Psychology
Behavioral Neuroscience
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Cognitive Modeling
Sensation and Perception
Experimental Methods and Statistics
Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
Undergraduate Thesis
What Can I do With a Cognitive
Science BS?
• Rich Skill Set:
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Programming/Modeling
Empirical Data Collection and Evaluation
Complex Systems Analysis
Critical Thinking
Communication
• Careers (industry, academics) in Computer
Science (AI, robotics), Psychology (HCI,
Neuroscience), Philosophy, Decision Sciences, IT,
Economics, Anthropology, Education, Law, etc.
I am interested in the B.S. in Cognitive
Science. What should I do?
• Contact the Director-Of-UndergraduateStudies-In-Cognitive-Science-To-Be:
– Bram van Heuveln
– heuveb@rpi.edu