David Colaço
@davidcolaco.bsky.social
Philosopher of science/neuroscience/cog science. DFG Postdoc at LMU Munich, MCMP. I make pizza. He/Him
https://sites.google.com/site/colacodavidj/
https://sites.google.com/site/colacodavidj/
The minimal cognition workshop begins now:
November 26, 2025 at 8:31 AM
The minimal cognition workshop begins now:
Reposted by David Colaço
Did you know that the Philosophy of Memory community will be hosting an event this summer? Today at The Memory Palace, Sarah Robins will be sharing information about the Issues in Philosophy of Memory 5 event. Also, check out our latest translations!
thememorypalacephil.substack.com/p/issues-in-...
thememorypalacephil.substack.com/p/issues-in-...
Issues in Philosophy of Memory 5
Sarah Robins (Purdue University)
thememorypalacephil.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Did you know that the Philosophy of Memory community will be hosting an event this summer? Today at The Memory Palace, Sarah Robins will be sharing information about the Issues in Philosophy of Memory 5 event. Also, check out our latest translations!
thememorypalacephil.substack.com/p/issues-in-...
thememorypalacephil.substack.com/p/issues-in-...
Reposted by David Colaço
Deadline for paper or session proposals has been extended to 15 December 2025 for Society for Philosophy of Science in Practice (SPSP) Conference 15–17 July 2026 at
Department of History & Philosophy of Science
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
spsp2026.philosophy-science-practice.org/openconf
Department of History & Philosophy of Science
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
spsp2026.philosophy-science-practice.org/openconf
SPSP 2026 - OpenConf Abstract Submission, Peer Review, and Event Management System
spsp2026.philosophy-science-practice.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Deadline for paper or session proposals has been extended to 15 December 2025 for Society for Philosophy of Science in Practice (SPSP) Conference 15–17 July 2026 at
Department of History & Philosophy of Science
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
spsp2026.philosophy-science-practice.org/openconf
Department of History & Philosophy of Science
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
spsp2026.philosophy-science-practice.org/openconf
Yesterday, I had a good time being interviewed by the students in @sarahrobins.bsky.social course at Purdue. They read my immune memory article and posed questions to me. We also discussed the Matrix, allergies, and why conceptualization matters for science.
November 20, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Yesterday, I had a good time being interviewed by the students in @sarahrobins.bsky.social course at Purdue. They read my immune memory article and posed questions to me. We also discussed the Matrix, allergies, and why conceptualization matters for science.
Reposted by David Colaço
The call for applications for 2026 European Advanced School in Philosophy of Life Sciences is now open! Deadline 15 Jan 2026, theme will be “philosophy of biology for a healthy planet”, all info here: www.kli.ac.at/en/events/ev... graduate students &early postdocs, do consider joining us! #philsci
Events | Event Calendar | Discover The KLI
The Konrad Lorenz Institute provides a stimulating and creative environment for fellows, visiting scholars, students, and external faculty.
www.kli.ac.at
November 20, 2025 at 8:46 AM
The call for applications for 2026 European Advanced School in Philosophy of Life Sciences is now open! Deadline 15 Jan 2026, theme will be “philosophy of biology for a healthy planet”, all info here: www.kli.ac.at/en/events/ev... graduate students &early postdocs, do consider joining us! #philsci
More (in German) about our work on metabolism and cognition, this time from the LMU
@lmu-mcmp.bsky.social
@lmu-mcmp.bsky.social
For German speakers, LMU just posted a press release on our BBS target article „Metabolic considerations for cognitive modeling“
www.lmu.de/de/newsroom/...
#cogsky #neuroskyence #philsky #philsci
www.lmu.de/de/newsroom/...
#cogsky #neuroskyence #philsky #philsci
Bei Gehirnmodellen den Stoffwechsel mitdenken
MCMP-Studie: Kognitive Theorien sollten metabolische Grenzen berücksichtigen
www.lmu.de
November 19, 2025 at 7:14 PM
More (in German) about our work on metabolism and cognition, this time from the LMU
@lmu-mcmp.bsky.social
@lmu-mcmp.bsky.social
This summer, I will be one of the Keynotes at Issues in Philosophy of Memory 5. Consider submitting something.
Ready to start thinking about summer? ☀️
Issues in Philosophy of Memory 5 is headed to Purdue
June 10-12, 2026
Keynote lineup is 🔥🔥🔥. Come join us!
Call for papers is live. 750 word abstracts, on any philosophical topic related to memory. Submit by Dec 20th!
Issues in Philosophy of Memory 5 is headed to Purdue
June 10-12, 2026
Keynote lineup is 🔥🔥🔥. Come join us!
Call for papers is live. 750 word abstracts, on any philosophical topic related to memory. Submit by Dec 20th!
November 19, 2025 at 6:39 PM
This summer, I will be one of the Keynotes at Issues in Philosophy of Memory 5. Consider submitting something.
Reposted by David Colaço
Very exciting news to share! Me and @davidcolaco.bsky.social published a target article in BBs on metabolism and cognition! We argue that models of cognition should incorporate metabolism - either to evaluate if existing models are biologically plausible, or to generate new models (1/3)
November 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Very exciting news to share! Me and @davidcolaco.bsky.social published a target article in BBs on metabolism and cognition! We argue that models of cognition should incorporate metabolism - either to evaluate if existing models are biologically plausible, or to generate new models (1/3)
#philsci #cogsky #CognitiveNeuroscience
@phaueis.bsky.social and I have had our paper, “Metabolic considerations for cognitive modeling,” accepted as a target article in Behavioral and Brain Sciences.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
@phaueis.bsky.social and I have had our paper, “Metabolic considerations for cognitive modeling,” accepted as a target article in Behavioral and Brain Sciences.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Metabolic considerations for cognitive modeling | Behavioral and Brain Sciences | Cambridge Core
Metabolic considerations for cognitive modeling
www.cambridge.org
November 18, 2025 at 11:58 AM
#philsci #cogsky #CognitiveNeuroscience
@phaueis.bsky.social and I have had our paper, “Metabolic considerations for cognitive modeling,” accepted as a target article in Behavioral and Brain Sciences.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
@phaueis.bsky.social and I have had our paper, “Metabolic considerations for cognitive modeling,” accepted as a target article in Behavioral and Brain Sciences.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Next week is the Workshop on Minimal Cognition at the University of Valencia.
November 18, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Next week is the Workshop on Minimal Cognition at the University of Valencia.
On November 26th and 27th, I will speak at a Workshop on Minimal Cognition at the University of Valencia.
I will give a talk on "The role of uncertainty in debates about cognition"
Follow the link for more details:
I will give a talk on "The role of uncertainty in debates about cognition"
Follow the link for more details:
Workshop on Minimal Cognition (2025-11-26)
The Minimal Cognition conference brings together philosophers, cognitive scientists, theoretical biologists, and other scholars working at the intersection of the life and cognitive sciences. Its obje...
vlclab.blogs.uv.es
November 4, 2025 at 9:51 AM
On November 26th and 27th, I will speak at a Workshop on Minimal Cognition at the University of Valencia.
I will give a talk on "The role of uncertainty in debates about cognition"
Follow the link for more details:
I will give a talk on "The role of uncertainty in debates about cognition"
Follow the link for more details:
I will be speaking at TU Berlin's "Relating explanatory paradigms in cognitive neuroscience" this February:
October 29, 2025 at 9:44 AM
I will be speaking at TU Berlin's "Relating explanatory paradigms in cognitive neuroscience" this February:
My article "When Engrams Become Exograms: Organic Data Memory and Biological Memory Extension" is now available open access from Review of Philosophy and Psychology.
This is part of a special issue on "Memory and Technology: 4E Perspectives"
This is part of a special issue on "Memory and Technology: 4E Perspectives"
When Engrams Become Exograms: Organic Data Memory and Biological Memory Extension - Review of Philosophy and Psychology
The advent of novel technologies has bolstered the idea of extended memory, where memory processes extend beyond the human body or brain. However, investigations of extended memory, and extended cogni...
link.springer.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:58 AM
My article "When Engrams Become Exograms: Organic Data Memory and Biological Memory Extension" is now available open access from Review of Philosophy and Psychology.
This is part of a special issue on "Memory and Technology: 4E Perspectives"
This is part of a special issue on "Memory and Technology: 4E Perspectives"
In Hannover for my talk on conceptual conflict
October 21, 2025 at 1:14 PM
In Hannover for my talk on conceptual conflict
Assessing cases of cell cognition continues to be a part of my work, and I will likely incorporate this one into talk I will give at a workshop in a month (details to come shortly). In the meantime, check out this article:
My latest column for @chemistryworld.com looks at a wonderful recent paper showing how condensates in cells can act as integrators of contextual information.
www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/the-...
www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/the-...
The molecular mechanisms behind cell cognition
Condensate formation is central to how budding yeast cells decide their response to environmental and internal conditions
www.chemistryworld.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Assessing cases of cell cognition continues to be a part of my work, and I will likely incorporate this one into talk I will give at a workshop in a month (details to come shortly). In the meantime, check out this article:
Reposted by David Colaço
What does it mean that memory is epistemically blurry? Today at the Memory Palace, Uljana Feest discusses this important question and gives us a preview of her book "Operationism in Psychology. An Epistemology of Exploration".
open.substack.com/pub/thememor...
open.substack.com/pub/thememor...
Memory as an Epistemically Blurry Object of Research
Uljana Feest (Leibniz Universität Hannover)
open.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:45 PM
What does it mean that memory is epistemically blurry? Today at the Memory Palace, Uljana Feest discusses this important question and gives us a preview of her book "Operationism in Psychology. An Epistemology of Exploration".
open.substack.com/pub/thememor...
open.substack.com/pub/thememor...
On November 11th, I will be a speaker in TUM's Frontier in Philosophy Colloquium, talking more on Conceptual Conflict. Check out this link for details on attendance:
Frontier in Philosophy Colloquium WiSe 25/26 – A Philosophy of Open Science for Diverse Research Environments
opensciencestudies.eu
October 8, 2025 at 12:18 PM
On November 11th, I will be a speaker in TUM's Frontier in Philosophy Colloquium, talking more on Conceptual Conflict. Check out this link for details on attendance:
I am collecting articles that needle conventions about heredity (it ties to my work on memory). "Paternal exercise confers endurance capacity to offspring through sperm microRNAs," is an example, about which I have things to say. Any thoughts?
www.cell.com/cell-metabol...
www.cell.com/cell-metabol...
Paternal exercise confers endurance capacity to offspring through sperm microRNAs
Yin et al. show that paternal exercise improves offspring endurance capacity and metabolic
health via sperm microRNAs that reprogram gene expression in early embryos, revealing
how exercise benefits c...
www.cell.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:41 AM
I am collecting articles that needle conventions about heredity (it ties to my work on memory). "Paternal exercise confers endurance capacity to offspring through sperm microRNAs," is an example, about which I have things to say. Any thoughts?
www.cell.com/cell-metabol...
www.cell.com/cell-metabol...
This October, I will be a speaker in the Colloquium Philosophie und Wissenschaftsreflexion at Leibniz University Hannover. I will talk on "Generative conceptual conflict in science"
Follow the link for details:
Follow the link for details:
Colloquium Philosophie und Wissenschaftsreflexion Winter Semester 2025/26
The Institute's philosophy of science-focused colloquium is back for the new semester!
www.philos.uni-hannover.de
September 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
This October, I will be a speaker in the Colloquium Philosophie und Wissenschaftsreflexion at Leibniz University Hannover. I will talk on "Generative conceptual conflict in science"
Follow the link for details:
Follow the link for details:
This article serves as another reminder that debating how we define cognitive kind terms is pretty darn critical for gaining purchase on a lot of other debates in cog sci, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence:
Defining Cognition Matters for Understanding Consciousness
Cognition lacks a standard definition. A clearer understanding of it and its evolution in animals is key to unlocking the mystery of consciousness, with implications for AI.
www.psychologytoday.com
September 25, 2025 at 12:50 PM
This article serves as another reminder that debating how we define cognitive kind terms is pretty darn critical for gaining purchase on a lot of other debates in cog sci, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence:
Another piece by the Quanta author (below), who apparently was/is also a member of YACHT, on memory transfer and the worms.
This is the science that I detail and analyze in my book project.
This is the science that I detail and analyze in my book project.
Eating the Engram
A brief history of memory — in cells, worms, and beyond the brain.
clairelevans.substack.com
August 3, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Another piece by the Quanta author (below), who apparently was/is also a member of YACHT, on memory transfer and the worms.
This is the science that I detail and analyze in my book project.
This is the science that I detail and analyze in my book project.
Recent article on memory in unconventional systems:
What Can a Cell Remember? | Quanta Magazine
A small but enthusiastic group of neuroscientists is exhuming overlooked experiments and performing new ones to explore whether cells record past experiences — fundamentally challenging what memory is...
www.quantamagazine.org
July 31, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Recent article on memory in unconventional systems:
Couldn't make it to ISH this year; it should be good. If anyone wants info on interesting fashion brands coming out of Porto right now, let me know
July 21, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Couldn't make it to ISH this year; it should be good. If anyone wants info on interesting fashion brands coming out of Porto right now, let me know
Reposted by David Colaço
This year's BSPS at the University of Glasgow was grand. I had a wonderful time with Jordan Theriault; @davidcolaco.bsky.social; @phaueis.bsky.social; and Patrick McGivern at our symposium (serious Phil of sci pic). @martahalina.bsky.social was missed by all. Up next - the ISH in Porto.
July 19, 2025 at 4:40 PM
This year's BSPS at the University of Glasgow was grand. I had a wonderful time with Jordan Theriault; @davidcolaco.bsky.social; @phaueis.bsky.social; and Patrick McGivern at our symposium (serious Phil of sci pic). @martahalina.bsky.social was missed by all. Up next - the ISH in Porto.
Reposted by David Colaço
Had a great session on the relation between metabolism and cognition at BSPS Glasgow, organized by @davidcolaco.bsky.social . We presented joint work on using metabolism to constrain and generate cognitive models (1/2)
July 16, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Had a great session on the relation between metabolism and cognition at BSPS Glasgow, organized by @davidcolaco.bsky.social . We presented joint work on using metabolism to constrain and generate cognitive models (1/2)