The MARCS Institute
The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development is an interdisciplinary research institute of Western Sydney University.
www.westernsydney.edu.au/marcs
- 🎉 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗦, Dr. Alejandra Pesantez from the University of Zurich! Dr. Alejandra is teaming up with Prof. Paola Escudero to explore how do #bilingual children acquire more #languages 🧠 🗣️ We’re excited to see where this collaboration leads!
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- New paper in @plosone.org from Anthony Chmiel, Roger Dean @katestevartssci.bsky.social Jen Macritchie, from our ARC DP that looked at older adult musical sophistication over 12 months of training & 6 month follow up. Improvisation led to the biggest gains: journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
- A forthcoming paper from this multi-year study will report longitudinal changes for cognition, motor function, and wellbeing for the same participants!
- 🤝 #AgedCare research is about people. Our Age Lab team had an incredible time engaging with the local community – listening to their experiences & exchanging ideas about optimising the wellbeing of older Australians. Conversations like these ensure our work truly makes a difference. #ResearchImpact
- ✨ What if you could step into the past – relive cherished experiences and discover how memory shapes who we are? 🧠 Our #AgeLab team is exploring integrating #technology in #autobiographical #memory research, bridging science & humanity to support memory, wellbeing and even therapeutic applications.
- 🎈 How can we transform everyday spaces into fun places for children to explore and learn? ✨ A big thank you to everyone who attended the #PlayfulLearningLandscapes conference and contributed to the discussions! Together, we can transform the way children learn and grow – one play idea at a time!
- 📣 Looking for young voices! Aged 16-22 and open to sharing your thoughts on mental health? Join ReachOut’s co-design workshop to help shape better support for young people. 📆 13 Mar 2025, 10am – 3pm at WSU Westmead Innovation Quarter | Receive $250 | Apply now: tinyurl.com/ReachOut13Mar
- Language learning isn’t just for travel - it can boost your career and brainpower too! 🧠📱 But can apps really make you fluent? Explore the pros & cons of digital tools. Connect & collaborate: www.tinyurl.com/MarkAntoniou #LanguageLearning #CareerGrowth #BrainHealth #Multilingual
- This evening's Anne Cutler Public Lecture on #ActivePlayfulLearning kicked off with a fun, competitive ball toss! 🏐 This activity set the stage for an insightful talk on the power of #play. How can we incorporate meaningful guided play into our everyday environments to help children learn better? ✨
- Join us for a Public Lecture by child development and psychology expert, Professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, on 'Active Playful Learning: Where the Science of Learning Meets Education.' 📅 6 Feb 2025 | 🕓 4-6pm | 📍 Western Sydney University Westmead campus 🔗 6feb2025publiclecture.eventbrite.com.au
- 💡 Latest research shows that babies are already learning how sounds are physically produced BEFORE tuning in to their native language. This discovery challenges previous beliefs and opens up new possibilities for early intervention. 🔗https://tinyurl.com/msx2vw7a @eylemaltuntas.bsky.social
- Only 1 more day to get your applications in! Join us for this up to 3 year postdoc position: tinyurl.com/SuperRecogni...
- 🚨Join us! We're hiring a 3yr Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Cognitive Neuroscience with @drquekles.bsky.social @manuelvarlet.bsky.social @tgro.bsky.social & David White to investigate decoding in super-recognisers. Applications close 14 Jan #postdoc #cogneuro #ACNS2024 tinyurl.com/SuperRecogni...
- 🎧 Discover how #music is transforming #dementia care with Dr Sandra Garrido. Tune in to ABC Radio's Nightlife this Saturday at 10pm! More about the research: www.westernsydney.edu.au/future-maker...
- 💡Infants’ temperaments can shape parent-child #communication. A study by Dr Antonia Goetz, Dr Eylem Altuntas and team, explores how #temperament impacts early communication, supporting #earlychildhood development and #learning outcomes for children. 🔗 doi.org/10.1111/infa...
- Congratulations to our amazing MARCS team for their achievements this year! We’re so proud of our colleagues for receiving recognition at the Western Sydney University Vice Chancellor's Excellence Awards for their incredible contributions. Thank you for your dedication, passion, and hard work!
- 🎉 Congrats to Dr Denise Moerel for winning the 2024 ACNS Emerging Researcher Award! 👏 Denise's research investigates how perception enables complex behaviour, such as social interaction, and how attention facilitates these processes. #Neuroscience | 🔗 tinyurl.com/3ycz2wdr
- 🎶💬 New research by Dr Anna Fiveash and team has found that listening to rhythmic #music can help children with #language processing difficulties improve their ability to repeat sentences. | Read: tinyurl.com/4x44tryj @anna5ash.bsky.social #MusicScience #Language #SpeechTherapy #MusicTherapy
- #PhD #Scholarship Opportunity: Unlocking Person Identity Codes in the Human Brain 🧠 | Explore the extraordinary abilities of Super-Recognisers & contribute to the advancement of person identification technologies worldwide. #Neuroscience | Applications close 31 Jan 2025. | tinyurl.com/45c4m3kk
- We were thrilled to welcome Prof George Williams AO, Vice Chancellor of Western Sydney University to MARCS Institute! The VC chatted to our researchers about the exciting work in child development, neuromorphic research, biomedical engineering, & music science. Thanks for your support & insights!
- 🎉 Congrats to PhD Candidate, Almudena, for winning the Outstanding Presentation Award at the 2024 #ACNS conference! Topic: #ObjectRecognition Under Occlusion During Rapid Serial Visual Presentations. 👏 #Neuroscience #MARCSHDR tinyurl.com/AlmudenaRami...
- Despite Australia’s diversity, only 9% of Year 12 students study languages. ✨Newly funded ARC Discovery Project will explore how #polyglots manage and control multiple languages. The goal: improve #language #education nationwide. 🔗 tinyurl.com/2fda6wy5 #multilingualism @katestevartssci.bsky.social
- An inspiring morning at Parramatta Library for #InternationalDayForPeopleWithADisability! Our Age Lab team shared the #MemoryAid project, engaged in #dementia care discussions, and connected with the local community. 💜 Thanks to everyone who joined us and City of Parramatta Council for organising!
- 🌎As #languages disappear, so do parts of a #community’s identity and culture. ✨Newly funded ARC Discovery Project, led by Dr Hannah Sarvasy, will explore the impact of preserving #Indigenous languages in Papua New Guinea and beyond. 🔗 tinyurl.com/2fda6wy5 @katestevartssci.bsky.social
- Music communicates emotions across cultures, but how much is universal vs cultural? ✨Newly funded #ARC #Discovery Project will explore music's impact on #health, #wellbeing, and the global #music industry. 🔗https://tinyurl.com/2fda6wy5 #MusicScience @katestevartssci.bsky.social
- Newly funded ARC Discovery Project will unlock the secrets of how children learn and provide parents & educators with insights to support #childdevelopment. Looking forward to transforming #education in Australia, one discovery at a time! @drquekles.bsky.social
- 🚨Join us! We're hiring a 3yr Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Cognitive Neuroscience with @drquekles.bsky.social @manuelvarlet.bsky.social @tgro.bsky.social & David White to investigate decoding in super-recognisers. Applications close 14 Jan #postdoc #cogneuro #ACNS2024 tinyurl.com/SuperRecogni...
- ✈️ This week, we welcomed our final #International #VisitingFellow for 2024 and bid farewell to three others - just in time to announce that applications for 2025 scheme are now open! Apply to come and visit for 2-3 months. PhD Candidates & ECRs welcome. 🔗https://tinyurl.com/3ztnrufd
- 🎉 Exciting news! Our team at MARCS has been awarded funding through the Australian Research Council (ARC) to revolutionise #STEM engagement online! In partnership with Powerhouse Museum, our goal is to create an inclusive experience for all & inspire the next gen of #thinkers & #innovators! 🌟
- About to start a demanding task at work on your Monday morning? Listening to music beforehand could boost your language abilities. Great article by Dr Anna Fiveash on the impact of music on workplace productivity. #musicscience #ProductivityTip theconversation.com/can-listenin...
- 🏆 Excited to share that the #MemoryAid project has been selected as a finalist in the Longitude Prize on Dementia! MemoryAid is designed to empower people living with #dementia to maintain their independence while staying connected with loved ones. #CoDesign #Healthcare Read: tinyurl.com/dhhuwjvy
- 🦉💬 Ever heard the phrase "Who cooks for you?" and wondered what it has to do with #birds? It’s a fun way to remember the sound of the Barred Owl! Explore the fascinating world of #Warblish! 🐦 Read: tinyurl.com/2y5y57dn
- 🧠❤️ How does understanding the #neuroscience of #empathy benefit #society? Imagine introducing empathy-focused training programs to reduce #bullying in schools and manage burnout in #healthcare professionals. Watch video➡️ youtu.be/9jUDVDGTO7Q Connect & collaborate: @sophiesmit.bsky.social
- 🍩 New research confirmed something you probably knew: cues in our environment don’t just make us crave food generally; they prompt us to look for certain food categories, such as salty, sweet, or creamy. Read more: theconversation.com/what-causes-...
- When #neuroscience meets #empathy. 🧠❤️ Join us as we learn more about the work and research journey of Dr Sophie Smit, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in #Cognitive Neuroscience: tinyurl.com/2mjbdkz9
- Researchers from Western Sydney University were proud to be involved in the #Westmead Research & Innovation Conference organised by Westmead Research Hub! We shared our work on equity in research, #communication apps for culturally diverse residents in #agedcare, & #VR for adults with disabilities.
- Interested in the future of #healthcare, #policy, or #technology? This #WhitePaper by A/Prof Joyce Siette & researchers from @westernsydneyu provides valuable perspectives & solutions for addressing the evolving needs of our #ageing population. Read: tinyurl.com/2s3rkxx9
- New survey reveals that most Australians are worried about #generative #AI. Adult #MediaLiteracy programs can boost media knowledge and help people navigate the challenges posed by generative AI. ✨Read more: tinyurl.com/3hp3yaaf
- 💡Did you know? 🧶#Knitting fosters a calming "flow" state, reduces stress, and enhances wellbeing for high-pressure professionals. Additionally, research suggests that it may boost executive functions in children. #Health #Wellbeing #MentalHealth ✨ Read: tinyurl.com/3ryvtnjw
- ✨🔭🧠 Excited to share the Sydney Science Festival video! Relive the highlights: booth activities, <Meet a Scientist> session, and stage interviews on AI and space research. Huge thanks to everyone who made it possible! 🙌 Watch video and read more: www.linkedin.com/posts/the-ma...
- Dr Sandra Garrido has developed guidelines for #agedcare providers to incorporate #music as a targeted intervention for individuals living with #dementia, addressing specific needs effectively. | Read more: tinyurl.com/4s8khyu6
- MARCS’ ICNS & BabyLab teams had an incredible time at the Mt Druitt Family Science Day engaging in conversations about space research & explaining why EEG is used on babies. #Community #Engagement #Neuromorphic #ChildDevelopment ✨ Watch the video here: tinyurl.com/3j4m6nrz
- 💭 What does ‘ageing in place’ mean to you? MARCS team is grateful for the opportunity to brainstorm ideas and exchange insights with the #community. ✨ More about our recent #Ageing in Place workshop here: tinyurl.com/mvwbkfsx #BetterFutures #AgedCare #EnablingIndependence
- 👏Summarising an 80,000-word #PhD thesis in 3 minutes is no small feat! Congratulations to the winners of MARCS #3MT competition: 🏆 Shivaram Mani (Winner) & 🏅 Almudena Ramírez Haro (Runner-up & People's Choice)! #HDR #ResearchImpact #Neuromorphic #Neuroscience
- 🌏 Meet Almudena Ramírez Haro, MARCS PhD candidate whose dedication led her to pursue her research dream across continents. Almudena actively participates in committees, building relationships and raising awareness on key #academic issues. ✨ Read more: tinyurl.com/2ej5rt2u
- Join us as we celebrate MARCS’ diverse talents! Meet Dr Karen Hutchings, Senior Research Development Officer, who guides & supports researchers through every #funding application. Read more about Dr Hutchings’ views on the #evolving #research landscape: tinyurl.com/5n6tzrmm
- How will #MusicScience impact society in the next decade? Prof Roger Dean shares his views on the future of music research (Watch video: tinyurl.com/2e2hw8vy) ✨ Read more about Prof Dean’s outstanding 50-year research journey: tinyurl.com/jcfuv7y2 #interdisciplinaryreserach
- Think you’ve decided what to buy? Actually, your brain is still deciding – even as you put it in your basket theconversation.com/think-youve-... | @tgro.bsky.social
- Apply for MARCS Anne Cutler International Visiting Fellowship 2025 today! Applications close 21 Jun, AEST. Know someone suitable? Share this post! #Linguistics #Language #Psychology #Academics #Research @cbchang.bsky.social | ✨ More info: tinyurl.com/4xx8y788
