Toward a Science of Consciousness – March 3-9, 2013East West Views on Brain, Mind and RealityDayalbagh Educational Institute (DEI) Agra, INDIA

Newswise — In Eastern philosophical traditions, consciousness is intrinsic to the universe, whereas in most Western views consciousness emerges from complex computation. Can these views be reconciled?

The 20th annual international conference "Toward a Science of Consciousness" will take place March 3-9, 2013 at the Dayalbagh Educational Institute (DEI) in Agra, India, home of the famed Taj Mahal. DEI is a high-level educational system, part of a spiritual community and farm housing 4000 people on an idyllic 1300 acres on the Yamuna River within the city of Agra. DEI research includes neuroscience, cognitive science, medicine, philosophy, nanoscience, quantum physics and consciousness. DEI's Dr. Vishal Sahni, author of many papers and several books on quantum computing, is the primary conference organizer.

The 2013 Agra Conference is sponsored by the Centre for Consciousness Studies, Dayalbagh Educational Institute (DEI) Agra, India and the Center for Consciousness Studies, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. Toward a Science of Consciousness is an international interdisciplinary conference entailing rigorous approaches to the understanding of conscious awareness, and our place in the universe. Since 1994, TSC conferences have been held in even-numbered years in Tucson, Arizona, sponsored and organized by the Center for Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona. In odd-numbered years TSC conferences have been held at various locations around the world (1995 Naples, Italy; 1997 Elsinore, Denmark; 1999 Tokyo, Japan; 2001, Skovde, Sweden; 2003 Prague, Czech Republic; 2005 Copenhagen, Denmark; 2007 Budapest, Hungary; 2009 Hong Kong, China; 2011 Stockholm, Sweden.) Themes for TSC 2013 in Agra, India will include:* The place of consciousness in the universe * What scales of brain activity are critical for consciousness? * Quantum cognition and quantum biology* How real is perceived reality? * Cosmology and Eastern spiritual views * Brain diseases and consciousness

The week long program will include 24 Plenary talks, 120 concurrent talks, 3 poster sessions, 3 workshops, forum, and side trips (Taj Mahal). An estimated 400 participants from around the world are expected. Plenary Speakers include:

North America: (USA and Canada): Deepak Chopra, Travis Craddock, Jack Ellis, Chris Fields, Rocco Gennaro, John Hagelin, Stuart Hameroff, Anthony Hudetz, Menas Kafatos, Subhash Kak, Luiz Pessoa, Peter Roe, Jack Tuszynski, Peter Walling Europe: Ovidiu Brazdau, Vahe Gurzadyan, A. Horatschek, Steven Laureys, Paavo Pylkannen Japan: Anirban Bandyopadhyay

Australia: Peter Bruza

India: Sangeetha Menon, AK Mukhopadhyay, K Ramakrishna Rao, Shobini Rao, Joy Sen, N Srinivasan

Program Schedule-click herehttp://consciousness.arizona.edu/documents/TSC2013ProgrammeasonJan23.pdf Concurrent Sessions-click herehttp://consciousness.arizona.edu/documents/TSC2013ConcurrentTalks.pdf Poster Sessions-click herehttp://consciousness.arizona.edu/documents/TSC2013PosterSessions.pdf

Conference Contacts:

In India: Dr. Vishal Sahni, DEI Dayalbagh, [email protected]

USA Contact: Abi Behar Montefiore, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, [email protected]www.consciousness.arizona.edu

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