“The Science of Mindfulness” To Be Explored On February 6
An event at the New York Academy of Sciences will explore the art of mindfulness and contemplative practice through the lens of neuroscience.
Published January 25, 2013
NEW YORK, January 25, 2013—On Wednesday, February 6, the New York Academy of Sciences, in partnership with the Nour Foundation and Wisconsin Public Radio's nationally-syndicated program To the Best of Our Knowledge, will present Becoming Conscious: The Science of Mindfulness. This sold-out event will delve into the role of consciousness in daily life and its implications for our emotional and psychological well-being, as well as what we can do to increase our attunement to the present moment. The event is part of The Emerging Science of Consciousness: Mind, Brain and the Human Experience Series.
Steve Paulson, Executive Producer, To the Best of Our Knowledge, will moderate a panel comprised of neuroscientists Richard Davidson (University of Wisconsin, Madison) and Amishi Jha (University of Miami), as well as clinical mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn (Professor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts Medical School). The panel will explore the role of consciousness in mental and physical health, how we can train the mind to become more flexible and adaptable, and what cutting-edge neuroscience is revealing about the transformation of consciousness through mindfulness and contemplative practice.
"One of the most remarkable scientific findings of recent decades is how plastic the human brain is. People who train their minds, through meditation and other contemplative practices, can actually rewire their brains. This is why the new science of mindfulness could be revolutionary," says Paulson.
To learn more about the event, visit www.nyas.org/consciousness4.
This event is the fourth in the four-part series The Emerging Science of Consciousness: Mind, Brain and the Human Experience. To see video footage of prior events—including "Music & the Mind: The Magical Power of Sound," "The Mystery of Memory: In Search of the Past," and "The Thinking Ape: The Enigma of Human Consciousness"—visit www.nyas.org/consciousness.
Media must RSVP to Diana Friedman (dfriedman@nyas.org; 212-298-8645).
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About the New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. With 25,000 members in 140 countries, the Academy is creating a global community of science for the benefit of humanity. The Academy's core mission is to advance scientific knowledge, positively impact the major global challenges of society with science-based solutions, and increase the number of scientifically informed individuals in society at large. Please visit us online at www.nyas.org.
About the Nour Foundation
The Nour Foundation is a public charitable and nongovernmental organization in special consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Founded in 1985, the Foundation adopts a multidisciplinary and integrative approach to exploring expressions of meaning and commonality in human experience, with the aim of engendering a greater spirit of unity, tolerance, and understanding among human beings worldwide. Please visit us online at www.nourfoundation.com.
About To the Best of Our Knowledge
To The Best of Our Knowledge is a Peabody Award-winning radio show produced at Wisconsin Public Radio and syndicated by Public Radio International. Each week TTBOOK cracks open the world of ideas, featuring in-depth interviews with renowned scientists, writers, artists, scholars, and visionaries. Please visit us online at www.TTBOOK.org.