Taatgen, Prof. Niels
Niels Taatgen studied computer science and psychology at the University of Groningen and gained his PhD in 1999 with a thesis entitled ‘Learning without limits’. He subsequently became a university lecturer in the department of Cognitive Sciences, later Artificial Intelligence, of the University of Groningen. After a period in which he worked for both the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh (US) and the University of Groningen, he became professor of Cognitive Modelling at the University of Groningen. Taatgen investigates human behaviour in certain situations, for example when multitasking. According to him, we are much better at multitasking than we think.
In 2011 he was awarded an European ERC grant of EUR 1.5 million for his research. His starting point was that people are fundamentally able to multitask, but that this sometimes goes wrong due to several tasks needing the same part of the brain at the same time. The project concentrated in particular on the issue of why people want to do many things at the same time, and what circumstances control whether this is safe and productive or not.
Taatgen was voted Teacher of the Year of the University of Groningen in 2016, for his unique and enthusiastic teaching methods. He teaches topics in which he is actively involved himself, and this is apparent from his expertise and enthusiasm.
Video
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Taatgen in 'Breingeheim' (programme on multitasking, Omroep Max)
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| Last modified: | 07 February 2024 2.19 p.m. |