180192 PJ+SE Project seminar in Cognitive Science (2021W)

COVID Note: As a consequence of COVID, particular attention is placed on viability — of the individual research projects and of the course itself. In particular, the practicality of involvement/participation in ongoing research activities will be evaluated in due care. This is why no specific topics/domains are stated on this page (but see also below), and the course is scheduled to be implemented through tele-collabration.

Aims and content:

The project seminar is meant to provide the opportunity to productively apply and extend one's knowledge and skills in cognitive science — in particular also with a view towards understanding and mastering the requirements for the specification and successful implementation of a meaningful master thesis undertaking, even though this is not a requirement.

The scope of the project seminar thus comprises all of:

* the shaping (motivating and planning);
* the management; and
* the implementation

of a valid scientific undertaking of personal curricular relevance, commensurate to the candidate's competence and the available resources (including the work hours budget). That is, the forms and aims of the individual projects will necessarily reflect the (differences in) qualification and experience, whether a “first peek” into a domain or a more advanced investigation that builds on prior results.

While there is latitude in terms of relative emphases placed on these different components, all these parts are to be covered (i.e., explicitly addressed and not just “executed”) in each case (cf. also the structure of the learning contract document forms).

Concerning the actual topic to be researched:

Next to the particular opportunity to combine the project seminar with participation in the VU and SE, "Models of Personality and Emotions" offered through MUW (the Medical University of Vienna: VU 901.967 and SE 901.968), students are encouraged to submit expressions of interest and individual proposals of topics (e.g. related to other curricular work) at their earliest opportunity: the possibility to accommodate these suggestions will be clarified in individual direct (virtual) meetings. Available domain expertise includes, but is not limited to:

* Artificial Intelligence (theoretical, scientific, engineering, policy-making, ethical facets) and computationalism
* Computational cognitive architectures
* Human-Computer interaction and collaboration
* The interplay of theory, modelling, empirical research, engineering, application design and deployment, and society
* Multiagent systems: computing as interaction
* A range of specific topics, including educational, medical, organisational, social contexts

All project activities will be complemented by discussion and reflection — of ethical dimensions; of motivations and aims; of the contextual embedding (stakeholders and contributions of different disciplines); of the (choice of) particular implementation schemes; of the significance of particular outcomes obtained or difficulties encountered; of relevant established cultures, conventions, and best practices.

As a consequence of COVID, particular attention is placed on viability — of the individual research projects and of the course itself.

Method:

The course will employ electronic collaboration platforms and tools.

There will be a weekly plenary sessions to address overarching topics of general relevance and exchanges across the project activities, regular individual “Jour Fixe” meetings to assess individual progress and project matters, as well as more extended topical joint work sessions to address specific content matters.

The possibility of collaborations among participants will be assessed in the light of critical interdependencies and clarification of credit assignment (to be duly documented in the learning contract).