Master Lecture – Contemplative Science Goes to School

Contemplative Science Goes to School: Improving the Context for Teaching and Learning in the Elementary School Years Through Contemplative Approaches The classroom has been long recognized as an important context for development, particularly during the elementary school years. Optimal learning environments are physically and emotionally safe and provide students with a sense that their thoughts …

Master Lecture – Buddhism, Behaviorism, and the Brain

Buddhism, Behaviorism, and the Brain: Towards a Better Understanding of the Mechanisms and Mitigation of Craving, Grasping, and Addiction The seemingly intractable behavioral cycles and suffering of addiction offer a vivid and painful illustration of the necessity and challenge of behavior change. Decades of tireless research on the nature of, and mechanisms underlying, addiction have …

Pre-Conference Closing Keynote

Epiphanies, Tensions, and Horizons: Pathways Forward In this session, we will reflect on the lessons from the day’s workshops, examine their implications for the fields of contemplative and transformative education, and outline potential pathways forward. We will consider the following questions: How did these conversations impact how we see ourselves and our work? What new …

Pre-Conference Workshop – Mind the Gap: Understanding the Distance Between Contemplative and Transformative Education

What is the distance between the contemplative and transformative movements in education? What are the tensions between them? How do we understand this gap? What can each movement teach us that will guide our vision for a K12 education that serves and supports all children in reaching the highest level of academic learning, and understanding …