European Society for Cognitive Sciences of Music

European Society for Cognitive Sciences of Music
Name	European Society for Cognitive Sciences of Music
Formation	1991
Type	Learned society
Headquarters	Europe
Region served	International
Membership	Researchers, educators, practitioners
Language	English

European Society for Cognitive Sciences of Music is a learned society dedicated to the scientific study of music cognition and perception. Founded in 1991, the organization brings together researchers from across United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Greece, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Ireland, Iceland, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Turkey, Israel, United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and other countries. The society interfaces with institutions such as Royal Academy of Music, King's College London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Paris, Max Planck Society, CNRS, ETH Zurich, Karolinska Institutet, Universität Heidelberg, University of Vienna, University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, KU Leuven, University of Barcelona, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, University of Milan, Sapienza University of Rome, and national research councils.

History

The society was established following discussions at conferences attended by scholars from IRCAM, Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Center for Music and Science, McGill University, Royal Northern College of Music, Goldsmiths, University of London, Humboldt University of Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Universität der Künste Berlin, University of Cologne, University of Hamburg, University of Helsinki, and Uppsala University. Early meetings featured contributions from researchers associated with Society for Music Perception and Cognition, Association for Psychological Science, British Psychological Society, Psychonomic Society, European Academy of Music Research, and prominent laboratories like Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, Laboratoire de Psychologie et Neurocognition, and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Founding activities linked to major events such as the International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition, the European Conference on Artificial Intelligence, and workshops hosted at Royal College of Music, Bologna Conservatory, and Mozarteum University Salzburg.

Aims and Activities

The society aims to support interdisciplinary research connecting investigators from neuroscience, psychology, musicology, linguistics, computer science, engineering, philosophy, and education through networks including European Cooperation in Science and Technology, Horizon 2020, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Wellcome Trust, European Research Council, and national funding agencies. Activities include organizing symposia with partners like Society for Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience Society, International Brain Research Organization, Association for Computing Machinery, IEEE, International Society for Music Information Retrieval, and orchestral collaborations with institutions such as Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and conservatories across Europe.

Conferences and Events

The society convenes biennial conferences, regional meetings, and specialist workshops held at host institutions including University College London, Imperial College London, Trinity College Dublin, University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, University of Bristol, University of Glasgow, University of Leeds, University of Sheffield, University of Southampton, University of Birmingham, University of Warwick, University of Nottingham, University of Liverpool, University of St Andrews, University of York, University of Southampton, University of Reading, University of Southampton, and European venues like Royal Conservatory of The Hague, Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Athens Concert Hall, Istanbul Technical University, Budapest Music Academy, Prague Conservatory, Warsaw University, Kraków Academy of Music, Belgrade Faculty of Music, Zagreb Music Academy, Ljubljana Academy of Music, Stockholm Royal College of Music, Copenhagen Royal Conservatory, and Helsinki Music Centre. Conferences attract keynote speakers affiliated with MIT, Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, Columbia University, Princeton University, Brown University, New York University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, McMaster University, Western University (Canada), University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, Monash University, and University of Melbourne.

Publications and Awards

The society endorses publication outlets and prizes linked to journals and presses such as Music Perception (journal), Psychomusicology, Journal of New Music Research, Frontiers in Psychology, Frontiers in Neuroscience, Nature Neuroscience, PNAS, Journal of Neuroscience, Cerebral Cortex, NeuroImage, Scientific Reports, PLoS ONE, Psychological Science, Cognition, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Routledge, Springer, and MIT Press. It grants awards recognizing early-career researchers, lifetime achievement, and best paper, with laureates often affiliated with Royal Society, Academy of Finland, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Austrian Science Fund, Swiss National Science Foundation, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Guggenheim Fellowship, Fulbright Program, and Marie Curie Fellowship.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises academics, clinicians, performers, and students registered at universities and conservatories including University of Graz, University of Ljubljana, University of Porto, University of Coimbra, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, University of Salamanca, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Universidad de Sevilla, Universidad de Granada, Universidad del País Vasco, Universitat de València, University of Seville, University of the Basque Country, University of the Balearic Islands, and others. Governance follows an elected council and executive committee with officers drawn from institutions like European University Institute, Scuola Normale Superiore, École Normale Supérieure, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, University of Zürich, University of Basel, and University of Bern.

Research Impact and Collaborations

Research supported by the society influences projects funded by European Research Council Advanced Grants, cross-disciplinary centers such as Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Center for Music in the Brain, Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, McGill’s International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research, and collaborative networks including European Neuroscience Institute, International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Centre for Music and Science (C4MS), Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, and industry partners like Ableton, Native Instruments, Sony Music, Universal Music Group, Deutsche Grammophon, and Bose Corporation. The society's work informs policy discussions at forums such as European Commission, Council of Europe, UNESCO, World Health Organization, and national ministries of culture and science.

Category:Learned societies