IIT-Gn first to launch masters programme in cognitive science

The institute receives over 500 applications for 15 positions in the programme

The Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IIT-Gn) has become the first IIT to have launched a master's programme in cognitive science. Beginning from July 2013, the institute will establish a master's programme in Cognitive Science after having successfully undertaken some of the ground-breaking studies in cognitive science since past two years.

The institute received more than 500 applications for 15 positions in the programme.

Cognitive Science is the interdisciplinary study of cognition, brain and behavior, embracing primarily philosophy, psychology, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, linguistics, and anthropology. Talking about the field and the programme, Prof Jaison Manjaly of IIT-Gn said the multidisciplinary programme is critically important in areas like education, mental health, social behavior and technology.

"Cognitive Science is an emerging field which would have a decisive role in the development of next generation intelligent systems. IIT-Gn will be one of the pioneering institutes to start this programme in India, which very well goes with its commitment to developing innovative programmes," said Manjaly.

According to Manjaly, cognitive science not actively pursued as an academic discipline in India and does not make use of its potential to address many problems in education, health care, social behavior and technological development and so on. "The Cognitive Science center at IIT-Gn will take up these challenges and make Cognitive Science more relevant to our society," Manjaly added.

The Cognitive Science group at IIT-Gn is spearheaded by faculty who are pursuing various interdisciplinary research projects, three of which are funded by Department of Science and Technology (DST).

"IIT-Gn would like to establish itself as one of the centers of excellence in Cognitive Science, which is accepted as one of the four pillars of knowledge of the twenty first century along with nanotechnology, biotechnology and information technology," Manjaly said further.