Language Sciences Research Lab (Language Pod at COSI)

This fish-bowl style lab (open since 2012) is fully embedded inside the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) and engages with museum visitors around the topic of language. We conduct cutting edge research with visitors onsite and also engage visitors with a range of interactive activities featuring human language. Our faculty come from multiple departments, including Psychology, Linguistics, Speech & Hearing Science, English, Computer Science and Engineering, & Teaching and Learning. In addition, the lab sponsors a cross-listed course (Psych/Ling/EduTL 5700) which trains OSU students to effectively engage with the museum visitors using a set of interactive language science related activities. These activities, along with the research itself, represent a nationally innovative outreach endeavor that aims to educate the public about language. The lab works with approximately 2500 visitors/year as research participants and approximately 30,000 visitors/year in stand-alone outreach activities. Faculty associates of the lab have brought in over $4 Million in external grant funding to do lab-related research or outreach.