The 26th Annual Meeting of Women in Cognitive Science (WiCS+)
will be held on the opening day of the Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting
Marriott Marquis, San Diego Marina
Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 4:00-6:30PM (PT)
Panel Discussion and Q&A | 4:00 - 5:30 pm (PT)
Networking and Recharging | 5:30 - 6:30pm (PT)
Venue: San Diego Ballroom B, North Tower, Lobby Level
HIGH COGNITIVE LOAD: Mental Labor and Burnout in Academia
Academia burnout is experienced across all stages and types of academic careers. It is not individual failing requiring personal resilience, but rather a systematic challenge that requires institutional solutions. From running an experiment, to running a lab, to running a department, the mental labor of academic careers is multifaceted and takes its toll in many ways. Panelists will address strategies for protecting mental bandwidth, improving well-being, and building sustainable workplaces where all can thrive.
Panelists (confirmed to date)
Angela Gutchess, Brandeis University
Brooke Macnamara, Purdue University
Natasha Tokowicz, University of Pittsburgh
Not traveling to San Diego?
Join our panel virtually via zoom
WiCS+ Leadership Team:
Kate Arrington, Chair, Lehigh University
Alesha Bond, Davidson College
Bonnie Nozari, Indiana University
Rachel Ostrand, IBM
Sarah Shomstein, George Washington University
Joo-Hyun Song, Brown University