Meeting Cognitive Science Students in Tübingen

Last week, Prof. Dr. Sven Mayer joined the panel discussion at the Cognitive Science Conference of Students (CosCos) 2026 in Tübingen alongside Prof. Dr. Esther Kühn, Prof. Dr. Evelyn Ferstl, and Prof. Dr. Volker Franz. Carlotta Ruths, a Bachelor's student from Osnabrück University, moderated the panel. The panel focused on the future of cognitive science and its growing intersection with artificial intelligence, society, and interdisciplinary research.

Throughout the discussion, a recurring theme was the changing relationship between humans and increasingly capable AI systems. Rather than focusing only on technological progress, the panel emphasized the importance of designing systems that remain understandable, controllable, and human-centered. The conversation highlighted how cognitive science uniquely connects perspectives from computer science, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and HCI to address the societal challenges emerging from modern AI technologies.

The panel also addressed broader questions around responsibility, societal impact, the future of research, and how cognitive science students may be affected by these ongoing changes. Prof. Kühn, with her close link to medicine, highlighted the need to carefully reflect on the ethical implications of our research. Discussions explored how AI systems influence communication and social norms, the responsibilities researchers assume when their work contributes to technologies deployed at scale, and the skills future students and researchers will need in an increasingly AI-driven world. Here, Prof. Mayer emphasized that the ability to use AI effectively will become increasingly important in the future. At the same time, he argued that the fundamental craft of science still needs to be properly taught in university education. According to Prof. Mayer, teaching both scientific fundamentals and practical AI usage simultaneously within traditional lectures is challenging. Instead, he suggested that dedicated courses on working with AI systems may become necessary to ensure that students both develop strong foundations in their respective disciplines and learn how to apply modern AI tools responsibly and effectively in practice.

What made the panel particularly exciting was the strong engagement from the students in the audience. Many questions focused on responsibility, societal impact, mental health, scientific culture, and the future role of cognitive science in society. The audience challenged the panel with thoughtful questions, reflecting how strongly many students are currently trying to position themselves within the rapidly evolving landscape of cognitive science and understand the role they want to play in shaping future technologies.

At the same time, all panelists emphasized that this interdisciplinarity is exactly one of the greatest strengths of cognitive science. Students were encouraged to see their broad education not as a limitation, but as an opportunity to connect disciplines, perspectives, and methods. Especially in a future shaped by AI and increasingly complex societal challenges, the ability to bridge fields and facilitate collaboration between different domains may become more important than ever.