The Society of Fellows of Dyson College of Arts and Sciences held its annual weekend seminar last weekend in Warwick, NY. The theme for the seminar was Cognitive Science and the Meaning of Life.

Some 60 people, including both alumni and current students, gathered at the Warwick Center from Fri., Oct. 10 to Sun., Oct. 12, and attended various talks and discussions centered around cognitive science and questions of the human mind, consciousness, and artificial intelligence. Two professors designed and led this year’s seminar—Dr. Ross Robak, Professor and Chair of the Psychology Department, and Dr. Harold Brown, Professor and former Chair of the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department.

The seminar’s schedule began with a screening of the 2013 science fiction, drama film Her on Friday night. The movie was followed by a discussion on the implications and difficulties of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as what human consciousness is, and how machines do or do not achieve a human level of consciousness.

On Saturday, there were a series of talks on the history of cognitive science, theories and research on consciousness, what AI is, and the brain and belief in God. Among the guest speakers were Dr. Robert Keegan, Professor at Pace’s Psychology Department, Dr. Paul Benjamin, Director of Pace’s Robotics Lab and Professor of Computer Science, and Dr. Michal Klincewicz, Pace alumnus and Postdoctoral Researcher at the Humboldt University of Berlin.

“The weekend seminar is meant to allow students to have a voice in the intellectual life of the university,” Robak said. “This is an opportunity for students to exchange ideas, turn them over, and examine them carefully.”

“[The seminar] had a really interesting dynamic; the students, alumni, and professors were all connecting on a casual and relaxed level that helped open up the discussions,” said Amanda Ghosh, a senior women’s & gender studies and theatre-dance major. “The topics were outside of my major and comfort zone, so it really expanded my mind. It was an enriching weekend.”

“One of my favorite parts of the weekend was meal time when we were able to sit next to new people each time and discuss our lives, the seminar, and various other educational topics,” junior psychology major Vanessa Vitiello said.

The seminar’s theme was in line with the development of a program on cognitive science that will begin with an interdisciplinary course and would eventually be offered as a minor, according to Robak. “Cognitive science is a fascinating field, which has impact across many disciplines,” Robak said.

The Society will have follow-up events on the same theme throughout this semester, and next spring it will host its Annual Meeting, where students will present scholarly research or artistic projects completed under the supervision of a Dyson faculty mentor.