IIT-Mandi Hosts International Conference on Behavioural Science and Decision-Making
Overview of the Conference
Munish Sood
MANDI:
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Mandi recently organized the Applied Behavioural Sciences and Decision-Making Conference (ABSDM-2025), which attracted prominent researchers, academics, and professionals from both India and abroad. The focus was on the latest developments in behavioural science, cognitive modelling, and decision-making.
Interdisciplinary Discussions
The two-day event served as a vital interdisciplinary forum to explore the intersection of human behaviour, cognition, and technology in decision-making processes. Participants engaged in discussions about the increasing importance of behavioural insights in tackling complex issues like climate change, public policy development, and the ethical use of new technologies.
Organizers and Keynote Address
Prof Varun Dutt from IIT-Mandi and Prof Sumitava Mukherjee from IIT-Delhi co-organized the conference, with backing from the TATA Trust Project led by Prof KV Uday. The event emphasized the practical applications of behavioural science research, moving beyond theoretical discussions to focus on actionable solutions and policy implications.
The conference was inaugurated by Prof Laxmidhar Behera, Director of IIT-Mandi, who stressed the significance of behavioural and decision-making research in shaping future advancements in artificial intelligence, educational frameworks, and sustainable development. He called for a human-centered approach in technological and policy initiatives.
Insights from Keynote Speaker
A standout moment of the conference was the keynote address delivered by Prof Joachim Meyer, the Celia and Marcos Maus Professor of Data Sciences at Tel Aviv University. He discussed the dynamics between humans and decision-support algorithms in critical fields such as healthcare, defense, and transportation. His insights, based on empirical models, highlighted ways to enhance trust, transparency, and effectiveness in algorithm-driven decision-making.
Additional Remarks and Thematic Sessions
The inaugural session also included comments from Prof Arnav Bhavsar, Chair of the Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health Applications (IKSMHA) Centre; Prof Shubhajit Roy Chowdhury, Chair of the Centre for Human-Computer Interaction; and Prof KV Uday, Chair of the Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management at IIT Mandi.
ABSDM-2025 featured thematic discussions on various topics, including behavioural interventions for environmental sustainability, cognitive biases, human-AI interaction, and organizational behaviour. Over 30 research papers and poster presentations showcased the breadth of applied behavioural science research. Interactive roundtable discussions and open sessions examined how behavioural research can influence public policy, climate initiatives, and technology design.
Conclusion and Future Initiatives
The conference wrapped up with a general body meeting where attendees discussed the establishment of a Society for Applied Behavioural Science and Decision Making, aimed at enhancing research collaboration, education, outreach, and planning for future conferences.
In addition, IIT-Mandi hosted the 7th Winter School on Cognitive Modelling (WSCM 2025) under the IKSMHA Centre, supported by grants from the TATA Trusts and the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Division of the Ministry of Education. This winter school gathered experts and students from psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and engineering to delve into recent advancements in cognitive modelling and brain sciences.