March 15, 2019
FABBS is delighted to release the first of five short videos capturing ways in which cognitive science helps keep us safe and healthy. Understanding the mental processes and brain structures involved in acquiring, storing, and using information is critical to training TSA agents; evaluating and improving patients who have suffered a stroke; improving driver safety; interpreting medical imaging; and many other everyday tasks that involve humans.
Take a moment to view this first FABBS video, also embedded below, Can Cognitive Science Improve Airport Security? Spoiler alert – the answer is “Yes!”
Paula Skedsvold, former executive director of FABBS, spearheaded this initiative. She paused to share with us what prompted their development: “One of the challenges scientists and science advocates often face is trying to describe the importance of “basic” or “fundamental” research to public audiences — and this includes members of Congress who set funding levels for research at places like the National Science Foundation. Steve Mitroff’s cognitive science class, especially the field trips they were taking, provided a perfect opportunity to get videos showing how findings from fundamental research are tested in applied settings and used to benefit the public. I am thrilled that they are coming together so well.”
FABBS is pleased to share these videos, and we hope they will help us make the case for research in cognitive science. Feel free to further share the videos or use in your classrooms.
These videos were made possible thanks to generous support from SAGE Publishing.
