We are pleased to announce that Angela D. Friederici—Director and Founding Director of the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS), Germany—has been elected an Academician of the World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (WAAC), in recognition of her foundational research on the neural bases of language processing and her cross-disciplinary impact.
Professor Friederici has long led the Department of Neuropsychology at MPI CBS, integrating behavioral methods, ERP/MEG, and fMRI/structural connectivity to systematically chart the human language network and its developmental trajectory. Drawing on extensive reviews and empirical studies, she has proposed that the language network comprises at least two dorsal and two ventral pathways: the dorsal pathways subserve auditory–motor mapping and complex syntax, while the ventral pathways support semantic processing and basic syntax—a framework that has become a core model in neurolinguistics. Developmental research further shows that the ventral pathways are present at birth and mature earlier, whereas the dorsal pathway to the inferior frontal gyrus, associated with complex syntax, matures later—providing a biological basis for language acquisition and informing educational interventions.
- Global Collaboration and Academic Ecosystem
The Academicians of WAAC come from universities and research institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of California, the French Academy of Sciences, the University of Padua, the University of Queensland, Columbia University, and the University of Exeter, among others. Honorary Academicians represent multiple countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Spain, and China. Additionally, leading scientists from renowned research institutions and technology companies—such as Google, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and Zeekr—are also involved.
- About WAAC
The World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (https://www.waac.ac/) is a global academic institution established in Paris in 2025. Its mission is to advance frontier research and international collaboration in artificial consciousness through the integration of science, technology, and philosophy. The Academy publishes open research, policy recommendations, evaluation standards, and more. The current President is Academician Yucong Duan, and the Secretary-General is Dr. Yingbo Li. The Honorary Academician List: On May 3, 2025, WAAC released its first batch of Top 100 Honorary Academicians, recognizing scholars who have made foundational or leading contributions to the theory of artificial consciousness.