Nov 28, 20182 min read

Curiosity: Emerging Sciences and Educational Innovations

Curiosity Conference: Emerging Sciences and Educational Innovations

Registration link is HERE

December 7-8, 2018

Glandt Forum

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

Plenary Speakers

Danielle S. Bassett (University of Pennsylvania); Elizabeth Bonawitz (Rutgers University); Goren Gordon (Tel Aviv University); Jacqueline Gottlieb (Columbia University); Mathias Gruber (Cardiff University); Susanne Hidi (University of Toronto); Ilhan Inan (Bogazici University); John L. Jackson (University of Pennsylvania); Edith Law (University of Waterloo); Lieke van Lieshout (Radboud University); Pierre-Yves Oudeyer (INRIA, France); Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (University of Washington); Philipp Schmit (MIT Media Lab); Arjun Shankar (Hamilton College); Elliot Smith (Indiana University); Robert Wilson (University of Arizona); Perry Zurn (American University)

Conference Background

We are poised, perhaps as never before, to better understand and facilitate curiosity across the human lifespan and between intelligent systems. This conference aims to foster an interdisciplinary conversation on this topic among scholars in neuroscience, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, psychology, education, philosophy, and beyond. The event will highlight cutting-edge empirical work on curiosity, as well as theoretical and applied innovations that enhance curious learning, improve pedagogical frameworks, and reimagine the educational environment.

This conference is an exciting collaboration between INRIA, France, and the Center for Curiosity in conjunction with the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Building on INRIA’s two “Information Seeking, Curiosity, and Attention” conferences (2014 and 2016), as well as the Center for Curiosity @UPenn’s “Curiosity Across the Disciplines” symposium (2016) and “The Network Neuroscience of Curiosity” symposium (2017), this event aims to facilitate the interdisciplinary study of curiosity in both form and content. As has been the case for previous meetings, this conference will be single-track and consist of oral presentations by each participant unfolding over two days, with plenty of opportunities for questions and informal discussions.

Sponsors

Generously sponsored by INRIA, France, as well as the School of Social Policy and Practice and the Department of Bioengineering at The University of Pennsylvania.

Organizing Committee

Jacqueline Gottlieb, Pierre-Yves Oudeyer, Arjun Shankar, and Perry Zurn.

The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice and the Department of Bioengineering are honored to host the “Curiosity: Emerging Sciences and Educational Innovations” Conference and welcome participants to UPenn’s campus.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Perry Zurn (pzurn@american.edu).