NEWS ARCHIVE

How can large language models support older adults through conversational assistants? Luka Prpić explores this important question in his master’s thesis defense.

Candidate: Luka Prpić
Title: Application of Large Language Models for Developing a Chatbot Assistant for Older Adults: Technical and Psychological Aspects of Interaction
📍 Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER), Room A-111
📅 Thursday, November 27, 2025
🕙3:30 PM

Luka’s thesis offers a valuable perspective on the intersection of advanced AI technology and human‑centered design, contributing to both technical innovation and the psychology of digital interaction. 🌟

🗓️ 20 November 2025, 10:30 AM
📍 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FFZG), Room D-5
🔓 Open for all

Join us for an enlightening talk to unravel the mysteries of conspiracy theories!
❓What makes a “good” conspiracy theory?
❓Why are they attractive?
❓How do they develop?
❓How do we fight their socially detrimental consequences?
❓What does cognitive blending analysis reveal about them?

We are thrilled to invite you to a thought-provoking talk dealing with these issues and more. It will be held by Andreas Musolff, a renowned cognitive linguist, professor emeritus at the University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK).

His research interests focus on the study of public discourse, the pragmatics of figurative language and intercultural communication. His most recent book publications include the monographs Cognition and Conspiracy Theories (2025), National Conceptualisations of the Body Politic. Cultural Experience and Political Imagination (2021), and Political Metaphor Analysis: Discourse and Scenarios (2016), and the co-edited volumes, The Language of War: Lexicon, Metaphor, Discourse (Special Issue of LCM, 2025), Pandemic and Crisis Discourse. Communicating COVID-19 Public Health Strategy (2022) and Migration and Media. Discourses about Identities in Crisis (2019).

Everyone is welcome!

At this year's i-Days 2025 innovation challenge, CogSci students demonstrated creativity, empathy, and interdisciplinary collaboration across two impressive teams and made us proud!

🥇 1st Place Team Rebecca Milosavljević and Lara Puhovski joined forces with students of medicine and mathematics to design an app that promotes social engagement and cognitive health among older adults. The app offers games and monthly challenges tailored to retirees, supporting memory, orientation, motor skills, and vocabulary—while addressing emotional aspects of aging.

🏅 4th Place Team Luka Valjin competed in a team from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry. Their app, HealthLink, aims to integrate foreign workers into Croatia’s healthcare system through AI-powered translation tools and automatic assignment of general practitioners.

Congratulations to all our students for their courage, innovation, and outstanding achievements!

Two master’s candidates will soon defend their theses, each delving into distinct yet equally thought-provoking terrain. One investigates how professionals perceive and engage with neurodivergent individuals, while the other traces the concept of infinity across mathematics, language, and philosophy. These presentations reflect the Center’s commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry and critical reflection. We warmly invite all who are curious to attend.

Candidate: Laura Molan
Title: Professional Perceptions of Neurodivergence: Attitudes Among Practitioners Working with Neurodivergent Individuals
📍 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FFZG), Room A-105
📅 Tuesday, September 30, 2025
🕙10:30 AM
Shedding light on how practitioners interpret and respond to neurodivergence in professional settings. 🌟

Candidate: Ivana Žeger
Title: The Concept of Infinity Across Mathematics, Linguistics, and Philosophy
📍 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FFZG), Room A-105
📅 Tuesday, September 30, 2025
🕙12:00 AM
Tracing the evolution of infinity as a concept across logic, language, and metaphysical thought. 🌟

What fears and perceptions shape our willingness to share data from smartwatches? Mirela Ivoš explores this timely question in her master’s thesis defense.

Candidate: Mirela Ivoš
Title: Challenges of Sharing Data from Smartwatches: Perception, Fear, and Functionality
📍 Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER), Library ZESOI Room D-115
📅 Tuesday, September 23, 2025
🕙3:00 PM
Mirela’s thesis offers a thoughtful look into the intersection of technology, privacy, and user experience: a valuable contribution to the evolving field of digital trust. 🌟

Join us as four graduate candidates present their master’s theses, each offering a unique perspective on the mind—from the depths of consciousness to the frontiers of space and artificial intelligence. Each defense contributes to the vibrant interdisciplinary dialogue at the Center. All are welcome!

Candidate: Kristina Vrdoljak
Title: Finding the Self: Bridging Cognitive and Social Perspectives
📍 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FFZG), Room A-313
📅 Tuesday, September 16, 2025
🕙09:30 AM
Exploring how cognitive and social sciences intersect in shaping our sense of self. 🌟

Candidate: Marko Bartolec
Title: Analytic Idealism and The Problem of Consciousness
📍 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FFZG), Room A-313
📅 Tuesday, September 16, 2025
🕙11:00 AM
A philosophical investigation into the nature of consciousness through the lens of analytic idealism. 🌟

Candidate: Ivan Čulo
Title: Digital Shadows of Mental States: Exploring the Behaviour of Large Language Models with Representation Engineering
📍 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FFZG), Room A-313
📅 Tuesday, September 16, 2025
🕙15:00 AM
Bridging cognitive science and AI to examine how language models reflect mental states. 🌟

Candidate: Josip Mirković
Title: From Earth to Space and Back: A 4E Cognitive Framework for Astronaut Adaptation
📍 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FFZG), Room A-313
📅 Tuesday, September 15, 2025
🕙11:00 AM
Applying embodied, embedded, enactive, and extended cognition to the challenges of space travel. 🌟

How can we measure the reliability of democratic systems? Grga Horvatin tackles this question in his master’s thesis defense.

Candidate: Grga Horvatin
Title: Assessing Democratic Reliability: A Framework for Decision-Making
📍 Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER), Room A-109
📅 Tuesday, July 22, 2025
🕙11:00 AM

Grga's defense thesis is a compelling contribution to our growing research landscape. 🌟

Another exciting defense is just around the corner at our Applied Cognitive Science program!

Candidate: Nika Marković
Title: Artificial Intelligence in Human Resources Management (Umjetna inteligencija u upravljanju ljudskim potencijalima) 💼
📍 Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER), Room D-303
📅 Monday, July 14, 2025
🕙12:30 PM

Nika's upcoming defense showcases the growing strength and diversity of research within our program. Congratulations on this great achievement! 🌟

We are delighted to announce the first master's thesis defense at our study program!

Candidate: Tanja Manabe
Title: Cognitive Load in Navigating Information-Rich Physical Environments: Example of Japanese Train Stations 🇯🇵🚝
📍 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Room A123
📅 Friday, June 13, 2025
🕙10:00 AM

This defense marks a significant milestone in our program — congratulations to Tanja on defending her thesis and paving the way for future graduates! ✨

We are bursting with pride as our students took the stage at NooJ 2025 in Paris, showcasing groundbreaking research in language processing and emotion analysis!

A huge congratulations to
1. Dijana Milek (Unveiling the Language of Joy: A Computational Analysis of Happy Moment Expressions in NooJ),
2. Ivana Ujević (Emotion Recognition in Text),
3. Ivana Žeger (NooJing for Hope: A Linguistic Approach to Hope Speech Detection).

Their work is not only innovative but also inspiring, demonstrating the power of language, cognition, and technology to shape a better understanding of the world around us.
✨ Bravo to our brilliant researchers — your dedication and creativity light up the field of cognitive science, and we couldn’t be prouder!

The inspiring fourth episode of the podcast People Who Make a Difference features Prof. Renata Geld, founder and co-head of the Applied Cognitive Science program and head of the Center for Cognitive Science at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb.

Throughout the episode, Prof. Geld shared her insights about the newly launched Applied Cognitive Science program, discussing how the program approaches student collaboration, fosters critical thinking, and prepares future generations to explore the complexities of the human mind. The discussion offers valuable insights and thought-provoking ideas about the evolving field of cognitive science. Watch the full episode and explore this facinating topic!

We are thrilled to announce that our Center's project on human-centered AI design has been selected for the prestigious Fulbright Specialist Program. This esteemed initiative fosters international collaboration by connecting experts across the globe!

We are honored to welcome Dr. Karen Ivy, Assistant Dean at the University of Arizona Global Campus, as she joins forces with the University of Zagreb in Croatia. Dr. Ivy's work will focus on groundbreaking interdisciplinary AI research, examining the ethical and social implications of AI, and driving global innovation in Computer Science and Information Technology.

This collaboration marks a significant step towards shaping the future of AI through meaningful partnerships and knowledge exchange.
Together, let's drive AI innovation to new heights!✨