Dr. Leda Berio is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Ruhr University Bochum and a philosopher and cognitive scientist whose work examines how cultural norms and the language we use to describe and negotiate them shape human thought. Her research integrates perspectives from social cognition, norm psychology, and the philosophy of technology to explore the cognitive impact of the norms and narratives that structure our social world.
She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Philosophy from the University of Milan and her Ph.D. in Philosophy from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. Dr. Berio is also an external collaborator on the UKRI project The Communicative Mind at the University of Warwick.
FFP 2025 Project
During her time as a Future Fellow, Dr. Leda Berio will explore how the language we use and the technologies we design can either encourage or hold back changes in the social norms that shape our lives. Combining perspectives from philosophy and cognitive science, she will study the ways these innovations influence how we think, learn, and adopt new ways of living together.
The first part of the project will be hosted in the United States at Boston University, where Assistant Prof. Samia Hesni will welcome Dr. Berio to collaborate on research into how language changes can lead to changes in norms. Drawing on examples such as “mansplaining,” “manspreading,” and terms from feminist discourse, she will investigate how introducing new words can shift perceptions and help people embrace new ideas.
The second part will be hosted at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where Prof. Alexander Madva will work with Dr. Berio on exploring how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies can either reinforce old norms, such as through biased algorithms, or help create more inclusive ones through tools like technology-based education.