1. What are the dates of the Speaker Series
  2. What are the times of the Speaker Series? I’m particularly interested as I am not in the Eastern Time Zone of the United States.
  3. How soon following a live session will the recordings be available for viewing?
  4. English is not my first language, will translations be available?
  5. How long will the recordings be accessible?
  6. What is the difference between the Speaker Series and the Summer Research Institute?
  7. What is the schedule for each day? All times below are Eastern Time U.S.
  8. Who are the faculty for the Speaker Series?
  9. I have friends and colleagues who are interested in registering. Are group discounts available?
  10. I do not have a credit card to pay the registration fee. Are other payment options available?
  11. What scholarships are available for the Speaker Series?
  12. While I can not attend the Summer Research Institute this year, I’m curious to learn more about it. Is this a yearly program of Mind & Life?
  13. What is the Mind & Life Francisco J. Varela Research Grants?
  14. I have additional questions.
  1. What are the dates of the Speaker Series?

The Speaker Series is a 6-Day live online event that begins on Sunday, June 6 (Eastern Time Zone, US) and continues through Friday, June 11, 2021. While we invite registrants to join for the live stream sessions, each session of the Speaker Series will be recorded for you to view as is most convenient for you, available for six months following the close of the event.

  1.  What are the times of the Speaker Series? I’m particularly interested as I am not in the Eastern Time Zone of the United States.

For those that wish to join the live stream event, the sessions will begin no earlier than 10:00 am Eastern Time, US. If you will be joining outside of the Eastern Time Zone, we suggest www.thetimezoneconverter.com to calculate the time in your location. Please keep in mind that all sessions will be recorded for you to view as is most convenient for you and available for six months following the close of the event. For example, instead of watching the meditation session live, you may wish to watch it the following day as a way to start your morning.

  1. How soon following a live session will the recordings be available for viewing?

The recordings for each session will be available immediately following the end of that live session. In this way, you can watch each day’s sessions later that same day, as is convenient for your schedule. Note that these immediate recordings will not be edited or have subtitles. The edited versions, with subtitles, will upload within 48 hours of the end of the session. 

  1. English is not my first language, will translations be available?

While simultaneous translations into other languages will not be available, viewers will be able to select from various subtitle options in the processed video which will be uploaded within 48 hours of the end of the session. Language subtitle options will include English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, and Hindi. Written transcripts in English of each plenary and panel session will also be uploaded to the Speaker Series site within 48 hours of the end of the session.

  1. How long will the recordings be accessible?

Registrants to the Speaker Series will have access to all of the content for six months following the close of the event.

  1. What is the difference between the Speaker Series and the Summer Research Institute?

To ensure broader access to the content of the Summer Research Institute, we are also offering a synchronous Live Online Speaker Series. The Speaker Series is designed for a general audience interested in hearing the latest on the convergence of contemplative practice, science, and the climate crisis, but who do not have time to attend the full length of SRI, or who are in time zones that prohibit participation in the live, immersive experience at SRI. 

Participants in the speaker series will get live access to, and recordings of, the plenary talks, panel discussions, and daily meditation and contemplative movement sessions from our 2021 SRI.

Please note: Attending the Speaker Series does not fulfill eligibility requirements to apply for the Mind & Life Francisco J. Varela Research Grants; only participating in the full SRI does.

  1. What is the schedule for each day?

The daily schedule for the online Speaker Series can be found here. All sessions will be recorded for you to view as is most convenient for you and will be available for six months following the close of the event. For example, you may wish to view the Day Two Film & Panel session later in the week at an earlier time.

  1. Who are the faculty for the Speaker Series?

The Speaker Series shares most of the faculty with the Summer Research Institute. A full list of confirmed faculty for the Speaker Series can be found here.

  1. I have friends and colleagues who are interested in registering. Are group discounts available?

Yes, groups of 5 or more qualify for a 20% discount off of the current registration rate. Contact programs@mindandlife.org for details. Beyond the group discount, we encourage you to spread the word about your registration by offering registrants a discount registration link that they can share. The discount offers 20% off the current registration rate. 

  1. I do not have a credit card to pay the registration fee. Are other payment options available?

Please contact programs@mindandlife.org to learn of additional options.

  1. What scholarships are available for the Speaker Series?

With the support of generous donors, scholarship funding is available to people who might otherwise be unable to attend. This includes those who identify as being from historically underrepresented backgrounds, international participants, or those with financial needs. We encourage you to apply through our easy-to-use scholarship form.

  1. While I can not attend the Summer Research Institute this year, I’m curious to learn more about it. Is this a yearly program of Mind & Life?

Since 2004, Mind & Life has held the Summer Research Institute, a weeklong immersive program typically held at the beautiful Garrison Institute in New York. Unlike traditional academic conferences, the program provides opportunities for deep dialogue across disciplines as well as inquiry through first-person reflection and contemplative practice. It moves away from hierarchies of knowledge to foster an integrative, richer, and fuller understanding of the mind and society, focusing on current issues and positive actions that lead to real-world outcomes. SRI moved to online due to the pandemic in 2020 and is now expanded in 2021 with the Speaker Series. Perhaps we will all be able to gather again at the Garrison Institute in future years. Stay tuned for next year’s theme and participation options. 

  1. What is the Mind & Life Francisco J. Varela Research Grants? 

Participants who attend the Summer Research Institute as New Investigators become eligible to apply for the Varela Grant. Grants of up to $20,000 are awarded annually through a competitive application, review, and selection process. Please read the full Request for Proposals (RFP) for more information. Attendees of the Speaker Series are not eligible to apply.

  1. I have additional questions.

Please contact programs@mindandlife.org for more information.