The T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung or MPIB) is organizing the fifth Winter School on “Boosting Informed Decisions” in Manipal (Karnataka), India. WS2025 will serve as the kick-off workshop for the newly established Max Planck Partner Group on “Boosting Risk Literacy and Informed Financial Decisions” at TAPMI, Manipal.

WS2025 aims to facilitate a significant discussion on Nudging and Boosting, two compelling interventions in the field of behavioral sciences. The goal of the Winter School is to deepen participants’ understanding of the cognitive processes behind human decision-making and to apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios, helping individuals make better decisions in the face of uncertainty and complexity. The event provides a unique platform for decision-making scholars from diverse disciplines to share insights, discuss research, and inspire one another.

Ralph Hertwig, Director of the Center for Adaptive Rationality and Managing Director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Germany.

Sander van der Linden
Professor of Social Psychology in Society
Director, Cambridge Social Decision-Making Laboratory
Professorial Fellow, Churchill College

T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI)
The T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) is one of India’s premier management institutes, located in the international university town of Manipal (Karnataka). TAPMI’s mission is “to excel in management education, research and practice”. TAPMI’s undergraduate and postgraduate programs are recognised by India’s All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the University Grants Commission (UGC). Additionally, it holds prestigious international accreditations: AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which it has held since 2012, and AMBA (Association of MBAs) since 2018. This makes TAPMI one of the few management schools in India to hold such elite global recognitions. Manipal is renowned for its interdisciplinary educational atmosphere, hosting various institutions for disciplines like medicine, engineering, and arts.

Max Planck Institute for Human Development (MPIB)
The MPIB is an internationally renowned social science research institute located in Berlin, Germany. The MPIB is dedicated to the study of human development and education. Researchers of various disciplines—including psychology, education, sociology, medicine, history, economics, computer science, as well as mathematics—work together on interdisciplinary projects at the institute. The MPIB has four major research centers: Adaptive Rationality, Environmental Neuroscience, Humans and Machines, and Lifespan Psychology. These centers examine a range of issues, from how people make effective decisions under information overload, to how environmental factors influence behavior, and how human-technology interaction shapes development. Additionally, they continue to foster international partnerships through the Max Planck Partner Groups and research groups funded by the European Research Council (ERC), making it a hub for cutting-edge research in human development and behavioral sciences

Applying for the Winter School is possible between September 30^th and November 30^th. However, the first set of applications shall be reviewed by November 15.

There is no fee, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, the Max Planck Society and TAPMI. Participants’ boarding and lodging shall be taken care of, and the travel costs shall be borne by the participants.

For more info view our FAQ. For further questions email us at winterschool.2025@manipal.edu

In recent years, the field of behavioral sciences has shown growing interest in evidence-based approaches that leverage behavioral insights to promote informed decision-making. However, much of the discussion has focused on “Nudges”—an intervention that steers people in a specific direction while preserving their choice. Less attention has been paid to “Boosting” which, on the other hand, focuses on empowering individuals by enhancing their competencies and knowledge through a variety of measures. 

An important discourse in the field of Boosting is on risk literacy and risk communication. Risk literacy involves equipping individuals with a set of skills and resources to better comprehend and navigate situations of risk and uncertainty. Risk communication involves designing intuitive tools where information about risks is conveyed effectively. Simple heuristics—rules of thumb that simplify decision-making—play a crucial role in fostering sound judgments quickly and efficiently, even in complex or uncertain environments.

Another significant topic is the challenge of navigating misinformation, especially in the digital age, and how leveraging artificial and collective intelligence can lead to smarter decisions. By addressing issues on risk literacy, misinformation, coupled with tools of simple heuristics and risk communication, people can make more informed decisions in complex situations, whether it involves financial choices, health-related decisions, or navigating uncertainties in everyday life. Therefore, how individuals could make smart decisions in a complex world is a behavioral science question with enormous application potential for experts and policymakers. 

• Nudging and Boosting
• Decisions from Experience
• Risk Literacy
• Ecological Rationality
• Heuristics
• Fast and Frugal Trees
• Behavioral Sciences Beyond the Laboratory
• Misinformation
• Humans And Machines

Seminars, talks, panel discussions, workshops, poster sessions, debates, and social events will take place during the winter school, allowing participants to learn and develop new ideas in their broad research fields, facilitated by frequent interactions with the teaching faculty members. Program Schedule to be updated soon.

Ralph Hertwig
Director of the Center for Adaptive Rationality, and
Managing Director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Germany

Sander van der Linden
Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge

Sneha Shashidhara, Visiting Faculty of Psychology, Ashoka University, Researcher, Centre for Social and Behaviour Change (CSBC), Ashoka University

Anna Thoma, Center for Adaptive Rationality of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Germany

Dirk Wulff, Center for Adaptive Rationality of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Germany

Felix G. Rebitschek, Harding Center for Risk Literacy Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, University of Potsdam, Germany

Kavitha Ranganathan, Partner Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, and the T A Pai Management Institute, India

Poonam Sehgal Suri, Max Planck Gesellschaft – India Office

Özgür Şimşek, University of Bath, United Kingdom

Sumitava Mukherjee, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India.

Friederike Stock, Center for Adaptive Rationality, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin

Konstantinos Katsikopoulos, University of Southampton, United Kingdom.

The participants of the winter school should be talented master’s students, doctoral or post-doctoral scholars, early and advanced career researchers from all disciplines who are interested in the study of human judgement and decision making. They should be receptive to crossing disciplinary boundaries and be willing to critically evaluate reigning assumptions in their fields. The winter school values diversity and urges applicants from under-represented groups to apply.

We are now processing the applications received until Nov 15th. For the second set of applications, we shall keep the submissions open till Nov 30th.

The winter school is free of Registration charge. Accepted participants will be provided with accommodation at TAPMI guest house (on double or triple sharing basis). It includes breakfast, lunch, tea, at TAPMI cafeteria and selected networking dinners. We are unable to provide travel allowance to participants.

• Follow the URL, https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/User/Register, and do the account verification.
• Login using the User ID and password.
• In the “All Conferences” list, search for: “TAPMI-MAX PLANCK WINTER SCHOOL ON BOOSTING INFORMED DECISIONS”.
• Click on the link. In Author Console, click on “Create new submission”, and follow the steps to complete the application.
• Skip Conflicts of Interest.

You will need to enter the following information.

• Submit your research title and an extended abstract of a poster that is to be presented at the winter school (maximum 1000 words to be entered directly on the space provided)
• Upload the following (in PDF).
  1. Your CV
  2. A statement of interest that explains the following questions (maximum 800-1000 words)
  a) How you (and your research) would benefit from participation?
  b) How does your research fit the overall theme/topic?
  c) How would you contribute to the winter school?
  3. One short letter of recommendation with the file name as “WS2025 Reco Letter for “Firstname Lastname”
• Personal Details (to be entered on the website)
  a) Demographic details (Name, Age, and City of Travel)
  b) Highest degree (Post-doc, Ph.D., Masters)
  c) Field of study
  e) University

T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI)
P.B. No. 9, Manipal
Karnataka – 576 104, India
Phone: +91 820 2701000/01

TAPMI is located in the beautiful university town of Manipal, near the coastal town of Udupi in Karnataka. Manipal is easily accessible by road, rail and air. Udupi (5 kms) and Mangalore (65 kms) are the two main cities that serve as entry points for Manipal.

The nearest airport is at Mangalore known as Mangalore International Airport which is a one-and-half hour drive by road. Domestic flights fly from major cities, Bangalore, Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Spice Jet fly to Mangalore. There are direct international flights to Mangalore from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Doha Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Prepaid taxis are available at the Mangalore airport.

The closest railway stations are at Udupi (2 kms from Manipal) and Mangalore (65 kms from Mangalore). These railway stations lie on the Konkan route connecting the north and the south along the west coast. Delhi and Mumbai (to the north) and Ernakulam (to the south) are linked to Udupi station. Mangalore station is connected to Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Calicut, Cochin, Trivandrum, Mumbai and other major cities. Those traveling from Kolkata will have to travel via Chennai/Mumbai/Bangalore/Goa and then take a connecting train to Mangalore. There is also a train operating from Jammu to Mangalore once a week. For more information check: www.indianrail.gov.in

Manipal is well connected with the major cities in Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, etc. Buses run between Mangalore and Manipal frequently. Direct buses are also available from Bangalore, Goa, Hyderabad, Mumbai and other cities.

https://www.manipal.edu/mu/campus-life/around-manipal.html