New York City – February 17, 2025 – Dr. Xiaodong Lin Siegler, Cleveland E. Dodge Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Director of the Education for Persistence and Innovation Center (EPIC), delivered the keynote address at the 2025 National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS) Leadership Summit.
As a leading expert in cognitive science and motivation, Dr. Lin’s research highlights how failure plays a crucial role in learning, resilience, and long-term success in STEM fields. In her address, Dr. Lin explored the emotional and cognitive impact of failure on students, emphasizing that from a cognitive science perspective, failure is not an obstacle but a fundamental part of deep learning and problem-solving. Much like artificial intelligence Reinforcement Learning (RL) systems that refine their models through repeated trial and error, human learning thrives on the ability to process setbacks, adjust strategies, and improve over time.
By reshaping the way failure is perceived, educators can equip students with the skills to persist, innovate, and excel in STEM disciplines. Dr. Lin shared practical, research-based strategies for educators to help students embrace challenges, cultivate resilience, and transform setbacks into success.
About EPIC
As the Founding Director of the Education for Persistence and Innovation Center (EPIC) at Columbia University, Dr. Lin leads groundbreaking research on how students and professionals can harness failure as a tool for learning and creativity. EPIC integrates motivational psychology and cognitive science to help individuals develop persistence and innovative thinking.
About the NCSSS Leadership Summit
The 2025 NCSSS Leadership Summit brought together STEM school leaders for immersive learning experiences. The summit provided valuable insights into the role of failure in education and how it can drive future innovation.
Media Contact
Company Name: Education for Persistence and Innovation Center (EPIC)
Contact Person: Dr. Xiaodong Lin Siegler
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/