Dr. Susan Goldin-Meadow is a dynamic and powerful figure in Psychology whose journey into her scholarship comes with a healthy dose of serendipity. She notes a variety of life-changing influences from her chosen language in high school, a year abroad in college, the regional situation of her undergraduate institution, a well-used teaching demonstration, and the … Continue reading The Serendipity of Dr. Susan Goldin-Meadow →

Maybe it's just a thing among academics, maybe everyone, but I've got a pretty well standardized elevator talk. The idea of the elevator talk is to be able to succinctly and meaningfully summarize my professional life within the duration of riding a couple of floors in an elevator.  Occasionally I've even given this monologue in … Continue reading Notes from the Road: What do you do? →

Dr. Jean Decety is the Irving B. Harris Distinguished Service Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Chicago, and has been doing innovative research to determine the neural mechanisms of morality, empathy, social connection, and movement to name a few things. Dr. Decety introduces himself: And a citizen of the world he is! During … Continue reading The Neural Substrates of Jean Decety →

There is a rhythm to life. A set of habits, practices, and rituals that create an aura of structure and predictability to the things we do. This time last year I knew exactly when I would wake up and have an accurate assessment of every other activity mundane to extraordinary that might inhabit my schedule … Continue reading Notes from the Road: Life in the Balance →

Dr. Renee Baillargeon has a beautiful vision of science to which she ascribes: She is the Alumni Distinguished Professor of Psychology and a faculty member of the Center for Advanced Study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Baillargeon introduces herself: Dr. Baillargeon provides descriptions that are  rich and harmonious. Her path to psychology … Continue reading Dr. Renee Baillargeon and the Building Blocks of Science →

Dr. Dan Simons is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Illinois and the unbelievable Beckman Institute, which has been a beacon for the integration of disciplines around technology. Dr. Simons also has affiliated appointments to the departments of Advertising and Business Administration. In many ways Dr. Simons has become the 800-lb gorilla of … Continue reading Dr. Dan Simons in Plain Sight →

  Dr. Henry Roediger III is known by most in Psychology simply as "Roddy."  He is such a defining figure in Psychology that it is difficult to determine where, precisely, he may have had the greatest influence. He is a widely published scholar whose notable works include the classic DRM false memory paradigm which stands … Continue reading Dr. Roddy Roediger and the Many Contributions to Psychology →

Dr. Deanna Barch is the Gregory B Couch Professor of Psychiatry, a Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences, and a Professor of Psychiatry, plus the Chairperson to the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Washington University of St. Louis, MO -- which means I'm kind of amazed and delighted that she was able to take … Continue reading Dr. Deanna Barch at the Intersection of Clinical and Cognitive Science →

It's the doing of the thing that matters.  That's kind of a theme for me while in  St. Louis  and it's theme because the tasks are piling up, the deadlines are weighing me down,  and the consequences of doing this journey right are becoming very real.  August was the summer and the traveling still felt … Continue reading Notes from the road: The St. Louis blues →

Dr. Fergus I. M. Craik is one of the most cited and influential figures in the study of memory. In talking to him and thinking about his work, one might be compelled to ask a silly hypothetical: what would have become of him had he been born in North America instead of Scotland? Of course, … Continue reading The Levels of Dr. Fergus I. M. Craik →