‘Consciousness’ comes to mind for annual bioethics forum

The 9th Annual International Bioethics Forum, “Taking the Measure of the Magic Mirror: Toward a Science of Consciousness” will be held April 22-23 at Promega Corporation’s BioPharmaceutical Technology Center.

What is consciousness? Guided by leaders in their fields, including philosophy, physics, botany, neurochemistry, and contemplative practice, this year’s program is designed to allow participants to explore the many dimensions of this fascinating, and elusive, topic:

• What can we learn from thinkers of the past? How did they frame perception and reality?
• What about the role of entheogens, classical hallucinogens and related compounds, and what has been their impact on human cultures and institutions?
• How have altered states of consciousness influenced human history, culture and institutions?
• Can consciousness be defined by brain chemistry, and, if so, how?
• What are we learning about health and well being from research efforts and clinical studies that examine the neural basis of altered states of consciousness?
• What are the roles of mindfulness and meditation in the exploration and evolution of consciousness?

Featured presenters include Richard J. Davidson and Antoine Lutz of the University of Wisconsin–Madison; Roland Griffiths of Johns Hopkins University; Charles S. Grob of the University of California-Los Angeles; Sean Kelly of the California Institute of Integral Studies; Dennis McKenna of the University of Minnesota; David E. Nichols of Purdue University; Franz X. Vollenweider and Michael Kometer of the University of Zurich, Switzerland; and, Peter Russell, a fellow of the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

The BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute and Promega Corporation are co-coordinating this event, joined as Platinum Sponsors by Michael Best & Friedrich LLP and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

The Bioethics Forum is open to the public, and the registration fee is $150. There are a limited number of scholarships available.

The event will be held at Promega Corporation’s BioPharmaceutical Technology Center, located at 5445 E. Cheryl Parkway in Fitchburg Center, off of South Fish Hatchery Road.

For more information, visit: http://www.btci.org.