2024
The Human Behind AI
C2, Campus Valla
30th anniversary of the Cognitive Science programme at LiU.
History of KVIT
From research symposium to student-driven tradition
From Research to Student Tradition
KVIT was first held in 1992, organized by the Department of Computer Science at Linköping University in collaboration with several national organizations in technology and research. The conference began as a scientific symposium aimed at researchers and industry, focusing on topics such as cognitive psychology, human-computer interaction, and technical applications of cognition.
In the mid-1990s, responsibility for the conference transitioned to the Cognitive Science student section. The goal was to create a forum that could spread knowledge about the new Cognitive Science programme while giving students the opportunity to organize a scientific conference themselves. The early years under the section were more modest — but a clearer focus on making research accessible, inspiring, and relevant for students.
"We wanted to do some kind of event to market our new programme. Jalal Maleki suggested we could do something in connection with the SAIS annual meeting in Linköping, and mentioned that KVIT had been organized a few years earlier in connection with SAIS."
— Mattias Arvola
How KVIT Has Evolved
Since its start, KVIT has developed into an established and well-known conference in cognitive science in Sweden. KVIT is the meeting place for everyone interested in the interplay between humans and technology. Over the years, KVIT has invited speakers from around the world — from the Nordics to Germany and the USA. The professional speakers have contributed to the atmosphere often described as a "TED-talk" experience.
The conference has also attracted students from Skövde to the Netherlands. Despite the format changing over time, the goal has always been the same: to inspire, create dialogue, and build bridges between students, researchers, and professionals. Today, KVIT continues to be an appreciated tradition within the Cognitive Science section and an important part of the cognitive science community in Sweden.
Fun Facts
147 visitors at KVIT '94
The 1994 symposium attracted 147 attendees from across Sweden. When students took over in 1996, the first student-organized KVIT had around 60 participants.
Speakers from around the world
Over the years, KVIT has welcomed speakers from the Nordics, Germany, and the USA.
The original poster still exists
KVIT's first poster from 1992 can be found displayed in the E-house on Campus Valla.
Koggljudet podcast
In 2019, Wilhelm Brodin launched "Koggljudet", a student-driven podcast, alongside that year's KVIT conference.
Peter Gärdenfors
Some speakers have become KVIT regulars. Peter Gärdenfors, for example, has spoken at multiple conferences over the years.
Filmed by SVT
In 2013, SVT's Kunskapskanalen filmed two presentations at KVIT — the conference's 20th anniversary.
Diploma of ReCognition
In 2014, KVIT introduced the "Diploma of ReCognition" at the conference dinner. The award is now a programme-wide tradition.
Voices from KVIT's History
We reached out to early organizers to learn about KVIT's origins. Here's what they shared.
Why did KVIT come under the student section's responsibility?
We wanted to create some kind of event to market our new programme. Jalal Maleki suggested we could do something in connection with the SAIS (Swedish AI Society) annual meeting in Linköping, and mentioned that KVIT had been organized a few years earlier in connection with SAIS.
— Mattias ArvolaDid the format change when students took over?
Yes, before us it was a scientific symposium with presentations from researchers and industry, aimed at researchers and industry. KVIT '94 was two days of symposium followed by a workshop on a third day. I interpreted Sture [Hägglund] as somewhat skeptical, but Jalal encouraged us.
— Mattias ArvolaWas it OK for students to take over the conference?
Today I don't think it was quite OK to shanghai a brand like we did.
— Mattias ArvolaWas it OK for students to take over the conference?
We see it differently — I thought it was OK. I perceived the previous "owners" of the conference as positive about it and they encouraged us to do it.
— Johan LundbergHow big was the interest in the early years?
I have the participant list from KVIT '94 and there were 147 participants from across Sweden. At the first KVIT we organized, we had around 60 participants. It wasn't nearly as big as when Yvonne Waern and Sture Hägglund organized it. There were only two cohorts of cognitive science students then, and the first year I don't think we invited the Skövde students.
— Mattias ArvolaAny reflections on how KVIT has developed?
We didn't have very high ambitions. Our idea was to invite researchers and someone from industry who we wanted to listen to and who offered breadth in cognitive science. The organizers had good dialogue with researchers at LiU to find speakers who could come without high costs. During the 2010s, the ambition level became almost unreasonably high, and it became hard to get people to want to organize. It's important to keep it at a reasonable level.
— Mattias Arvola"I think it's great that KVIT has become a recurring conference."
— Johan Lundberg
Through the Years
2022
Your Brain in the Digital World
Konsert & Kongress
Returned after the pandemic with renewed energy.
2020
The Future of AI and Man's Place in it
Online, streamed from Konsert & Kongress
The pandemic forced a pivot to live-streaming — a first for KVIT. The conference was broadcast from the Konsert & Kongress studio.
2019
Assuring the quality of the future — by understanding both human and machine
Kårhuset Kollektivet
This year marked the launch of "Koggljudet", a student-driven podcast born alongside the conference.
2017
Extend Our Limits
Dataton
The first-ever VR/AR Technology Fair with 10–15 exhibitors and the first panel discussions. Around 130 attendees.
2016
Quality of Life
Dataton, Mjärdevi Science Park
First year at Mjärdevi Science Park. Around 140 attendees. An informal poster session was introduced.
2015
The Science of Tomorrow
Sagateatern
Peter Gärdenfors spoke on "How to socialize with robots" and a Cambridge researcher presented on computational creativity.
2014
We Are Everywhere
Östgöta museum
20th anniversary of the Cognitive Science programme at LiU. The "Diploma of ReCognition" award originated at this year's conference dinner.
2013
Science + Society = True
Östgöta museum
20th anniversary of KVIT. SVT's Kunskapskanalen filmed two presentations. Around 110 attendees from across Sweden, Finland, and Germany.
1994
Linköping University
A two-day symposium followed by a workshop. Co-organized with SOFT-12, the event drew 147 participants from across Sweden.
1992
Linköping University
The first KVIT. Organized by the Department of Computer Science in collaboration with the Swedish Computer Society (eastern region), STIMDI, and SAIS.