

{"id":8,"date":"2013-11-20T17:33:01","date_gmt":"2013-11-20T22:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/facultyviscoustemplate\/?page_id=8"},"modified":"2025-09-23T10:05:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T14:05:06","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Spatial thinking allows us to encode and transform information about objects and their location, and thus to find our way in the world and perform technical activities such as tool making, providing the foundation for a wide range of activities, such as the design of buildings or the solution of mathematics problems. The overarching goal of the RISC Lab is to understand spatial learning and thinking and how they can be fostered by effective technology and education.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:26% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"724\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"1448\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/people\/newcombe-2016\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2020\/07\/Newcombe-2016-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1810,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D4&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1332260607&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Colleen Stepanian Photography&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;70&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Newcombe 2016\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2020\/07\/Newcombe-2016-212x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2020\/07\/Newcombe-2016-724x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2020\/07\/Newcombe-2016-724x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1448 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2020\/07\/Newcombe-2016-724x1024.jpg 724w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2020\/07\/Newcombe-2016-212x300.jpg 212w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2020\/07\/Newcombe-2016-768x1086.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2020\/07\/Newcombe-2016-1086x1536.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2020\/07\/Newcombe-2016-1448x2048.jpg 1448w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2020\/07\/Newcombe-2016-848x1200.jpg 848w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2020\/07\/Newcombe-2016-71x100.jpg 71w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2020\/07\/Newcombe-2016-scaled.jpg 1810w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/newcombe\/\">Dr. Nora Newcombe<\/a> <\/strong>studies navigation, spatial memory and spatial thinking in mathematics and physics.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center\" style=\"grid-template-columns:26% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"2242\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/people\/thomasshipley\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/01\/ThomasShipley.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1661,2216\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D4&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1461247317&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Colleen Stepanian Photography&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;70&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.004&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ThomasShipley\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/01\/ThomasShipley-225x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/01\/ThomasShipley-768x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/01\/ThomasShipley-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2242 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/01\/ThomasShipley-768x1025.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/01\/ThomasShipley-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/01\/ThomasShipley-1151x1536.jpg 1151w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/01\/ThomasShipley-1535x2048.jpg 1535w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/01\/ThomasShipley-899x1200.jpg 899w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/01\/ThomasShipley-75x100.jpg 75w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/01\/ThomasShipley.jpg 1661w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/shipley\/\">Dr. Thomas Shipley<\/a> <\/strong>concentrates on spatial thinking in the geosciences.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">For <strong><a title=\"SILC\" href=\"http:\/\/www.spatiallearning.org\/\">Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center (SILC)<\/a><\/strong> resources, please see the site maintained at Northwestern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:48% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"471\" height=\"500\" data-attachment-id=\"2512\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/about\/636bc48f9ff11-image\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/636bc48f9ff11.image_.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"471,500\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"636bc48f9ff11.image\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/636bc48f9ff11.image_-283x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/636bc48f9ff11.image_.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/636bc48f9ff11.image_.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2512 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/636bc48f9ff11.image_.jpg 471w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/636bc48f9ff11.image_-283x300.jpg 283w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 471px) 100vw, 471px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Our Projects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our current projects analyze the world of geoscience education and how we think about navigation and space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/projects\/\">Learn More<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Our Team <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meet our group of researchers working to learn more about spatial learning and thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/people\/\">Learn More<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"857\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"2508\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/about\/screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3-17-34-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.17.34-PM.png\" data-orig-size=\"1098,1312\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screenshot 2025-09-19 at 3.17.34\u202fPM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.17.34-PM-251x300.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.17.34-PM-857x1024.png\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.17.34-PM-857x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2508 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.17.34-PM-857x1024.png 857w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.17.34-PM-251x300.png 251w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.17.34-PM-768x918.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.17.34-PM.png 1098w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"976\" height=\"796\" data-attachment-id=\"2509\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/about\/screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3-28-33-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.28.33-PM.png\" data-orig-size=\"976,796\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screenshot 2025-09-19 at 3.28.33\u202fPM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.28.33-PM-300x245.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.28.33-PM.png\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.28.33-PM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2509 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.28.33-PM.png 976w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.28.33-PM-300x245.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/files\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-19-at-3.28.33-PM-768x626.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Current News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hear about exciting announcements from in the lab, and out, from our alumni!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/news__trashed\/current-news\/\">Learn More<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #333399\">Featured Content<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Jeffery, K. J., Cheng, K., Newcombe, N. S., Bingman, V. P., &amp; Menzel, R. (2024). Unpacking the navigation toolbox: Insights from comparative cognition. <em>Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 291<\/em>: 20231304. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1098\/rspb.2023.1304\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1098\/rspb.2023.1304<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span class=\"authors\">Nguyen, K. V., Tansan, M., &amp; Newcombe, N. S.<\/span>&nbsp;<span class=\"date\">(2023).<\/span>&nbsp;<span class=\"art_title\">Studying the development of navigation using virtual environments. <em>J<\/em><\/span><em><span class=\"serial_title\">ournal of Cognition and Development,<\/span>&nbsp;<\/em><span class=\"volume_issue\"><em>24<\/em>(1):<\/span>&nbsp;<span class=\"page_range\">1-16,<\/span>&nbsp;<span class=\"doi_link\">DOI:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/15248372.2022.2133123\">10.1080\/15248372.2022.2133123<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559731&quot;:720}\">Bateman, K.M., Wilson, C.G., Williams, R.T., Tipoff, B., &amp; Shipley, T.F. (2022). Explicit Instruction of Scientific Uncertainty in an Undergraduate Geoscience Field-Based Course.&nbsp;<em>Science and Education<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11191-022-00345-z\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11191-022-00345-z<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Karjack, S., Brudzinski, M.R., &amp; Shipley, T.F. (2022). Assessment of the general public&#8217;s understanding of rapidly produced earthquake information products ShakeMap and PAGER.&nbsp;<em>Seismology Research Letters,<\/em> <em>93<\/em>(5): 2891-2905. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1785\/0220210318\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1785\/0220210318<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Brucato, M., Nazareth, A. &amp; Newcombe, N.S. (2022). Longitudinal development of cognitive mapping<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">from childhood to adolescence. <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Journal of Experimental Child Psychology<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jecp.2022.105412\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jecp.2022.105412<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Horwath, E.A., Benear, S.L., Cowan, E., Camacho, M.C., Ngo, C.T., Newcombe, N.S., Olson, I.R.,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Perlman, S.B. &amp; Murty, V.P. (in press). Children show adult-like hippocampal pattern similarity<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">for\u202ffamiliar but not novel events. <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Brain Research<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.brainres.2022.147991\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.brainres.2022.147991<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Miller-Cotto-D., Booth, J. &amp; Newcombe, N.S. (2022). Sketching and verbal self-explanation: Do they&nbsp;help middle school children solve science problems? <i>Applied Cognitive Psychology<\/i>. June. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/acp.3980\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/acp.3980<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spatial thinking allows us to encode and transform information about objects and their location, and thus to find our way in the world and perform technical activities such as tool making, providing the foundation for a wide range of activities, such as the design of buildings or the solution of mathematics problems. The overarching goal &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Home&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15335,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15335"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2538,"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8\/revisions\/2538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/risc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}