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Women in Cognitive Science Widening Inclusivity in Cognitive Science - Europe

Women in Cognitive Science (WiCS) is an umbrella organization dedicated to advancing equity, visibility, and inclusion for all scientists in cognitive science.

Founded in 2001 by Drs. Judith Kroll, Randi Martin, and Suparna Rajaram, WiCS has worked to celebrate the contributions of women, dismantle systemic barriers, and create professional development opportunities.

Due to the historical underrepresentation of women in academia, WiCS emerged from the collective effort of female scientists who recognized the need to unite in order to enhance visibility and support career development throughout the academic journey. As such, the primary audience for WiCS events includes individuals who identify as women (cisgender, transgender, and gender‑diverse) in cognitive science. However, participation is not exclusive, as we aim to foster collaboration across the entire community and emphasize that all are welcome. In 2021, WiCS broadened its mission to WiCS+, signaling a stronger commitment to inclusivity for all historically underrepresented groups in cognitive science. This expansion includes promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across intersecting identities such as race, ethnicity, gender, ability, and socioeconomic background. WiCS is now a worldwide network with active chapters in Canada and Europe, and it continues to grow - expanding its reach, building connections, and shaping a more inclusive future for cognitive science.

Through mentorship, advocacy, and community‑building, WiCS+ empowers a global network of scholars and works toward a more inclusive and equitable field of cognitive science. Central to WiCS+ is the creation of safe, inclusive spaces free of violence, discrimination, and harassment, grounded in mutual respect, dignity, and human rights.

WiCS Europe

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, fostering collaboration and networking opportunities, and strengthening the global cognitive science community through shared values of inclusion and respect.

WiCS+E is finantinally supported by the European Society of Cognitive Psychology (ESCoP) to organize a satellite event during their binnual conference

Mission

WiCS+E connects cognitive scientists across Europe and creates opportunities to share ideas, collaborate, and support career development.

You will find us at:

  • Biannual funded ESCoP meetings
  • Other cognitive science conferences such as ICPS, ISB, and SARMAC
  • Online events held at least once a year, with a recurring event every March to celebrate Women’s Month

Our goals are to:

  • Provide resources for professional and research career development
  • Foster collaboration and mentoring opportunities
  • Create spaces for meaningful connections and open knowledge sharing
  • Promote equity, inclusion, and visibility for scholars historically excluded from science

Through mentoring, shared resources, and collective care, we strive to make cognitive science a field where every voice matters.

Our Commitments

We are committed to:

  • Celebrating the contributions of women and gender‑diverse scholars
  • Promoting intersectional inclusion
  • Providing meaningful support and visibility for scholars historically excluded from academia
  • Creating communities rooted in mentorship, intergenerational dialogue, and collective care
  • Centering queer, trans, and non‑binary voices as essential to the future of science

Contact

We are open to new initiatives, activities and meetings.
If you’re interested in organizing an event or helping out the current leadership team, please reach out to us.

👉 JOIN US

Events

Upcoming Events

Event Details
Building Inclusive Computational Skills Building Inclusive Computational Skills flyer

Online panel
Monday, 23 February 2026
13:00–14:30 CET

As part of International Women’s Month, this panel explores why computational methods matter and how to make them more accessible and inclusive across career stages.

More information & registration

Past Events

Information about past WiCS+E events, including panel discussions, seminars, and mentoring sessions, can be found on our Events page

ESCOP2025 event

Information about most recent ESCOP event WiCS+E events can be found here