NOWCAM 2026 will be hosted on the

University of British Columbia campus

May 12-14, 2026

About North West Cognition and Memory (NOWCAM)

The Pacific Northwest is home to numerous Psychology departments with strengths in cognition and memory. The aim of the NOWCAM conference is to support Pacific Northwest faculty and student researchers working in the general area of memory and cognition by creating an annual venue in which they can share their current research activities with an informed, sympathetic, and good-humoured group of fellow explorers. Inclusive, kind, and intellectually stimulating.  Interactions with other researchers can spark innovations and cross-fertilizations that move the research forward in new and exciting ways. In any case, it’s good fun to get together with friends and colleagues who share similar interests, chew the cognitive rag a bit, and quaff a beverage or two over a good meal.

With the exception of a keynote address, NOWCAM papers and posters are presented by undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows (usually with faculty as co-authors). This gives students an opportunity to develop their chops, and faculty a chance to sit back and relax.

This year, we are delighted to welcome Sharda Umanath, Claremont McKenna College and John McDonald, Simon Fraser University as our Keynote speakers. NOWCAM 2026 will take place on the University of British Columbia Vancouver campus. We are also delighted to invite the WiCSC+ Trainee Working Board for a panel discussion on academia (e.g., applying for funding). 

Credits 

NOWCAM 2026 is grateful for financial support from University of British Columbia – Vancouver (Psychology and DMCBH), Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and BIOPAC.

UBC Organizing Team: Daniela Palombo, Hee Yeon Im, Joan Ongchoco, Todd Woodward, and Veronica Dudarev. 

Undergraduate Student Organizers: Katie Chan, Kim Marty
Graduate Student Organizer: Chantelle Cocquyt 

The organizing team is grateful for support from Ryan Fitzgerald of SFU, the Grand Poo-bah Mother Hen of NOWCAM, and the Exalted Order of 7 +/- 2 consisting of Deb Connolly (SFU), Daniel Bernstein (KPU),  Ira Hyman (WWU), Carla MacLean (KPU), Daniela Palombo (UBC), Heather Price (TRU), Tarek Amer (UVic), Jordana Wynn (UVic) and Adele Quigley-McBride (SFU). We are also incredibly grateful to D. Stephen Lindsay (former the Grand Poo-bah Mother Hen) for continuing to support NOWCAM. 

For more information about NOWCAM, visit our homepage at https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/NOWCAM-conference/