Student Information for ASSC9

Several events and activities are planned specifically to enhance the experience of students attending ASSC9. Please check back to this space often to ensure you know what's going on.

ASSC Student Prize

For the first time at an ASSC conference, there will be a prize for an outstanding piece of work presented by a graduate or undergraduate student. The work being judged will be assessed both on the excellence of the approach, and on the general significance to the field of consciousness studies. The prize consists of a cash award of 250 USD and will be announced on Monday, the 27th of June 2005. To be automatically considered for the prize you must be the first author of the piece of work, and be an ASSC student member in good standing on the 15th of May 2005. Submissions that cross disciplinary boundaries are strongly encouraged.

Graduate Student Social

There will be a big student party on Saturday the 25th of June, immediately after the poster session. This will be a chance to meet other young researchers, start future collaborations, and most importantly spend some fun time together. The event will open with a short discussion on the inherent interdisciplinarity of studying consciousness. What can philosophy or neuroscience contribute to our understanding of consciousness? When have these two disciplines fruitfully worked together and why is there not more communication between the fields? The party will start with some initial snacks and drinks on campus (the location to be announced closer to the date of the meeting), after these are exhausted we will move off-campus to a local bar. We are grateful to Roberts and Company Publishers for agreeing to sponsor this event.

Breakfast and Lunch Meetings

Would you like to informally meet other ASSC participants working in a similar field of consciousness studies? Or did you never understand the point of a certain approach and you would like to discuss your concerns with someone who is actively pursuing it? Here is your chance! Simply suggest a topic, a time and - eventually - a reasonably priced breakfast/lunch place and see who else shows up. If you want to announce a preliminary proposal, send it to Connie Hofstötter connie@klab.caltech.edu, and we will announce it on this webpage. These meetings are not only for graduate students, anyone is welcome to join in!

For example:

  1. Topic: What does visual awareness tell us about consciousness?
    Time: Lunch, Saturday the 25th
    Suggested by: Constanze Hofstoetter (connie@ini.phys.ethz.ch)

  2. Topic: Is it possible to study the molecular mechanisms of consciousness by studying pain awareness in small animals?
    Time: Lunch, Sunday the 26th
    Suggested by: Raj Loganathan (rloganathan@kumc.edu)

Your input is welcome. Please send feedback and inquiries to the chair of the ASSC Student Affairs Committee, Connie Hofstötter connie@klab.caltech.edu.