Activities in 2011 and 2012
28/04/2012
Professor Todd Oakley's Visit
Professor Todd Oakley, PhD, Associate Professor, Chair of the Department of Cognitive Science at Case Western Reserve University visited the University of Niš, the Cognitive Science Forum and the Faculty of Pihlosophy from 24 until 28 April 2012. During his visit, professor Oakley conducted two workshops (“Force Dynamics as Applied to Discourse” and “Mental Spaces, Blending Theory: Issues and Applications”) at the Faculty of Philosophy (for senior and graduate students, assistants and professors), gave a keynote lecture within the “Language, Literature, Values” conference (“How Attention and Language Conspire to Create Meaning”) and a lecture at the Cognitive Science Forum (“Externalism as a Viable Stance in Cognitive Science”), as well as a presentation at the American Corner in Niš (“Studies in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio: Possibilities for International Students”). The visit was supported by the US Embassy in Belgrade, the University of Niš and the Faculty of Philosophy. Link.
16/12/2011
CogSciNiš 2011
The first cognitive science workshop – CogSciNiš 2011 – was held on Friday, 16 December 2011 from 12 to 16 o’clock in the main lecture hall at the University of Niš. The workshop marked the first anniversary of the Cognitive Science Forum and its main topic was interdisciplinarity in cognitive science. The workshop was supported by the University of Niš and the SANU Research Centre. Professor Tomislav Pavlović PhD, the Teaching Vice-rector at the University of Niš, professor Dragan Žunić PhD, the Deputy Director of the SANU Research Centre and professor Djordje Vidanović, the Coordinator of the Cognitive Science Forum opened the event, whereas professor Djordje Vidanović, professor Joviša Obrenović, professor Miroslava Živković, professor Mihailo Antović, Dušan Stamenković, professor Milkica Nešić, Marija Mitković MD i Vuk Milošević MD took part in the working sessions that followed. The workshop concluded this year's activites and the Forum Board announced a number of forthcoming events, including various lectures and a slightly larger workshop next December.
09/08/2011
On August 9, 2011, Milos D. Ikonomović, MD, gave a lecture titled Altered Amyloid Metabolism After Brain Trauma: Implications for Chronic Neurodegenerative Disorders. Milos Ikonomović is an Associate Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, with a secondary appointment in the Veteran Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Dr. Ikonomović is principal investigator on several ongoing research studies focusing on brain trauma and on cholinergic and amyloid alterations in mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease. He has published over 70 original research reports and reviews in leading peer-review journals, as well as several book chapters. Link.
15/04/2011
On April 15, 2011, Todd Oakley, PhD, Associate Professor, Chair of the Department of Cognitive Science at Case Western Reserve University and a renowned cognitive scientist, gave a lecture entitled Uses of Must and the Phenomenon of Layered Modality in United States Supreme Court Opinions: Cognitive Semantics meets Rhetorical Hermeneutics. Professor Oakley introduced the basics of Talmy’s force dynamics, rhetorical hermeneutics and modality, after which he examined the notion of layered modality as applied to uses of ‘must’ in US Supreme Court Opinions. The lecture was given as a special plenary talk within the Language, Literature, Communication Conference (Faculty of Philosophy, University of Niš) via H.323 video link and it was organized by the Cognitive Science Forum (CogSciNiš). Link.
12/04/2011
On April 12, 2011, Vuk Milošević MSc, an MD at the Clinic of Neurology – Clinical Center Niš, gave a lecture to the third year students of the English Department at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Niš. In the lecture titled Neurological Methods in the Study of Language and the Brain, Milošević presented the basics and the history of the study of aphasias, as well as the possibilities for using various neuroimaging methods (EEG, MEG, MRI, fMRI, PET) in the study of linguistic phenomena.
17/02/2011
On February 17, 2011, Professor Mark Turner of CWRU, and one of the leading cognitive scientists today, gave a lecture to the fourth year students of the English Department at the University of Niš and the CogSciNiš Forum Members, via H.323 videolink. The lecture titled Human Creativity and Conceptual Integration outlined the basics of the theory of conceptual integration and Professor Turner illustrated its potentials by applying it to the analysis of various literary works. Link.
12/01/2011
The very first activity of the Forum took place on Wednesday, 12 January 2011, when professor Đorđe Vidanović gave a lecture via H.323 video link at the CogSci Department of Case Western Reserve University. The title of the lecture was Conceptual Blending and Intentionality. Professor Mark Turner of CWRU kindly directed words of encouragement and best wishes to our newly founded Forum. Link.
