We are pleased to announce that Professor Nao Tsuchiya of Monash University, Head of Monash Neuroscience of Consciousness (MoNoC), has been elected as an Academician of the World Academy of Artificial Consciousness (WAAC) in recognition of his sustained academic contributions to consciousness neuroscience, the neural correlates of consciousness, the relationship between consciousness and attention, Integrated Information Theory, qualia structure, category-theoretic approaches to consciousness, and interdisciplinary foundations of artificial consciousness. Monash University’s official profile lists him as Professor in Psychology and the Turner Institute for Brain & Mental Health, and the MoNoC lab page identifies him as the lab’s leader.
Professor Tsuchiya has long been dedicated to research on consciousness neuroscience and the structure of conscious experience, with a particular focus on the neural basis of consciousness, visual consciousness, attention, unconscious processing, subjective experience, and the physical substrates of consciousness. His Monash Neuroscience of Consciousness team integrates psychology, neuroscience, mathematical modeling, and theoretical analysis to investigate the relationship between conscious experience and neural mechanisms.
In the fields of consciousness theory and foundational research on artificial consciousness, Professor Tsuchiya has continuously advanced the empirical testing and formal development of Integrated Information Theory (IIT). His related work analyzes the structure of consciousness from experimental, mathematical, and category-theoretic perspectives, exploring how conscious experience may be characterized in measurable and comparable ways. His research on the relationship between category theory and consciousness, qualia structure, and Integrated Information Theory has further expanded the theoretical foundations of consciousness science and artificial consciousness. His Google Scholar profile lists research areas including Qualia Structure, Qualia, Consciousness, Attention, and Category Theory.
WAAC believes that the development of artificial consciousness requires not only artificial intelligence algorithms, neural computational models, and cognitive architectures, but also scientific measurement, formal modeling, and interdisciplinary explanation of consciousness itself. Professor Tsuchiya’s work connects consciousness neuroscience, experimental psychology, mathematical theory, Integrated Information Theory, and qualia-structure analysis, providing important scientific evidence and methodological inspiration for artificial consciousness research.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to consciousness neuroscience, consciousness theory, Integrated Information Theory, qualia structure, category-theoretic consciousness research, and the foundational theory of artificial consciousness, the World Academy of Artificial Consciousness has decided to confer upon Professor Naotsugu Tsuchiya the title of WAAC Academician. WAAC looks forward to further promoting interdisciplinary exchange among artificial consciousness, consciousness science, cognitive neuroscience, theoretical neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, and to jointly exploring new pathways through which advanced intelligent systems can serve human cognitive understanding, scientific discovery, and the future development of civilization.
- Global Collaboration and Academic Ecosystem
Academicians of the World Academy of Artificial Consciousness hail from institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of California, the French Academy of Sciences, the University of Padua, the University of Oxford, the University of Queensland, Columbia University, and the University of Exeter. Honorary Academicians come from a wide range of countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Spain, and China. In addition, leading scientists from prominent research institutes and technology companies—such as Google, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and ZEEKR—also participate.
- About WAAC
The World Academy of Artificial Consciousness (https://www.waac.ac/) is a global academic institution established in Paris in 2025. Its mission is to advance frontier research and international collaboration in artificial consciousness through the integration of science, technology, and philosophy. The Academy publishes open research, policy recommendations, evaluation standards, and more. The current President is Academician Yucong Duan, and the Secretary-General is Dr. Yingbo Li. The Honorary Academician List: On May 3, 2025, WAAC released its first batch of Top 100 Honorary Academicians, recognizing scholars who have made foundational or leading contributions to the theory of artificial consciousness.