UConn Center for the Ecological Study of Perception and Action (CESPA) 406 Babbidge Road, Mansfield, CT 06269

The UConn Center for the Ecological Study of Perception and Action (CESPA) located at 406 Babbidge Road in Mansfield, Connecticut, is a leading institution that offers unparalleled integration of research across specialties. With a team of 10 faculty members and associated fellows specializing in various fields such as optics, acoustics, haptics, movement, physical therapy, nonlinear dynamics, development, social psychology, ethology, and language, CESPA provides a breadth of training in ecological psychology that is unmatched anywhere else.

The institution follows the ecological approach to perception and action, inspired by the work of James J. Gibson, viewing psychology as continuous with the natural sciences. Through exposing the laws that underlie perception and action capabilities, CESPA aims to identify general principles at the ecological scale within an interdisciplinary framework.

For over 30 years, students at the University of Connecticut have received training from leading proponents of ecological psychology, many of whom are now at the forefront of ecological science at major universities and research facilities worldwide. The program at UConn has produced graduates who have made significant contributions to the field and continue to advance research in ecological psychology.

CESPA also offers financial support to students through the Rod Swenson Graduate Fellowship Fund, which aims to support graduate students pursuing research on the thermodynamically driven self-organization of living systems. Additionally, the institution hosts thematic workshops, working dinners, and special conferences to foster a rich social-intellectual environment for faculty, students, and visiting scholars.

Overall, CESPA is a hub for cutting-edge research in ecological psychology, providing a platform for collaboration, innovation, and advancement in the field.