at the University of Aberdeen
Over 300 International memory and cognition experts will visit Aberdeen next month as part of a major conference to be held at the University of Aberdeen. World famous experts who will deliver lectures at the Fifth Biennial Meeting of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC), include Professors Elizabeth Loftus, Vicki Bruce, Steve Lindsay, David Rubin, Rod Lindsay, and Peter Ornstein.
This prestigious, international conference will take place from 2 - 6 July at King's College Conference Centre and has been organised by Dr Amina Memon and Fiona Gabbert from the University's Psychology Department, in collaboration with Lauren Shapiro from Emporia State University and Rhiannon Ellis from the University of Pittsburg.
Dr Memon, said: "This is the largest gathering to date of international experts in applied memory and cognition. This event will provide researchers with a unique opportunity to disseminate their latest research findings in an unusually wide forum. It should also provide a fertile medium for the development of new and original lines of enquiry and promote international collaboration and the exchange of ideas for many years to come.
"Most of our delegates will be travelling from Europe and North America. The location of the conference has proved to be very attractive. Many of the delegates plan to visit local castles and distilleries during their trip, or have co-ordinated their conference visit with a summer vacation to Scotland and, therefore, tourism in the North East will be another beneficiary of the conference."
The SARMAC conference will bring together psychologists specialising in the application of memory and cognition research to real world situations. The event will begin with a radical opening address by eminent eyewitness expert, Professor Rod Lindsay, of Queen's University, Canada, who also holds an honorary professorship at the University of Aberdeen. This opening address will be followed by a reception hosted by the Lord Provost of Aberdeen to welcome the SARMAC delegates to the North East. Throughout three days of scientific presentations, incorporating more than 60 symposia and posters, researchers will address a wide range of important issues in memory and cognition, including memory and ageing, autobiographical memory, child witnesses, interviewing techniques, eyewitness testimony, false memories, judgement and decision making, memory skills and disorders, and psycholinguistics and social cognition.
Several internationally renowned experts will deliver keynote addresses. Professor Vicki Bruce, OBE, of Edinburgh University will present research on computer systems for building facial images from eye-witness memories.
Professor Elizabeth Loftus of the University of California-Irvine will deliver an address on false memories. She will discuss how imagination and suggestion can lead people to develop false beliefs about recent events, as well as events from their childhood.
Professor Peter Ornstein from the University of North Carolina will present his research on the development of memory in children.
Professor David Rubin of Duke University will present his novel research on memory for ballads and rhymes, including some from Scotland. For further details of Professor Rubin's recent research visit: www.dukemagazine.duke.edu/alumni/dm15/memory.html
Please note that registration for the conference is now closed. For further details about the Programme of Events, contact Dr Amina Memon, Department of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, tel: 01224 272230, email: amemon@abdn.ac.uk or Fiona Gabbert 01224 274390 or visit: http://www.sarmac.org