Introduction to topiCS Volume 17, Issue 3.

Abstract

Translate Article

This summer, the Cognitive Science Society is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the David E. Rumelhart Prize. Since its establishment and generous endowment in 2000 by the Robert J. Glushko and Pamela Samuelson Fund, this equivalent of a Nobel Prize for Cognitive Science has been awarded annually to scholars making a significant contemporary contribution to the theoretical foundations of human cognition. To honor this legacy, CogSci 2025 is hosting a special symposium prior to this year's conference, “featuring a lineup of visionary thinkers whose work exemplifies the Rumelhart Prize's spirit” (https://cognitivesciencesociety.org/rumelhart-25th-anniversary-event/). And the recurring highlight of CogSci proper will be the talk by the current laureate, Nora S. Newcombe, followed by the announcement of the 26th recipient of the prize. topiCS is marking the celebrations by publishing a very special issue honoring the 2021 recipient Susan Goldin-Meadow and the 2023 recipient Nick Chater in a unique twin format—the former introduced by Alibali and Cook (IN PRESS [this issue]), the latter by Christiansen and Oaksford (IN PRESS [this issue]). Finally, we are especially honored to have been provided with reflections on David Rumelhart and the Prize in his name by one of Rumelhart's closest collaborators, the first chair of the Prize committee, and himself the 2010 recipient of the prize, James L. (“Jay”) McClelland (IN PRESS [this issue]). topiCS encourages letters and commentaries on all topics, as well as proposals for new topics. Letters are not longer than two published pages (ca. 400–1000 words). Commentaries (between 1000 and 2000 words) are often solicited by Topic Editors prior to the publication of their topic, but they may also be considered after publication. Letters and commentaries typically come without an abstract and with few references, if any. The Executive Editor and the Senior Editorial Board (SEB) are constantly searching for new and exciting topics for topiCS. Feel free to open communications with a short note to the Executive Editor ([email protected]) or a member of the SEB (for a list, see the publisher's homepage for topiCS: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1756-8765/homepage/EditorialBoard.html).