Laura H. Carnell Professor of Psychology Nora Newcombe has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences for her research in cognitive development and spatial cognition.
Her research specifically centers around understanding how people perceive, interpret and retain spatial information. Areas of focus include spatial development in kids; differences in spatial abilities between sexes; the relationship between spatial skills and STEM learning; and how spatial memory is encoded, stored and retrieved.
The National Academy of Sciences is a prestigious nonprofit organization of distinguished scholars that advise U.S. leaders on science and technology. Inductees are nominated and elected by existing members. The academy currently has about 2,400 members in addition to 500 international members.
“I’m excited by my election for many reasons, but in part because Temple deserves the recognition it gets from having members, and active ones, as I plan to be,” said Newcombe.