SARA RUSSO
Building the Map of Cognitive Warfare Research
Applied Training
PhD Candidate in Defence and Security Studies, Centre for Higher Defence Studies (CASD) and University of Turin
Researcher specialising in cognitive warfare, cognitive security, strategic communication, and influence operations
Co-founder of the Cognitive Warfare Literature Database (CWDB), an open research infrastructure for mapping the cognitive domain
Contributor to NATO-related research activities, multinational defence exercises, and international collaborations on cognitive warfare
Lecturer and speaker on cognitive warfare, strategic influence, and cognitive security for defence, government, and academic audiences
Friday
11:30 AM
Knowledge Mapping as an Analytical Capability for Cognitive Security
Understanding cognitive warfare requires more than following individual publications or emerging technologies. It requires the ability to systematically identify patterns, relationships, and evolving trends across a rapidly expanding body of knowledge.
This presentation introduces an evidence-based approach using the Cognitive Warfare Literature Database (CWDB) to map the global research landscape and extract actionable insights. Through practical examples, it demonstrates how knowledge mapping supports capability analysis, identification of emerging topics, comparison of national research ecosystems, and detection of conceptual blind spots. The session highlights how structured research infrastructures can strengthen situational awareness and support more robust analysis of the cognitive domain.
Sara Russo is a PhD candidate in Leadership and Organisational Development in the Defence and Security Studies PhD Programme, jointly offered by the Centre for Higher Defence Studies (CASD), Rome, and the University of Turin. Her research focuses on cognitive warfare, strategic communication, and the influence dimension of contemporary conflict, drawing on organisational studies and social network analysis to examine communication, decision-making, and influence dynamics. She has participated in field-based research within multinational exercises such as Mare Aperto and collaborates with European academic institutions, NATO-related research activities, and international partners on emerging security challenges. Alongside her research, she contributes to professional military education and international training activities through lectures, workshops, and courses on cognitive warfare, strategic influence, and cognitive security for defence and security audiences. She is also co-founder of the Cognitive Warfare Literature Database (CWDB), an open initiative supporting interdisciplinary research and evidence-based understanding of the cognitive dimension of contemporary conflict.