MoMiCon 2016
Misconceptions of the Mind Conference
Matrix is located on the 8th floor of Barrows Hall, on the UC Berkeley campus, near Telegraph and Bancroft Avenues, just up the hill from Sather Gate. There are entrances at both ends of the building, but only one of the elevators on the eastern side goes directly to the 8th floor. You can alternatively take the stairs to the 7th floor and walk up the stairs.
The Misconceptions of the Mind Conference (MoMiCon) has two aims: (1) to bring together a small group of nationally-recognized female social scientists to present their work challenging common (mis)conceptions of the mind, engage with each other in cutting-edge intellectual dialogue, and generate high-quality video content to share with the public as scientific outreach, and (2) to serve as a model for how to run a small, high-profile workshop-style conference while accommodating the needs of women who are academics with young children. RSVP by April 1 to attend.
The hope in focusing on this group is to start a broader conversation about how academic norms and institutions can change to accommodate scholars with different needs throughout their academic careers, thus reducing barriers to excellence in scholarship and facilitating academic outreach.
The science of the mind is in many ways in its infancy, yet in the last few years we’ve seen enormous progress in understanding basic principles of how the mind works, with exciting new developments across the psychological, social and neural sciences. Recent scientific work in this domain sometimes confirms longstanding assumptions about the mind, but in other cases such insights begin to overturn longstanding misconceptions. Confronting such misconceptions is especially important, as prevailing views about the mind influence theorizing at multiple levels, with implications for human well-being, inter-group relations, education and social policy. By confronting misconceptions that operate within the field or arise from the popular imagination or popular portrayals of the mind, we will simultaneously engage with both specialist and general audiences.
A variety of accommodations will be available for participants with young children, including: regular 30-minute conference breaks to allow for pumping or feeding of infant children; an additional 90-minute lunch break to provide adequate time for a meal with children and a break for the speaker and caregiver; lactation space; a stroller-accessible conference venue; on-site facilities suitable for children and caretakers (e.g., partner, family member or nannies) to watch children during talks; a welcome reception open to speakers, partners/guests, and children; meal options for caretakers and children, in addition to conference participants; and activities for caretaker and children during participant talks (e.g., a participatory music class).
This event is organized by June Gruber and Tania Lombrozo. Sponsored by the Institute of Cognitive and Brain Sciences; Positive Emotion and Psychopathology Lab; and the Concepts and Cognition Lab. RSVP by April 1 to attend.
Agenda
8:30-9AM: Opening Reception
9:00-9:15AM: Welcoming Remarks: Tania Lombrozo, June Gruber
9:15-10:15AM: Keynote Speaker: Alison Gopnik, "The Parenting Misconception". Why "parenting" is a scientifically inaccurate and practically dubious way to understand the relations between children and the people who care for them.
10:15-10:45AM: Session A: Cognitive Misconceptions of the Mind. Tania Lombrozo, "Learning Isn't Just About Getting the Right Information"; Linda Wilbrecht, "Teenagers are Not Lacking Their Frontal Lobes".
10:45-11:15AM: Morning Break. Coffee/Snack
11:15-11:45AM: Session B: Social Misconceptions of the Mind. Abigail Marsh: Human Nature is Not Fundamentally Selfish. Marjorie Rhodes: We're Not Born Racist.
11:45AM-1:15PM: Lunch: Restricted to Invited Participants
1:15-2:15PM: Keynote Speaker: Mary Ann Mason, "Do Babies Matter? Gender and Family in the Ivory Tower". How does family formation affect academic women and men across their career, from graduate student through retirement?
2:15-2:45PM: Afternoon Break. Coffee/Snack
2:45-3:30PM: Session C: Affective Misconceptions of the Mind. June Gruber: Positive Emotions Aren't All Positive. Iris Mauss: Pursuing Happiness Can Make Us Unhappy. Amy Cuddy: Feeling Powerless is Not Being Powerless.
3:30-4:30PM: Closing Q&A/Remarks. Restricted to Invited Participants.