Geoffrey Hall

Dr. Geoffrey Hall is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia and a Distinguished University Scholar. He is affiliated with the Early Development Research Group, a consortium of six centers studying language, learning, and social understanding in infants and children.

Education:

• PhD in Psychology, Harvard University (1991)
• BA (First Class Honours), McGill University

His research focuses on language and cognitive development in infancy and early childhood. He co-edited the 2004 book Weaving a Lexicon (MIT Press) and has secured grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada. His secondary research area is Cognitive Science.

Research Trends: His recent publications (2023–2014) emphasize word learning, mutual exclusivity, psychological contagion, and social cognition in infants. Topics include brand name authenticity, artifact persistence, and bilingual label acquisition.

Scientific Awards:

• Robert E. Knox Master Teaching Award (2000, 2015)
• Distinguished University Scholar, UBC (2004)
• Killam Prize for Excellence in Teaching (2002)
• Killam Faculty Research Prize (2000)
• Killam Faculty Research Fellowship (2000)
• Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science

He has served on the editorial boards of Language Learning and Development, Child Development, and Developmental Psychology, and has contributed to journals like Cognition and Child Development.