WiCS+Europe at APS2026
The APS Annual Convention 2026 in Barcelona served as an excellent forum to reflect on one of the most pressing questions facing psychological science today: how can collaboration in research help us better understand complex human behaviour and address real-world challenges?
As part of APS 2026, WiCS+Europe hosted the panel discussion “Collaborative Science for a Complex World: Integrating Perspectives Across Psychological Domains”, moderated by Randi Martin (Rice University, APS Immediate Past President and one of the co-founders of WiCS), with the participation of four invited speakers.
Bringing together perspectives from political psychology (Clara Pretus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), cognitive science (Daniel Casasanto, Cornell University), occupational and industrial psychology (Claire E. Smith, University of South Florida), and computational social science (David Garcia, University of Konstanz), the session explored both the opportunities and challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Invited Speakers
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Clara Pretus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
Political psychology of extremism and misinformation; empirical work on identity, moral values, and polarization to inform collaborative, evidence-based responses that support democratic resilience and social cohesion. -
Daniel Casasanto, Cornell University, USA
Cognitive science of diversity in mind; how culture, language, and embodied experience shape thought and decision-making, advancing integrative theories and cross-method collaboration to explain complex behaviour. -
Claire E. Smith, University of South Florida, USA
Occupational health psychology; work–life dynamics, sleep, and long-term health, translating interdisciplinary evidence into prevention-oriented, policy-relevant approaches for high-stress workforces. -
David Garcia, University of Konstanz, Germany
Computational social science and responsible AI; data-driven methods to diagnose misinformation, democratic risks, and large-scale social dynamics, complementing psychological theory to enhance real-world impact.
Discussant
Randi Martin, Rice University, USA
APS Immediate Past President and one of the co-founders of WiCS
While each speaker approached the topic from a different perspective, several common themes emerged throughout the discussion.
Collaboration Requires Humility
One of the strongest messages of the session was that successful collaboration begins with recognising that no single researcher can know everything. Interdisciplinary work often means stepping outside our areas of expertise, learning new methods, and relying on the knowledge of others.
Panelists emphasized that collaboration requires humility, honesty, and a willingness to ask for help. Many collaborative projects fail not because of scientific disagreements, but because researchers struggle to communicate openly about expectations, limitations, and uncertainties.
Building trust, understanding why each collaborator is involved, and appreciating the value that different perspectives bring to a project are essential ingredients for successful teamwork.
The discussion also highlighted the benefits of international collaborations, which often expose researchers to different academic cultures, publication systems, and structural challenges. Such experiences can broaden our understanding of the scientific enterprise and remind us that many of the obstacles we face are shared across countries and disciplines.
Interdisciplinarity as a Path Forward
The panel highlighted the idea that many of today’s scientific and societal challenges cannot be solved within the boundaries of a single discipline. Questions about human behaviour, health, education, technology, or social change are inherently complex and require multiple perspectives.
Interdisciplinary research should not be seen as an exception but increasingly as the norm. Rather than asking how a specific discipline can solve a problem, researchers should begin with the problem itself and then identify the expertise required to address it.
This problem-driven approach can also reveal that ideas considered innovative in one field may already be well established in another. Cross-disciplinary dialogue therefore not only expands methodological possibilities but also prevents unnecessary duplication of effort.
Gender, Visibility, and Leadership in Academia
Another important topic was the role of gender dynamics within scientific careers. Panelists reflected on the particular challenges faced by researchers working in fields where they are underrepresented and on the additional effort often required to establish authority and visibility, especially when coming from the so-called “soft sciences”.
While panelists shared examples of women successfully leading collaborative initiatives, they also acknowledged that such cases remain less common than they should be.
Research in this area suggests that women and members of underrepresented groups often face additional structural and interpersonal barriers, requiring greater effort to achieve similar levels of participation and recognition.
In this context, effective collaboration depends not only on shared goals but also on the willingness of more dominant voices to actively listen, create space for others, and engage with perspectives beyond their own.
The discussion highlighted the importance of encouraging younger researchers to participate in scientific conversations, take intellectual risks, and aspire to leadership positions. Greater awareness of gender stereotypes and gender dynamics within academic institutions and research communities remains necessary if science is to fully benefit from the diversity of perspectives available.
Artificial Intelligence: A Tool, Not a Substitute
The rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research was another key theme in the discussion. Rather than framing AI as either a threat or a solution, speakers advocated for a balanced perspective.
AI can support researchers in a wide range of tasks, from programming assistance and data exploration to multilingual text analysis. At the same time, understanding how these systems are built, including the limitations and biases of the datasets on which they rely, is crucial for their responsible use.
While LLMs can help make the learning curve less steep, particularly for researchers with limited technical backgrounds, the panel emphasized that effective use of these tools requires proper training and critical understanding.
In psychology, this includes developing the skills needed not only to use AI outputs but also to evaluate them, guide their application, and maintain meaningful human control over the research process.
The panel stressed that AI should be viewed as a tool that can enhance research when applied thoughtfully and critically. Human oversight remains essential, particularly when evaluating outputs, validating analyses, and interpreting results.
Advice for Early-Career Researchers
The session concluded with practical advice for younger researchers navigating increasingly interdisciplinary academic environments.
Among the recommendations were:
- Take calculated risks and be open to exploring new areas.
- Seek advice, but recognise that academic careers are rarely linear.
- Start interdisciplinary collaborations on a manageable scale.
- Stay intellectually curious and continue learning throughout your career.
- Use methods and technologies because they answer a research question, not because they are fashionable.
- Invest in relationships built on trust, as collaboration remains one of the most valuable resources in academic life.
Perhaps the most reassuring message was that uncertainty is a normal part of a research career. Not having every step planned in advance does not mean being lost; often, connections between experiences only become visible in retrospect.
Looking Ahead
The WiCS+Europe panel offered a timely reminder that the future of psychological science depends not only on methodological innovation but also on our ability to work across disciplinary, institutional, and geographical boundaries.
As research questions become increasingly complex, collaboration, openness, and intellectual curiosity will be essential for producing science that is both rigorous and socially relevant.
We would like to thank moderator Randi Martin and panelists Clara Pretus, Daniel Casasanto, Claire E. Smith, and David Garcia for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion, as well as everyone who joined us at APS 2026 in Barcelona.
We look forward to continuing these conversations in future WiCS+Europe events.
WiCS+Europe Chairs
María J. Maraver
University of Jaén, Spain