Martin L. Block

Specialization: Animal Behavior

Studies undertaken are guided by an inquiry into how biological and cognitive variables influence the content and the degree of animal and human awareness. One ongoing comparative research program seeks to identify the roles of sensory cues, cognitive factors and species-characteristic motivational variables that regulate the exploratory behaviors of mammalian species living in captivity at zoological parks.

Another study combines conditioning and hypnosis procedures to alter a human subject's awareness of various sensory stimuli (e.g. odors) in order to examine how variables such as brain asymmetries (e.g differences in left-right hemispheric functions), expectations and subconscious processes influence our perception of the world.

Perrin S. Cohen

Specialization: Ethics, Learning and Motivation

Dr. Cohen's scholarly work focuses on research and clinical ethics in science education. As director of NUCASE, he helps science students to reflect upon research and problem-solve ethical concerns they encounter in classroom, lab, clinic and other contexts.