Perceptual Illusion: Women in Science and Art Discuss Cognitive Processes

Talking Creativity: Conversations Between Scientists and Artists Series
Perceptual Illusion: Women in Science and Art Discuss Cognitive Processes

Moderator: Jane Grimshaw, Professor, Department of Linguistics and Center for Cognitive Science (RuCCS), Rutgers University

Speakers: Ellen Levy, Artist, Maggie Shiffrar, Professor, Psychology Department, Rutgers University

Jane Grimshaw is a professor in the Department of Linguistics and the Center for Cognitive Science, of which she is currently an acting Co-Director. Her research focuses on the structure of natural language, with particular emphasis on the theory of phrases and the mental representation of lexical information. She is currently completing a long term research project on finite complement clauses in English and the lexical properties of the many predicate types which occur with them, which has significant implications for theories of language learning. (http://rulinguistics101.org/page/grimshaw.html)

Ellen K. Levy, a New York-based artist and educator, was formerly President of the College Art Association. She has exhibited, published, and lectured extensively about the intersection of art and science at institutions such as Brooklyn College and Cooper Union. Career highlights include a NASA arts commission, a Distinguished Visiting Fellowship of Arts and Sciences at Skidmore College, and solo exhibitions at the New York and National Academy of Sciences. Her current focus is “attention.” Inspired by neuroscience and magic illusions, she explores the paradox of why we might not see something directly before our eyes.  (http://www.complexityart.com).

Dr. Maggie Shiffrar is a professor of Psychology at Rutgers-Newark.  Her research focuses on the visual perception of the human body and makes contact with issues including image segmentation, attention, form, threat detection, autism spectrum disorder, and body dissatisfaction. (http://psychology.rutgers.edu/~mag/)

Co-sponsors: Douglass Residential College, Institute for Women and Art, RU FAIR ADVANCE, and the Office for the Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics