Christoph is deeply engaged in animal behavior and cognition, and computational cognition. He is particularly focused on investigating both the ultimate and proximate causations that determine cognition. This involves exploring the evolutionary reasons behind cognitive processes (ultimate causation) as well as understanding the mechanisms that constitute these processes (proximate causation). His work seeks to bridge these perspectives, offering a comprehensive understanding of how and why cognitive functions develop and operate the way they do. Alongside his scientific pursuits, Christoph has a profound affection for animals and an appreciation for every living creature. He admires the perfection wrought by evolution in the natural world, a sentiment that deeply informs his research and perspectives. 

Christoph's scientific interests are complemented by a passion for human and animal culture, travel, and photography. Traveling offers new experiences and perspectives, enriching understanding of the world. Through photography, Christoph captures the profound and often complex interactions of humans with their environments, focusing on the impact they have on this planet. He aims at documenting the stark and powerful realities of human conflicts. His photography is not just about the aesthetics; it's a deep exploration and documentation of human behaviour, societal structures, and the consequences of human actions on both society and the environment. This combination of science, culture, exploration, and art shapes Christoph's professional and personal life, reflecting a broad spectrum of interests and a commitment to understanding the world.

Jennifer has a Master of Arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness. While attaining her Master’s degree, she researched many therapy modalities; two that stood out to her were nature and animal-assisted therapy. One of the concepts of these therapies is that humans have evolved with and in nature, but many have lost the connection to it; restoring that connection is thought to reduce physical and mental stress and improve overall well-being. Since humans have co-evolved with animals, we have become dependent on them for companionship, assistance, and, for some, sustenance. Jennifer plans to investigate the animal side of this dependence, specifically animal cognition and how they perceive each other and other species. She hopes that shedding light on animal cognition will help us better understand animals and ourselves. 

Her current project explores auditory quantity discrimination in dogs, contributing to the broader understanding of sensory and perceptual processing. By analyzing the influence of age, task difficulty, and gender on decision-making accuracy, the research seeks to uncover patterns in auditory perception and learning. 

Interests: Artificial intelligence and the mind, AI alignment, AI security

Personal website: Comparative Neuroscience &  Artificial General Intelligence (CNAGI)

Nadia is a Master's student at the Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness (GIMBC), Taipei Medical University. She formerly studied philosophy with a focus on the metaphysics of mind. Her current work bridges philosophy and cognitive neuroscience, using psychophysical experiments to investigate how visual perception processes three-dimensional objects from different viewpoints. She is particularly interested in the ways our perceptual system relies on two-dimensional information to recognize three-dimensional structures, and how this reveals deeper connections between mind, perception, and reality 

Hsin-En Cheng is an undergraduate student from the Department of Pharmacy at Taipei Medical University. She is interested in zebrafish social and cognitive capabilities. Her research investigates whether zebrafish exhibit numerosity abilities that allow them to discriminate between different quantities, adapting their behavior based on ecological contexts like predator avoidance and foraging. 

Christina Huang is an undergraduate student from the Department of Dental Technology at Taipei Medical University. Christina is fascinated by Elysia chlorotica, a kleptoplastic sea slug using stolen chloroplasts for photosynthesis. She plans to study its survival strategies, focusing on how environmental factors like temperature, light, and food influence its decision to feed or photosynthesize. She believes that science is not just about discovery but also about embracing curiosity with a sense of wonder and joy.

At the moment, Christina studies how infants develop the ability to categorize objects at different hierarchical levels, highlighting key developmental transitions in category learning but also providing insight into the interplay of perceptual, conceptual, and linguistic factors across cultures. 

Justin is a sophomore in the Department of English Language and Literature at Fu Jen Catholic University. He is interested in the intersections of linguistics and mental health, with a particular curiosity about how language reflects and shapes psychological well-being. With an additional background in public health, he aims to bring interdisciplinary perspectives to the study of language and cognition.

Yun-Chen Yen is an undergraduate student in the Department of Pharmacy at Taipei Medical University. With previous experience in medicinal chemistry and clinical medicine research, she has worked on drug synthesis and pharmacology studies. Beyond pharmacological sciences, Yun-Chen is also deeply interested in cognitive development, particularly how humans and animals acquire and refine cognitive functions and how these processes influence behavior.

Currently, Yun-Chen explores infants’ abilities of visuo-tactile classification of objects and the mechanisms underlying face and object recognition in early development. Through this research, she hopes to gain insights into the fundamental processes that shape perception and cognition in infancy.

HsuanKai (Kai) Weng is an undergraduate student from the Department of Pharmacy at Taipei Medical University. Kai is interested in neuroscience, computational neuroscience, and molecular biology. He is currently delving into the computational approaches to investigate the mechanism of facial recognition.

Division of Developmental Biology at the Friedrich-August University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.

Claudia is a behavioural ecologist, cognitive biologist and conservationist with more than 10 years of experience in research, combining observational (e.g., direct observations, remote camera traps) and non-invasive experimental (e.g., touch screen and playback experiments) approaches in the field and in captivity. Their scientific core expertise lays in comparative approaches to the evolution of cognitive capacities and behaviour.  

Comparative cognition, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland.

Klaus studies the evolution of intelligence and origins of language. Their research focuses on the mental mechanisms underlying non-human primate communication and behaviour both in the field and in the lab.

Growing up in two different countries, Jia-Yi has developed a unique perspective on the world. She is deeply fascinated by how diverse experiences shape an individual’s and animal's cognition, personality, and behaviors. Additionally, Jia-Yi is excited to explore the physiological responses each individual has when exposed to the same stimuli, and how these responses influence neuroplasticity across different age groups in human and dogs. In her leisure time, Jia-Yi enjoys spending time with her two Yorkies, reading and driving.  

Chakriya is a Master's student at the Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness (GIMBC), Taipei Medical University. She is passionate about investigating the contents of innate morality and consciousness in infancy, along with the cognitive functionality integration development of humans. 

Her current project investigates the developmental emergence of categorical thinking in infants by examining their ability to differentiate between basic and subordinate-level categories across a series of experimental conditions. By employing behavioral contrasts and advanced statistical techniques, the aim is to uncover how infants process and organize information about objects and their features. Understanding the trajectory of category formation at this early stage of life sheds light on the fundamental cognitive mechanisms that underpin learning, memory, and future complex reasoning. 

Saija Adia Lewis is a dynamic and passionate 25-year-old from Saint Lucia. Having completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with honours, Saija developed a keen interest in the developmental, behavioural, and cognitive aspects of psychology. Alongside her academic pursuits, her commitment to understanding the human mind is complemented by a lifelong love for dogs. Saija has been a devoted dog owner since the age of five, currently caring for three furry companions. This love for animals runs parallel to her deep-rooted passion for music, which has been a consistent part of her life's journey. Saija's ultimate goal is to expand her research into understanding how music influences the brain in different states, showcasing a unique blend of academic rigour and a genuine connection to both psychology, music, and her four-legged friends.