Panel discussion: Embracing equity, diversity, and inclusion practices within bi/multilingualism science
WiCS-Europe at ISB 2025, San Sebastian, Spain
Open to registered ISB participants only. Registration here.
The global scientific community, especially bi/multilingualism researchers, is increasingly recognizing the critical importance of integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles into their research. This event aims to spotlight researchers who are advancing EDI within the field of bi/multilingualism by studying historically underrepresented languages, exploring the intersecting realities of diverse bi/multilingual communities, integrating human diversity into their theoretical and empirical work, and using methodologies that capture the inherent diversity and multidimensionality of the bi/multilingual experience. These approaches not only advance equity but also enhance scientific rigor by ensuring that research better reflects the complexity of human experience, shedding new light on how diversity in bi/multilingual experience(s) shapes cognition, language development, practices, and processing.
Speakers will provide practical examples grounded in robust theoretical frameworks and empirical data, illustrating the transformative potential of adopting inclusive research practices. These examples will demonstrate how incorporating EDI principles and multidimensional methodologies can uncover new insights, challenge biases, and expand the scope and relevance of cognitive science. Panelists will share innovative strategies for addressing the challenges of prioritizing EDI at various levels, offering actionable steps for attendees to incorporate into their own projects.
This conversation aims to inspire attendees to reflect on the necessity of EDI in their work, encouraging them to adopt and adapt similar practices in their own research. An open discussion session will provide participants the opportunity to engage with panelists, fostering dialogue on how EDI can reshape academic research and strengthen the global scientific community. Together, we can envision a future for cognitive science that not only values inclusivity but also leverages diversity, equity, and inclusion as a cornerstone of its scientific rigor.
Speakers:
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Ethan Kutlu and Judith F. Kroll will not be attending the event. Anne L. Beatty-Martinez and Elisabeth Peña will replace them in the debate.
We truly thank all the speakers involved in the event we are hosting at ISB — those who were expected to participate but are unable to attend due to technical issues, and those who agreed at the last minute to join the panel discussion.
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Louise Shepperd, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Researcher. Department of Language and Communication. Radboud University Nijmegen. https://www.ru.nl/en/people/shepperd-lApplied psycholinguist specializing in language and migration, additional language and literacy acquisition, orthographic influences on L2 phonology, cross-script learning, and inclusive research methods for diverse populations.
Anne L. Beatty-Martínez, PhD. Assistant Professor of Cognitive Science and Director of the Center for Research on Language at UC San Diego. https://sites.google.com/site/annebeattymartinez/ She received her Ph.D. in Spanish and Language Science at Penn State and was subsequently an NIH Ruth Kirschstein postdoctoral fellow at McGill University. Her research capitalizes on variability in language experience to understand how the mind and brain adapt to the demands of more than one language.
Ethan Kutlu, Ph.D. Assistant Professor. Department of Linguistics and Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. University of Iowa. https://www.ethankutlu.com/Cognitive scientist studying developmental and experimental linguistics, with a focus on multilingualism, heritage bilingualism, and racialized bilingual communities. His research explores how social networks shape language perception and experience.
Suhail Matar, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Researcher. Neurobiology of Language Group. Basque Center on Cognition, Brain, and Language (BCBL). Incoming Assistant Professor. Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics. University of Cambridge. https://www.suhailmatar.com/Cognitive neuroscientist investigating language comprehension using neural recording techniques (MEG, fMRI) and experimental designs based on the grammatical properties of understudied languages such as Arabic. His work focuses on multilingual and diglossic populations.
MariCarmen Parafita- Couto, Ph.D. University Lecturer. Faculty of Humanities. Leiden University. https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/maria-del-carmen-parafita-couto#tab-1
Experimental psycholinguist examining the effects of bilingualism and language contact on syntactic structure, especially in code-switching. She employs a cross-disciplinary approach integrating corpus, behavioral, and electrophysiological methods. She contributed to founding the CeIBA center for bilingualism and education research at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.
Elizabeth Peña , PhD, CCC. Professor. School of Education at UCI. https://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=6376 She is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist and is a Fellow of the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Her research focuses on two lines of inquiry that address the goal of differentiating language impairment from language difference. These two interrelated areas include dynamic assessment and semantic development in bilinguals, leading to test development.
Judith F. Kroll, PhD. Distinguished Professor. School of Education. University of California, Irvine. https://bilingualismmindbrain.com/lab-members/judith-f-kroll/ Cognitive scientist whose research investigates how bilinguals manage two languages in a single mind and brain. Her work uses bilingualism to uncover the links between language and cognition. She co-founded the journal Bilingualism: Language and Cognition and the organization Women in Cognitive Science.
Chairs:
Marta Rivera Zurita
Alicia Luque
About WiCS
Women in Cognitive Science (WiCS) serves as an umbrella organization dedicated to advancing equity, visibility, and inclusion for women–cisgender, transgender, and gender-diverse individuals– in cognitive science. Since its founding in 2001 by Drs. Judith Kroll, Randi Martin, and Suparna Rajaram, WiCS has been committed to celebrating the contributions of women, addressing systemic barriers, and fostering professional development opportunities. In 2021, WiCS expanded its mission to become WiCS+, signaling a broader commitment to inclusivity for all historically underrepresented groups in cognitive science. This includes promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across intersecting identities such as race, ethnicity, gender, ability and socioeconomic background. Through mentorship, advocacy, and community-building, WiCS+ continues to empower a global network of scholars, striving to make the field of cognitive science more inclusive and equitable. Central to WiCS+ is the creation of safe, inclusive spaces free of all forms of violence, discrimination, and harassment, where scholars can thrive in an environment built on mutual respect and dignity. WiCS+ further underscores the fundamental importance of human rights as the foundation for equity and inclusion, aiming to empower a global network of scholars and shape cognitive science into a more inclusive and equitable field where all voices and perspectives are fully represented and valued. As part of this mission, the European chapter of WiCS (WiCS-E) was established in 2016 at the International Psychonomics Meeting in Granada (Spain), co-founded by Drs. Teresa Bajo and Cristina Cacciari. WiCS+-E focuses on amplifying the visibility of women and other underrepresented communities in Europe, creating networking opportunities, and fostering collaboration, while strengthening the global network of cognitive scientists through shared values of inclusion and respect.