Cognitive and Learning Sciences News

Category: Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors

ACSHF Forum: Monday, January 11

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Over the last 100 years, the way we work has changed drastically, transitioning from the early ideas of scientific management by Frederick Taylor to concepts rooted in high organizational agility. Agile, a movement focused on improving the way we work, is one of the movements that has led the way to transforming the way we think about working with people.

During this session, Mark Cruth, a long-time Agile advocate and 2009 Michigan Tech Psychology graduate, will share his experience with Agile and how leveraging intrinsic motivation has positively influencing organizational culture change over the last 20 years. Please join us on Zoom for the presentation on Monday, January 11, at 2 pm. Zoom meeting link.

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ACSHF Forum: Monday, February 8

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Cyber crime has a significant impact on nations, corporations, and individuals. Violations of information security can reduce consumer confidence and valuation at the corporate level, and jeopardize social and financial well-being at the personal level.

In this talk, Robert West, an Elizabeth P. Allen Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience of DePauw University, will explore the findings of some of his recent research to demonstrate the utility of a decision neuroscience approach to providing insight into the neural correlates of ethical decision making in the context of information security. Please join the ACSHF Forum on Zoom Monday, February 8, at 2 pm. Zoom meeting link

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ACSHF Keynote Speaker – Why Josh Stole the Password: A Decision Neuroscience Approach to Insider Threat in Information Security

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Robert West, an Elizabeth P. Allen Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at DePauw University, will be this year’s ACSHF keynote speaker. This event will take place on Monday, February 8th, 2021 at 2:00pm via Zoom. The Zoom link will be released closer to the event.

Abstract:
Cybercrime has a significant impact on nations, corporations, and individuals. Violations of information security can reduce consumer confidence and valuation at the corporate level, and jeopardize social and financial well-being at the personal level. Research in Information Systems reveals that up to 50% of violations or breaches of information security may result from insider threat, reflecting the actions of an individual operating within an organization. Considerable behavioral research has explored the organizational and individual factors that contribute to violations of information security related to insider threat. Building upon this tradition, my laboratory has been interested in exploring the neural foundation of decision making related to insider threat using EEG methods. This research reveals that there are robust ERP components that are sensitive to ethical decision making in the context of information security. Furthermore, this neural activity is modulated by individual differences (e.g., self-control, moral belief) that are known to be predictors of violations of information in real-world context. In the talk, I will explore the findings of some of our recent research in order to demonstrate the utility of a decision neuroscience approach to providing insight into the neural correlates of ethical decision making in the context of information security.

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ACSHF Forum with Dr. Ricardo Eiris

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All are invited to attend a virtual conversation with Dr. Ricardo Eiris, whose research leverages virtual reality to enable STEM students to obtain active learning experiences in remote, dangerous, or too expensive to reach locations.

In this ACSHF Forum, Dr. Eiris will be discussing how virtual reality can be used to deliver virtual field trip experiences to STEM students. Site visits or field trips are a common tool utilized by STEM educators to engage students in active learning, assist traditional lessons, and attain stronger and deeper student learning experiences. However, there are major logistical challenged for educational institutions and teachers to perform these types of experiences. These barriers to implement site visits effectively reduce the number of students that have access to the benefits of such technique. By exploring the intersection of engineering, computer science, and cognitive and learning sciences, Dr. Eiris’ work in virtual site visits aim to overcome the existing barriers for STEM field trips and provide means to expand learning beyond what is possible in the classroom or the field.

Please join Dr. Eiris in exploring the democratization of STEM site visits to enable students to have unlimited access to otherwise impossible opportunities. Some of the specific multidisciplinary topics that will be covered in this forum discussion will be virtual reality, omnidirectional images, virtual humans, collaborative learning, and attentional allocation.

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ACSHF Forum: Monday, September 14, 2020

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This ACSHF Forum promises to provide even the most seasoned researcher a fresh perspective on human subject research (HSR). Attendees will receive a brief history of human rights violations that lead to the development of the Belmont Report, MTU’s guiding principles and the Common Rule. It will summarize why MTU is required to have both a Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) and an Institutional Review Board (IRB), their differences, and how they function at MTU.

In addition, attendees will learn HSR training requirements, process for determining if a project is Research or research, project submission process, review levels, and PI responsibilities of approved non-exempt projects. Please join the ACSHF Forum via Zoom.

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Alexandra Watral Awarded BCBS Grant

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Alexandra Watral, Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors PhD student, has been awarded a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation Student Award Grant for the upcoming academic year. This grant will support her research investigating the use of newly developed, brief clinical motor measures as diagnostic tools for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

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Two CLS Students Receive Awards

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Brooke Poyhonen, who was recently accepted into the ACSHF Accelerated Master’s program, and two classmates won 2nd prize for their coursework poster as part of the World Water Day events held by the GLRC.

“My group and I presented our poster on the potential climate change impacts on the waterborne transmission of Giardia Lamblia.  Giardia is an intestinal parasite that is transmitted through a fecal-oral route, which can be through contaminated water, food, or soil.  Giardia infections are common in children, because they most typically have poor hygiene practices and tend to place many things in their mouths.  The mortality rate for Giardia is relatively small, but if climate change continues at the rate it is now, we will see an increase of Giarda-based infections worldwide, but especially in developing countries where clean water sources are already scarce.  This impact could lead to higher death rates, especially in the elderly and young children. “-Brooke Poyhonen.

World Water Day Poster
Brooke Poyhonen and classmates’ World Water Day poster that won 2nd prize

Tyrell Buckley, psychology major, was one of 92 recipients of the 15th annual WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award the league announced on February 27. To see the full story, click here.

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