Science of Learning attracts international experts

Science’s brightest minds will gather at The University of Queensland on 24 April to lead the Science of Learning symposium, celebrating Nature Publishing Group’s (NPG) new open access research journal, the npj Science of Learning.

The journal and symposium are a collaboration between the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), UQ and NPG, and will explore the neurobiology of learning in experimental and educational environments.

Guests at the symposium include Editor-in-Chief of Nature Dr Philip Campbell, National Science Foundation’s Dr Soo-Siang Lim and Dr Jonathan Sharples from the Institute for Effective Education, The University of York, as well as many other leading academics and researchers.

UQ QBI researcher Professor Pankaj Sah has been appointed as the Editor-in-Chief of the new journal.

Professor Sah’s work centres on understanding the amygdala, an area of the brain involved in emotional processing.

“It’s clear that the merger of neuroscience with education we are currently seeing has the same potential that the union of medical science had with biology in the health revolution of the last century,” Professor Sah said.

“These are truly exciting times for neuroscience.

“The science is taking us from the molecular and cellular understanding of brain function all the way to the classroom.

“This journal is about trying to understand not only how we learn, but how we can learn better.

“The symposium will enable a vital discussion on these issues between experts and leading thinkers and researchers from across the world.”

Open Research at Nature Publishing Group Global Head of Partnerships Martin Delahunty said discussions at the symposium would focus on research areas of major importance to Australia and New Zealand.

“Discussions will be in the domain of the science of learning, such as intelligent learning environments, application of neuroscience in education and education policy,” he said.

“This symposium ties in with the launch a few months ago of an exciting new partnership and journal, npj Science of Learning, an open access research journal that will explore the neurobiology of learning in experimental and educational environments.

“What is so exciting about this new journal is its open access format and the interdisciplinary nature of the contributors and readers.”

The event is being hosted by QBI and the Science of Learning Research Centre in conjunction with Nature and its publisher Macmillan Science and Education.

The journal is online here and open for submissions now.

Media: Holdfast Communications Managing Director Andrew Bradley, 0403 777 137 or andrew@holdfastcommunications.com.au; QBI Director Communications and Advancement Mikaeli Costello, 0401 580 685 or mikaeli.costello@uq.edu.au.