Lingnan University officially establishes the Lingnan University Cognitive Science Research Centre (CSRC)

9 Jun 2026

Lingnan University officially establishes the Lingnan University Cognitive Science Research Centre (CSRC).

Lingnan University officially establishes the Lingnan University Cognitive Science Research Centre (CSRC).

Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, delivers a speech.

Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, delivers a speech.

Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning.

Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning.

Prof William Hayward, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Chair Professor of Psychology.

Prof William Hayward, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Chair Professor of Psychology.

Prof Jay Xu Jie, Director of the CSRC and Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology.

Prof Jay Xu Jie, Director of the CSRC and Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology.

The CSRC aims to build an interdisciplinary platform for cognitive science research, education, and collaboration, integrating expertise across psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, computational methods, and allied fields.

The CSRC aims to build an interdisciplinary platform for cognitive science research, education, and collaboration, integrating expertise across psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, computational methods, and allied fields.

Prof David Alais, Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Sydney delivers a keynote speech.

Prof David Alais, Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Sydney delivers a keynote speech.

Prof Marcel Brass, Professor of Social Intelligence at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin gives a keynote speech.

Prof Marcel Brass, Professor of Social Intelligence at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin gives a keynote speech.

The Lingnan Cognitive Science Conference 2026 and the launch ceremony of the Lingnan University Cognitive Science Research Centre (CSRC) were held on 5 June 2026 at Lingnan@WestKowloon. Hosted by the CSRC, this year’s conference was themed "Dynamics of Mind: Social, Neural, and Computational Perspectives", and brought together scholars and students from fields spanning cognitive science, cognitive neuroscience, human-computer interaction, and related disciplines for a day of in-depth academic exchange.

 

 

The conference opened with a welcoming address by Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, who said "The establishment of the CSRC is a vital manifestation of Lingnan’s strategic integration of liberal arts and sciences, as well as our commitment to promoting interdisciplinary research. By successfully combining psychology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, we aim to build a cross-disciplinary academic platform with global impact, and ensure that future technology develops consistently in a direction that enhances human well-being."

 

 

Following this address, opening remarks were delivered by Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning; Prof William Hayward, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Chair Professor of Psychology; and Prof Jay Xu Jie, Director of the CSRC and Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology.

 

 

The highlight of the event was the launch ceremony of the CSRC, where the official plaque was unveiled jointly by President S. Joe Qin, Prof Xin Yao, Prof William Hayward, Prof Siu Oi-ling, Head of the Department of Psychology, Lam Woo & Co Ltd Chair Professor of Applied Psychology, and Director of the Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counselling Psychology Research Centre, and Prof Jay Xu Jie. The vision behind the CSRC is to propel Lingnan University into an international hub for cognitive science, contributing to the future of "human-centric" artificial intelligence while advancing fundamental understanding of the human mind. The CSRC is building an interdisciplinary platform for cognitive science research, education, and collaboration, integrating expertise across psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, computational methods, and allied fields.

 

 

Keynote speeches were delivered by two internationally renowned scholars: Prof David Alais, Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Sydney, and Prof Marcel Brass, Professor of Social Intelligence at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. In addition, distinguished scholars from five leading universities in the Hong Kong SAR and Chinese Mainland, the University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, Zhejiang University, Sun Yat-sen University, and Shanghai University, were invited to give special lectures.

 

 

The success of this conference and the official launch of the CSRC mark a significant milestone in Lingnan University’s advancement of cognitive science research. The event not only fostered scholarly dialogue and created future collaborative opportunities among local, regional, and international academics, but also provided a valuable window for students and early-career researchers to engage with cutting-edge interdisciplinary research.