News: BCBL review its strategy with the International Scientific Advisory Board

• The encounter serves as a crucial milestone for the center and an unique opportunity to showcase the latest research milestones and exchange ideas.

The Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL) has welcomed this week its esteemed International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB). The encounter, which takes place triennially, serves as a crucial milestone for the center, offering a unique opportunity to showcase the latest research milestones, exchange ideas, and receive invaluable guidance from some of the world's leading minds in cognitive neuroscience and linguistics.

During their stay, the ISAB, integrated by Prof. George R. Mangun (University of California), Prof. James L. McClelland (Stanford University) and Prof. Asli Ozyurek (Max Planck Institute), has evaluated BCBL’s recent performance and activities across key dimensions: scientific production, academic teaching, public dissemination, and science transfer. Prof. Cathy J. Price (University College London), member of the ISAB, has also followed the meeting online.

On the first day, BCBL’s Deputy Scientific Director Lucía Amoruso presented the center’s Scientific Highlights 2023-2026, followed by an interactive poster session and dedicated meetings with the PhD students, postdocs, staff scientists, and group leaders. This direct interaction ensures the advisory board gains a holistic view of the vibrant scientific culture driving the labs. Day one concluded with a guided tour of the BCBL facilities and laboratories.

Meanwhile, on the second day, the agenda focused toward academic growth and strategic vision including progress reports on BCBL’s Master and PhD programs, as well as an institutional overview by Ana Fernández, General Manager of BCBL. A pivotal moment of the visit was the presentation of the BCBL Strategic Plan for the 2027-2030 period, outlining the center's roadmap for the coming years.

“Our new strategic plan is structured around four fundamental pillars: a shift in our research agenda to study how we process language in real-life, interactive situations; moving from conducting science about people to conducting science with people, involving society in the scientific process; promoting open and collaborative science between institutions, by sharing data and protocols; and bringing scientific knowledge to society, particularly in the fields of health and education”, highlighted Lucía Amoruso.

In addition, the ISAB members visited the Joxe Mari Korta Centre of the University of the Basque Country (EHU), where BCBL has some of its laboratories, as well as the new Ikerbasque facilities in Donostia and the recently inaugurated Brainorium lab at the Amara Berri public school.

The insights and recommendations generated during this visit will be instrumental in refining the strategic goals and ensuring BCBL remains at the global forefront of research in cognition, brain, and language.