A+N/Nexus Workshop: Integrating Knowledge across Neuroscience and Architecture

A workshop to shape the future of neuroscience and architecture education

Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA) is an international organization whose goal is to promote the use of neuroscience and cognitive science research to improve the design of the built environment. Because ANFA serves many constituencies interested in integrating neuroscience and architecture (such as students in architecture and science at different stages in their undergraduate and graduate careers, as well as professional architects and neuroscientists), each group needs distinct bodies of knowledge and skills for pursuing work at the intersection of neuroscience and architecture. We are also seeing an increase in interest in architectural practice and in the academy in pursuing work at the intersection and a demand for research (by clients, practitioners, etc.).

This workshop focused on the education needs of graduate students and professionals. It centered on a panel of experts, who have successfully made connections between neuroscience and architecture.

Host:

Margaret Tarampi, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at University of Hartford. Her Spatial Cognition and Physical Environments (SCaPE) Laboratory investigates the cognitive mechanisms that underlie space perception and spatial cognition in select populations including visually impaired individuals and spatial experts such as dancers and architects. Other research interests include spatial thinking, perception and action, perspective taking, crowd dynamics, joint action, and kinesthetic imagery.

Panelists:

Sarah Creem-Regehr, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Utah

Stefanie Danes, FAIA, LEED AP, Principal at Perkins Eastman Architects, Adjunct Professor in the School of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University, and Research Fellow of the Remaking Cities Institute

Luis Othón Villegas-Solís, Mdess, Architect founder of LVS Architecture and Design, Belly and Brain. Co-founder of INPAD, Instituto de Neurociencia para Arquitectura y Diseño