Press notes: BCBL researcher becomes a new member of the world’s leading scientific society

• James Magnuson, leader of the computational neuroscience group at the Basque centre, is one of the names in the annual ranking published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

• The Ikerbasque professor has been selected for his efforts, leadership and contributions to science and society through the implementation of computer models in the study of language

• The American institution, publisher of Science magazine, has recognised the work of leaders in all scientific disciplines every year since 1874

(Donostia, February 1, 2023).- The Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL) researcher and Ikerbasque professor James Magnuson is one of the honorary members selected by the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in its annual ranking published on January 31, 2023.

The expert, leader of the computational neuroscience group at the Basque research centre, has been recognised for his efforts, leadership, and scientific and social contributions linked to the study of language, especially his research regarding the connections between speech perception and its brain bases.

“This distinction not only recognises the work of James in the field of computer models and computational neuroscience, but also highlights the importance of our daily work for the scientific community and society”, emphasises Manuel Carreiras, scientific director of BCBL.

Dr. Magnuson is one of 506 scientists, engineers and innovative minds who join the cosmos of scientific personalities this year. The world's leading scientific society, who is also the publisher of the Science family of publications, has recognised talented minds since 1874.

In 150 years, the American association has included as honorary members historical references from different disciplines such as historian W.E.B. DuBois, NASA astronauts Mae Jemison and Ellen Ochoa, physicist Steven Chu, computer pioneer Grace Hopper, science populariser Alan Alda or robotics expert Ayanna Howard.

Understanding the bases of language

James Magnuson, who works as a researcher at BCBL and the University of Connecticut, received his PhD in 2001 from the University of Rochester in cognitive and brain sciences.

His line of research focuses on computational neuroscience, specifically the use of computational models to understand the cognitive, perceptual and neurobiological basis of complex biological functions such as language, learning and attention.

Its main modelling frameworks are neural networks and network science. In addition, it also uses a variety of experimental methods to test the predictions of theories and models.

In 2004 he received the American Psychological Association's "Young Investigator in Experimental Psychology" award and in 2008 he received a CAREER Award from the US National Science Foundation.

About AAAS

The American Association for the Advancement of Science, which was founded in 1848, is the world's largest scientific society and publisher of specialised media such as Science magazine, among other publications. It includes more than 250 affiliated societies and science academies, which attend to 10 million people. Being a non-profit organisation, it is open to all and fulfils its mission to "promote science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public participation and more.

About BCBL

The Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language is an international interdisciplinary research centre based in San Sebastián for the study of cognition, brain and language. It is promoted by the Basque Government with the aim of promoting science and research in the Basque Country. In addition, its partners include Ikerbasque, Innobasque, the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council and the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU).

For more information and interviews:

Unai Macias

unai@guk.eus

690 212 067