Internationally renowned U-M psychologist David E. Meyer, who has enhanced understanding of human cognition and action, will give the Henry Russel Lecture Feb. 22.

The Russel Lecture is one of the university’s highest honors for a senior member of its active faculty. Meyer’s talk is titled “Toward The Biggest Idea of Them All: 50 Years of Advances in Mathematical Psychology and Cognitive Science.”

The program and lecture is at 4:30 p.m. in Rackham Amphitheatre. It is followed by a public reception from 5:30-6 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Meyer is the Clyde H. Coombs and J. E. Keith Smith Distinguished University Professor of Mathematical Psychology and Cognitive Science, LSA. He directs the university’s Brain, Cognition and Action Laboratory.

His advances stem from pioneering mathematical models, computational theories, and laboratory experiments that span the boundaries of psychology, mathematics, linguistics and computer science.

A productive scholar, researcher and teacher during more than four decades, he has inspired legions of students to pursue psychology and mentored dozens of the nation’s top cognitive scientists.

Meyer says his main goal for the Russel Lecture is to honor Henry Russel and the values he fostered. The lecture will focus on the nature of fundamental ideas and what the ultimate work of the university’s faculty members should be.

“It’s especially meaningful for me to have this opportunity after being part of the Michigan academic community as both a doctoral student and professor during the past several decades,” Meyer says.

His groundbreaking scientific contributions have boosted understanding of the functional organization of human memory whereby people process semantically related words. Meyer also has conducted seminal investigations into the dynamics of human information processing in other mental and physical tasks.

Results from Meyer’s work have been reported in more than 100 conference presentations and scores of published articles cited by other scholars on the order of 20,000 times. His research, sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health, National Science Foundation and U.S. Office of Naval Research, has been featured on the ABC Evening News, CNN, National Public Radio, and in numerous newspapers, magazines and media outlets.

Meyer has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science, respectively, have awarded him their Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award and William James Fellow Award for Lifetime Achievements in Basic Research. LSA has honored Meyer with its Excellence in Education Award.

Meyer has provided extensive local and international service. His administrative roles have included chairing the Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Area of U-M’s Department of Psychology, and participating on the department’s graduate and faculty-promotion committees.

Numerous scientific journals and federal agencies have enlisted Meyer’s consultation. He has served as well on the executive committee of the International Association for the Study of Attention and Performance. In 2009, he co-organized Mind and Life XVIII: Attention, Memory and The Mind, a scientific conference with His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama.

Also on Feb. 22, four faculty members will receive the Henry Russel Award, one of the highest honors the university bestows upon junior faculty. They are:

• Julia Adler-Milstein, assistant professor of information, School of Information; and assistant professor of health management and policy, School of Public Health.

• Jeremy N. Bassis, associate professor of climate and space sciences and engineering, College of Engineering; and assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences, LSA.

• Clare H. Croft, assistant professor of dance, School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

• Christopher R. Friese, assistant professor of nursing and assistant research scientist, School of Nursing.

The honorees are selected for recommendation by the Russel Awards Faculty Advisory Committee. It is chaired by Carol A. Fierke, dean of the Rackham Graduate School.

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