2013 Public Lecture – David J. Lewkowicz

David J. Lewkowicz

Florida Atlantic University

David J. Lewkowicz is an internationally renowned authority on infant perceptual and cognitive development. He is currently Professor of Psychology at Florida Atlantic University and a past President of the International Society on Infant Studies.

Poster graphics created by Guilluame Doucet, McGill University.

Perceptual Expertise Begins in Infancy

Saturday, May 11, 2013, 10:00 – 11:30 am, Renaissance Academy of Florida Gulf Coast University

Contrary to conventional wisdom, infants are not passive, naïve observers. Aided by prenatally acquired perceptual abilities, starting at birth infants begin to interact with their world. As they grow, they rapidly learn about the faces, voices, speech, and language in their native environment. By their first birthday, infants become perceptual experts but, paradoxically, only for native faces, voices, speech, and language. This talk will show how the knowledge that we acquire as infants not only facilitates but also hinders our interactions with our world for the rest of our lives.
The annual public lecture represents the mission and commitment of the Vision Sciences Society to promote progress in understanding vision, and its relation to cognition, action and the brain. Education is basic to our science, and as scientists we are obliged to communicate the results of our work, not only to our professional colleagues but to the broader public. This lecture is part of our effort to give back to the community that supports us.

About the VSS Public Lecture

The annual public lecture represents the mission and commitment of the Vision Sciences Society to promote progress in understanding vision, and its relation to cognition, action and the brain. Education is basic to our science, and as scientists we are obliged to communicate the results of our work, not only to our professional colleagues but to the broader public. This lecture is part of our effort to give back to the community that supports us.

Jointly sponsored by VSS and the Renaissance Academy of Florida Gulf Coast University.