CogSci Mind Challenge

The CogSci Mind Challenge asks cognitive scientists to communicate ideas from cognitive science to students and other non-expert audiences. Submissions should help students learn something meaningful about the mind, behavior, perception, culture, or another area of cognitive science.

Projects should reflect the interdisciplinary nature of cognitive science, which includes fields such as psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, artificial intelligence, anthropology, education, and philosophy.

Proposal Requirements

Applicants should submit a proposal of no more than 1000 words that includes the following:

1. Cognitive Science Question

State the question your project will answer. The question should be understandable to students and connected to cognitive science.

Examples might include questions such as:

·  How do people know when to trust their memory?

·  Why do illusions trick our brains?

·  Can artificial intelligence understand emotions?

·  How do children learn what other people know?

·  Why do people disagree even when they see the same evidence?

These are examples only. Applicants are encouraged to propose their own questions.

2. Core Idea

Briefly explain the cognitive science concept, finding, debate, or phenomenon you want students to understand.

3. Creative Format

Describe the format you plan to create. This may include, but is not limited to:

·  TikTok-style short-form video

·  Blog post or illustrated article

·  Podcast segment

·  Animation

·  Comic book strip

·  Skit or scripted dialogue

·  Visual explainer

·  Interactive or multimedia format

The final submission must be designed to be watched, read, or listened to in 5 minutes or less. For written formats, such as blog posts or illustrated articles, the final submission should be readable in approximately 5 minutes or less.

4. Audience and Accessibility

Explain how the final submission will be accessible to junior high and high school students, including students who may not already know what cognitive science is.

Applicants should consider:

·  Clear, age-appropriate language

·  Inclusive examples

·  Captions, transcripts, or subtitles where appropriate

·  Visual accessibility, such as colorblind-friendly design

·  Avoiding jargon or explaining technical terms clearly

5. Accuracy and Sources

Briefly describe how you will ensure the final submission is scientifically accurate. Applicants may include a short list of sources, findings, or concepts that will guide the project.

6. Production Plan

Briefly describe what you would create if selected as a semifinalist and how you would use the 60-day production period.

Proposal Review Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by expert judges. Reviewers will consider:

·  Relevance to cognitive science: The proposal addresses a question or concept connected to cognitive science.

·  Scientific accuracy: The proposed explanation is grounded in cognitive science research or theory.

·  Educational value: The project is likely to help students learn something meaningful.

·  Audience fit: The project is appropriate for junior high and high school students.

·  Creativity and engagement: The proposed format is likely to capture students’ interest.

·  Feasibility: The project can reasonably be completed within the timeline and length limit.

·  Accessibility and inclusion: The project is designed for a diverse student audience.

·  Originality: The proposed work is original and not previously published.

Semifinalist Stage

Semifinalists will be notified after proposal review and will receive $100 to support creation of their final submission.

Semifinalists will have 60 days to create and submit their final project.

Final submissions must:

·  Be original and unpublished.

·  Be designed for junior high and high school students.

·  Be understandable to students unfamiliar with cognitive science.

·  Be educational and engaging.

·  Be appropriate for general audiences.

·  Be inclusive of a diverse audience.

·  Avoid discriminatory or harmful content.

·  Avoid infringing on copyright, trademark, privacy, or publicity rights.

·  Include captions, transcripts, subtitles, alt text, or other accessibility supports when appropriate for the format.

Student Voting and Prizes

Final submissions that meet the challenge requirements will be shared with high school and undergraduate student reviewers, who will vote based on:

·  How much they learned

·  How understandable the submission was

·  How engaging or entertaining it was

·  How effectively the submission communicated cognitive science to students

Three equal winners will each receive a $500 prize.

The Cognitive Science Society will determine winners in its sole discretion based on student voting, eligibility, and compliance with challenge guidelines. The Society’s determination will be final.

Timeline

Call opens: July 27, 2026

Proposal deadline: August 26, 2026 – EXTENDED to September 14

Semifinalists notified: October 9, 2026

Final submissions due: November 30, 2026

Student voting period: December 1, 2026 thru December 18, 2026

Winners announced: January 4, 2026

Submission Instructions

Applicants should submit their one-page proposal to by 11:59 PM AoE on September 14, 2026.

Please include the following in your submission:

·  Applicant name

·  Applicant affiliation, if any

·  Lead contact email

·  Team members, if applicable

·  Project title

·  Proposed cognitive science question

·  One-page proposal upload

·  Confirmation that the applicant agrees to the challenge rules

Rights and Permissions

By submitting to the CogSci Mind Challenge, applicants confirm that their proposal and final submission are original work and that they have the right to use any included materials.

The Cognitive Science Society reserves the right to disqualify submissions that do not meet the challenge requirements or that are unlawful, inappropriate, inaccessible for review, or otherwise inconsistent with the goals of the challenge.

Winners may have their names and submissions featured by the Cognitive Science Society.