About
Women in Cognitive Science launched its European chapter at the International Psychonomics Meeting in Granada, Spain May 5, 2016. It was co-founded by Teresa Bajo (University of Granada) and Cristina Cacciari (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia).
WiSC Europe
Mission
The goal of WiCS-E is to organize events for cognitive scientists in Europe. We have been present in meetings of the European Society of Cognitive Science (ESCoP), the International Convention of Cognitive Sciences (ICPS) and International Psychonomics Meetings. We are open to new initiatives, activities and meetings. If you’re interested in organizing an event or helping out the current leadership team, please reach out to us.
@WiCSEurope
Upcoming Events
WiCS+Europe at ESCOP2025, Sheffield, United Kingdom
Tuesday, 2 September 2025 13:30-16:30 (BST) as part of the ESCOP2025 satellite events
Location: Diamond Lecture Theatre 7
Creating inclusive and safe academic spaces:
Celebrating 25 years of Women in Cognitive Science & looking ahead
Panel discussion | 13:30-15:00 (BST)
Women in Cognitive Science (WiCS) was founded in 2001, envisioned to support the professional development of young scholars in cognitive science. The need for WiCS arose from the historical underrepresentation of women in scientific environments, the necessity to reduce gender stereotypes and biases, and the goal to improve the visibility of both junior and senior women scientists. Significant advances have been made towards reducing gender inequalities over the last 25 years. Yet, many challenges remain, with recent global events reminding us that social change may not follow a linear path and cannot be taken for granted. This panel will look back at the foundation of WiCS and its trajectory, reflecting on what we have learned to inform how we can go forward in Widening Inclusivity in Cognitive Science (WiCS+), fostering a movement towards greater inclusivity, visibility, and professional growth for everyone in academia. The panel will be followed by an open discussion with the audience. Come join us in this conversation and share your own reflections, lessons learned from the past, suggestions for the future, and help us think together how best to navigate these changing times.
All gender identities are welcome, and we look forward to your participation in this discussion.
Speakers
Judith F. Kroll, University of California, Irvine, USA and Co-founder of Women in Cognitive Science
Nura Sidarus, Royal Holloway University of London, UK and WiCS+Europe Leadership Team
WiCS+E chairs
María J. Maraver, University of Granada, Spain
Marta Rivera Zurita, University of Balearic Islands, Spain
Speed mentoring & coffee break | 15:00-16:30 (BST)
As part of the event, we invite you to participate in the WiCS+E Speed Mentoring session, which includes a coffee reception and offers junior researchers the opportunity to connect with senior faculty to discuss various aspects of research and academic careers. Based on sign-ups, participants will be matched with one or two mentors for brief, focused conversations designed to be both meaningful and productive. The goal is to foster in-depth discussions while also encouraging connections with individuals from diverse roles and backgrounds.
WiCS speed mentoring has been successfully held at major international meetings such as the Psychonomic Society, SARMAC, APS, ICPS, and ESCOP. Please note a few ground rules:
This is a one-time session (i.e., the mentor is not committing to a longer-term mentoring relationship).
The mentee should come prepared with one or two specific questions to guide the session and make the most of it.
The mentee should send their CV and questions to the mentor ahead of time but should not expect the mentor to have reviewed this information prior to the meeting.
The information shared during the session is to be kept completely confidential.
This session is open to scientists of all gender identities, and both mentors and mentees from past sessions have found it highly valuable.
If you are interested in being a mentor, please complete this < MENTOR FORM >
If you are interested in being a mentee, please complete this < MENTEE FORM >
All responses should be completed by Friday, 1st August 2025. Note that you may wish to sign up as BOTH a mentor and a mentee. For example, a first-year professor may wish for mentoring around earning permanent positions AND may be positioned well to mentor others about navigating through the stages of the PhD program.
WiCS+ membership is free and open to scientists of all gender identities. Join WiCS here.
Contact: wics.europe@gmail.com | https://www.womenincogsci.org/wics-europe
Meet the WiCS-Europe Leadership Team
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Rachelle Ho
University of Aberdeen, Scotland
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Andrea Kiesel
University of Freiburg, Germany
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Alicia Luque
Nebrija University, Spain
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María Jesús Maraver
University of Granda, Spain
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Ronja Mueller
Medical School Hamburg, Germany
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Marta Rivera
University of Les Illes Balears, Spain
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Nura Sidarus
Royal Holloway University of London, UK
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Zofia Wodniecka
Jagiellonian University,
Poland
Meet the members of WiCS-Europe Advisory Board
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Teresa Bajo
University of Granada, Spain
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Eva van den Bussche
KU Leuven, Belgium
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Valerie Camos
Université de Fribourg, Switzerland
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Anne Christophe
Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris, France
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Wilfried Kunde
Würzburg University, Germany
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Stephan Lewandowsky
University of Bristol, UK
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Robert Logie
University of Edinburgh, UK
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Alessandra Souza
University of Porto, Portugal
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Anna Soveri
Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
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Gabriella Vigliocco
University College London, UK
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Agnieszka Wykowska
Italian Institute of Technology, Italy
Past Events
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On the occasion of International Women's Month, Women in Cognitive Science-Europe and Royal Holloway University of London are hosting the online seminar on 10th March, 2025 (1pm GMT / 2pm CET)
We are honored to welcome as our guest speaker Professor Anne Laure Humbert from the University of Gothenburg, expert in gender equality metrics and structural change in academia, who will particularly draw on her work in the uniSAFE and genderSAFE EU-funded projects. We aim to raise awareness and drive action on gender-based violence by exploring its various forms, the obstacles to reporting and addressing it, and effective strategies for prevention.
This is a must-attend event for academics worldwide, at all career stages, who are dedicated to fostering safer and more equitable academic environments.
Are you committed to eradicating gender-based violence? Do you wonder if it's possible to create gender-safe academic environments? Are you curious about how to cultivate inclusive atmospheres in science? Join us online on March 10th and seize this opportunity to be part of a crucial conversation.
Participants will receive an email with a link to join the meeting 1 day before the event. Any other questions or issues, please contact wics.europe@gmail.com -
Held Monday, October 28, 2-3pm CET.
Despite ongoing efforts to promote anti-racism and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), academic work often remains limited to Western perspectives, neglecting the rich diversity of global knowledge systems. This event is held during the United Kingdom’s Black History Month and it aims to address the persistent systemic inequalities and barriers faced by people of colour in academia. Panelists will provide evidence and showcase ongoing initiatives to promote a more inclusive and anti-racist academic environment. Attendees will gain insights into these issues and be inspired to take action in their own contexts.
PanelistsFelix Ameka, Leiden University, The Netherlands
Narender Ramnani, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
Nura Sidarus, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
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Online panel in March to celebrate women who are leading the charge in promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
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ESCOP 2023 23rd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology, Porto, Portugal 6-9 September, 2023
“Transitions in Career Paths”.
Panel discussion “Transitions in Career Paths” followed by Speed Mentoring Session. 23rd ESCoP 2023 Meeting held in Porto, Portugal, on 6 September 2023. Invited speakers: Marilia Carvalho (University of Porto, Portugal); Stravoula Kousta (Chief Editor at NHB); Sofía Castro (Jagiellonian University, Poland); Vanessa Loaiza (University of Essex, United Kingdom) Chaired by Anna Soveri & María Jesús Maraver. -
Panel discussion “Fast Lane to Slow Science”. Online event to commemorate International Women’s Day, celebrated on 20 March 2023. Invited speakers: Sylvie Lorente (Villanova University, USA & ERC Scientific Council); Uta Frith (University College London, UK
Author of “Fast Lane to Slow Science” (TiCS, 2019)); Toma Susi (University of Vienna, Austria & Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment, COARA). Chairs: Nura Sidarus & María Jesús Maraver.
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Panel discussion “Lessons to be learned from the pandemic” online event celebrated on 28 November 2022. Invited speakers: Marta Rivera (University of Granada, Spain & Fulbright scholar at University of California, Irvine, US); Ana B. Chica (Univerisity of Granada, Spain); Kalinka Timmer (University of Warsaw, Poland); Gabriella Vigliocco (University College London, UK). Chairs: María Jesús Maraver & Nura Sidarus.
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Panel discussion “Lessons to be learned from the pandemic” followed by Speed Mentoring Session. 22nd Meeting of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP2022) celebrated in Lille, France, on 29 August 2022. Invited speakers: Marta Rivera (University of Granada, Spain & Fulbright scholar at University of California, Irvine, US); Anna Soveri (University of Turku, Finland); Kalinka Timmer (University of Warsaw, Poland); Gabriella Vigliocco (University College London, UK). Chairs: María Jesús Maraver & Nura Sidarus.
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Panel discussion “Running your new lab: tips and tricks”. Online event to commemorate International Women’s Day, celebrated on 10 March 2022. Invited speakers: Nivedita Mani (Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Germany); Jessie Ricketss (Royal Holloway University of London, UK); Agniezska Wykowska (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Italy). Chairs: Nura Sidarus & María Jesús Maraver.
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Panel discussion “Making the Invisible Visible” followed by Speed Mentoring Session. virtual meeting of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (vSARMAC). Invited speakers: Andria Shimi (University of Cyprus, Cyprus); Beatrice Kuhlman (University of Mannheim, Germany); Daniel Quintana (University of Oslo, Norway); Lorraine Hope (University of Portsmouth, UK). Chairs: Nura Sidarus & María Jesús Maraver.
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Keynote lecture “Sexual harassment in academia: confrontation and coping mechanisms”. Invited speaker: Soledad de Lemus (University of Granada, Spain). Conference “Women's changing role in cognitive science in the last 30 years” tribute to Cristina Cacciari (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy). 21st Meeting of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP2019) celebrated in Tenerife, Spain, on 25 September 2019. Chairs: Teresa Bajo & Lorenza Colzato.
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Panel discussion “Negotiating Challenges to Scientific Advancement: Disappointments, Delays and Declaines” followed by Speed Mentoring Session. International Convention of Psychological Science (ICPS) celebrated in Paris, France, on 7 March 2019. Invited speakers: Lilith Dorko (Springer, USA); Paola (Giuli) Dussias (Pennsylvania State University, US); Agnes Kovacs (Central European University, Hungary); Stacey Sinclair (Princeton University, US). Chairs: Teresa Bajo & Lorenza Colzato. Speed Mentoring organizers: Judith Kroll & Nura Sidarus.
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Panel discussion “Evidence-based practices for promoting equality & diversity: Discussion with the founders of Women in Cognitive Science (WICS)”. DEC Equality & Diversity Meeting celebrated in Paris, France, on 6 March 2019. Invited speakers: Judith Kroll (University of California, Riverside, US); Suparna Rajaram (Stony Brook University, New York, US); Teresa Bajo (University of Granada, Spain). Chair: Nura Sidarus
Get in touch.
Email: wics.europe@gmail.com
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