Journal of Intelligence | Interview with Dr. David Giofre—Session Chair of the 1st International Online Conference on Human Intelligence (IOCHI2026), 25–26 March 2026

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. David Giofre, who is serving as one of the Session Chairs for the upcoming 1st International Online Conference on Human Intelligence. Dr. Giofre is chairing the session on approaches to improving intelligence, where he brings valuable insight and expertise into the human intelligence field.

1. Could you please start by introducing yourself?
My name is David Giofrè, and I am an Associate Professor of General Psychology at the University of Genoa, Italy. My work focuses on human intelligence, working memory, and cognitive development, with a particular interest in neurodevelopmental disorders and large-scale educational datasets. Before moving to Genoa, I worked for several years in the United Kingdom as a Senior Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University. I have also carried out international research periods in the United States (Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Missouri) and in Japan (Joetsu University of Education). I currently serve as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Intelligence Section “Approaches to Improving Intelligence”.

2. Could you introduce your current research direction and provide an update on your progress?
My current research program investigates the cognitive and emotional factors that contribute to individual differences in intelligence, learning, and academic outcomes. I am particularly interested in the following:

Working memory and executive functions as predictors of intelligence in typically developing children;
Sex and gender differences in cognitive abilities, with recent meta-analytic work examining variability ratios and performance differences in Wechsler scales, mathematics, and reading;
Neurodevelopmental conditions, including specific learning disorders, intellectual disability, and autism, where I study intelligence profiles and domain-specific strengths and weaknesses;
Math anxiety and academic anxiety, especially their mediating role in math and reading performance.

Recent progress includes multiple international collaborations, a Fulbright grant, a JSPS research project, and a major national Italian grant (PRIN 2023) on cognitive and emotional pathways in STEM choices.

3. Have you encountered any challenges in your research, and how did you overcome them?
One of the main challenges in my research is that I often address topics that are sensitive, underexplored, or sometimes controversial within the field of intelligence research and in the study of sex/gender differences in achievement or cognitive abilities. Over the years, I noticed that this can generate various forms of resistance, often not related to methodological rigor or the scientific quality of the work, but rather stemming from preconceived ideas or entrenched assumptions. To overcome these challenges, I strive to maintain high scientific standards and a balanced, evidence-based perspective on controversial topics. I also carefully select publication outlets, prioritizing journals that value scientific quality and methodological rigor, which are not always the most prestigious in name, but those that provide fair and evidence-based evaluation of the work.

4. What will be the hot topics in human intelligence or approaches to improving intelligence in the next few years?
I expect several themes to become increasingly important:

Interventions targeting cognitive processes, especially those involving working memory, executive function, and self-regulation;
Bridging cognitive and emotional factors, such as how anxiety, motivation, and self-regulation influence the development of reasoning and problem-solving;
Understanding variability rather than mean differences, particularly regarding sex/gender in intelligence and in achievement.

5. What makes IOCHI2026 stand out from other conferences?
IOCHI2026 offers a unique conceptual focus on human intelligence that integrates theoretical models, applied approaches, and cross-disciplinary perspectives. It brings together scholars working on educational, cognitive, clinical, and methodological dimensions of intelligence, creating a rare space for dialogue. Moreover, the conference is closely connected to the Journal of Intelligence, which places a strong emphasis on the quality and methodological rigor of submissions, welcoming contributions even on complex or controversial topics, and prioritizing evidence-based evaluation over preconceived ideas.

6. As the Session Chair of IOCHI2026, what would you hope this conference will be for scholars?
My hope is that IOCHI2026 will be a stimulating and collaborative environment where researchers at all career stages feel encouraged to share, debate, and refine their ideas. I envision it as a place where methodological rigor and theoretical innovation come together, and where discussions remain grounded in evidence rather than assumptions. I also hope it will foster new collaborations, particularly international and interdisciplinary ones, and provide a supportive forum in which early-career scholars can receive constructive feedback from more experienced colleagues. Finally, I hope that the session on “Approaches to Improving Intelligence” will inspire new intervention-oriented and translational research capable of advancing the field.

7. From your perspective, what are the benefits of attending an academic conference?
Attending the conference can provide several important benefits:

An inclusive environment where different perspectives are welcomed, as long as they are grounded in methodological rigor and supported by empirical evidence;
Access to new findings before they are published;
Opportunities for collaboration, especially international projects;
Feedback and critical discussion, which often shape the next stages of a study;
Mentoring and networking for early-career researchers;
Community building, which is vital for a healthy and open scientific field.

8. What are your thoughts on the current trends and developments of open access publishing?
Open access publishing has significantly increased the visibility, accessibility, and impact of scientific work. In intelligence research, where data and methods can be complex and often debated, open access promotes transparency, reproducibility, and open discussion, all essential components of scientific credibility. It also makes articles freely available to readers in countries where access to traditional subscription-based journals is limited or prohibitively expensive, thereby widening the reach of scientific knowledge.
Journals such as the Journal of Intelligence show that it is possible to combine openness with rigorous methodological standards. They also provide space for contributions on complex or controversial topics, as long as they are grounded in evidence and sound methodology.