MCLS 2026 Padova. Pre-conference events

The Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society (MCLS) was founded in 2013 to promote the communication of scientific research on mathematical cognition and learning, and advance the study of its typical and atypical development, neural substrates, genetic and environmental influences, cultural variation, and malleability. Since 2016, MCLS has organized an annual conference that aims to connect researchers from all around the globe to jointly advance research on mathematical cognition and learning. From 23 to 25 June 2026, MCLS will be hosted by the University of Padua.

Within this framework, we are pleased to offer three free pre-conference events, held in English.

fNIRS in Practice: A Workshop on Fundamentals and Multimodal Setup
June 22, 2026 
Speakers: Gianluigi Rubino & Mehran Emadi-Andani
(BRAIN PRODUCTS ITALIA SRL)
Participation is free, upon registration. Limited number of participants
Schedule and registration form
Organisers: Simone Cutini & Mariagrazia Ranzini

Better together: how to conduct multi-laboratory research
June 22, 2026 from 10:30 AM, CLA Building Room T2
Multilab studies are a powerful approach to address key limitations in psychological research, including small sample sizes, low statistical power, and limited reproducibility. In this workshop, we outline the rationale for when multilab designs are appropriate and provide practical guidance on how to plan, coordinate, and implement them. Attendees will be equipped with practical tools and a critical understanding of multilab methodology in contemporary psychological science.
Speakers: Massimo Grassi (DPG - University of Padua), Filippo Gambarota (DPSS - University of Padua)
Organisers:Rosa Rugani, Sara Caviola, Mariagrazia Ranzini, Marco Zorzi

Discussion Meeting
Bridging Numbers: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
June 22, 2026 3:30 PSICO 3 Via Venezia 14PM
This discussion meeting brings together researchers from different disciplines to explore numerical cognition through complementary perspectives. We will discuss computational models of number processing, comparative studies of numerical abilities across species, and psychophysical approaches to understanding our number sense. An open dialogue bridging neuroscience, psychology, mathematics, and cognitive science.
Speakers:
Prof. David Burr - University of Florence - Psychophysical evidence for the number sense
Prof. Giorgio Vallortigara - University of Trento - The Neurobiology of the Number Sense
Prof. Marco Zorzi - University of Padova - Computational foundations of number sense: From unsupervised learning to multimodal AI
Discussant:
Prof. Brian Butterworth - University College London
Organisers: Rosa Rugani, Sara Caviola, Mariagrazia Ranzini, Marco Zorzi

Read more: https://www.the-mcls.org/conferences/mcls-2026-padua/pre-conference-events