In recent years, California has become ground zero for climate-related natural disasters in the U.S. from out-of-control wildfires and violent flooding to devastating drought. To equip students with the knowledge to better understand—and take action—in the face of climate change, the University of California (UC) launched a multidisciplinary curriculum, Bending the Curve, in 2017. The …
Continue reading “Combining Mindfulness Training with Climate Education: One Researcher’s Journey”
Imagine students in nursery school through Grade 8 developing the skills to cultivate greater happiness in life—from the inside out. In daily half-hour happiness classes, students learn from teachers and engage in games, storytelling, guided mindfulness practices, and role-playing. Each is encouraged to reflect on their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and how these impact their …
Following a successful pilot phase, Mind & Life’s Global Majority Leadership and Mentorship Program is opening a new era of contemplative scholarship and science by building inclusivity and liberation pedagogy into its framework. While conventional mentoring programs typically adopt a hierarchical approach wherein mentors bequeath knowledge and guidance to mentees, the Mind & Life program …
Teachers are the most important factor in determining student achievement compared to any other aspect of schooling. They operate on the front lines of society’s efforts to promote equity and play a pivotal role as gatekeepers of academic opportunities. Despite good intentions, teachers like the rest of society are racially biased. Studies indicate that teachers …
There is a growing recognition of the importance of education for social emotional learning (SEL). There is a limited understanding of SEL of children in the Global South despite the growing interest, for example, in India, SEL has been emphasised in the national educational policy and by several large-scale interventions, notably the Happiness Curriculum which …
Amidst glaring evidence of racism and social inequities brought to the forefront in the recent past, there is heightened urgency to explore how youth gain critical consciousness about social issues, and growing interest in supporting youth engagement in positive social change. The Peace of Mind-Social Justice (PoM-SJ) curriculum integrates skills typical in mindfulness-based programs—mindfulness and …
Adolescents are growing up in a radically connected world. Mobile devices provide near-constant access to apps intentionally designed to hijack focus and to social media platforms that tap developmental social sensitivities. This project proposes mindful digital engagement as an antidote. In Phase 1, we will create and test the reliability and validity of a mindful …
The Mind & Life Education Research Network (MLERN) was formed in 2006 as a multidisciplinary intellectual forum dedicated to investigating issues at the intersection of the mind, brain, education and contemplative practice. Directed by Dr. Richard Davidson of the University of Wisconsin, MLERN included a core group of contemplatives and contemplative scholars, neuroscientists, cognitive, developmental …
Reason for Interest in C2C There is a dire need in the Israeli educational system for a program addressing the significant burnout rate of teachers as well as the dropout of new teachers (over 25%) within the first years. Furthermore, the steady increase in bullying prevalence and the negative attitudes toward the “other” which are …
Reason for Interest in C2C Vietnam has a history of struggles for national independence and the Vietnamese people have shown amazing strength and resilience to face and overcome obstacles. After the end of the war, the priority was to rebuild the country and to develop the economy, but the new generation is facing different challenges, …
