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2026 Summer School: The Power of Aesthetics
Overview
The SISU-LMU-VDW 2026 Summer School, “The Power of Aesthetics,” will be held from August 22 to 30, 2026 at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), Shanghai. The program is an international and interdisciplinary Summer School for students, postdocs, young scholars, and faculty members interested in aesthetics, neuroaesthetics, cognition, creativity, and the broader role of aesthetic experience in human life.
The 2026 Summer School continues the theme “The Power of Aesthetics” and will be held for the third time in Shanghai. Taking neuroaesthetics as a central point of departure, the program brings together perspectives from brain science, psychology, image studies, art history, philosophy, linguistics, architecture, leadership studies, and related fields.
Through lectures, academic discussions, student presentations, and group work with faculty, participants will be invited to explore how aesthetic experience shapes human cognition, creativity, cultural understanding, and interdisciplinary research. The Summer School is designed as an intensive in-person academic environment that encourages exchange between international and Chinese participants from diverse disciplinary backgrounds.
Organizers
The Summer School is organized by:
- Neurocognitive Image Laboratory (NIL) and World Arthistory Institute (WAI), Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), Shanghai, China
- Institute of Medical Psychology (IMP), Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), Munich, Germany
- Federation of German Scientists (VDW, Vereinigung Deutscher Wissenschaftler), Berlin, Germany
Faculty and Lectures
The Summer School will feature lectures and discussions with invited faculty members from neuroscience, psychology, empirical aesthetics, art history, philosophy, linguistics, architecture, leadership studies, and related fields.
Preliminary Schedule
The program will include arrival and registration, orientation, lectures, academic discussions, student presentations, group work with faculty, group presentations, and departure.
The schedule may be adjusted by the organizers if necessary.
Who Should Apply
The Summer School welcomes applications from students and early-career researchers affiliated with academic institutions worldwide, including:
- Undergraduate students
- Graduate students
- Doctoral students
- Postdoctoral researchers
- Young scholars
Applicants from different countries, disciplines, and academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Participants are expected to attend the full in-person program, actively engage in discussions, and complete the required academic writing or research tasks after the Summer School.
In principle, applicants should be under the age of 40.
Application
Applicants should submit the following materials in English:
- A short motivation letter
- A short CV
Please send the application materials to nil@shisu.edu.cn, and cc baoyan@pku.edu.cn and Ernst.Poeppel@med.uni-muenchen.de.
Application deadline: June 30, 2026, 24:00.
Selection
The organizers will review applications in consultation with the invited faculty. Selection will be based on academic achievements, disciplinary relevance, potential contribution to the Summer School discussions, and the diversity of participants’ academic and cultural backgrounds.
If necessary, shortlisted applicants may be invited for an interview. Interview arrangements will be communicated by email.
Fees and Support
No tuition fees.
Accommodation and meals during the Summer School will be provided by the organizers.
Certificate
Participants may receive a certificate of attendance from the Institute of Medical Psychology (IMP), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Germany.