THE SCIENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS

April 25-30, 2016 - Tucson     

      

Pre-Conference Workshop

Monday, April 25, 9 am to 1 pm

 

Developing a Curriculum for Consciousness Studies

As the study of consciousness matures scientifically and philosophically, there exists a growing need for a standardized course curriculum for Consciousness Studies. Scholars from California Institute of Integral Studies and elsewhere meet to discuss and develop such a curriculum. Speakers will include Leslie Combs, Frank Echenhofer, Gino Yu and Beth Torpey. 

 

Presenters: Frank Echenhofer, Ph.D. and Allan Combs, Ph.D.

Panelists:    Chip McAuley, Gino Yu and Beth Torpey

A hands-on workshop for syllabi & curriculum development in consciousness studies for academic settings: A new & further step beyond the workshop offered in 2014.

 

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

Learn how to create and successfully introduce consciousness studies at your institution.

Learn how to develop a course in consciousness studies suited especially to your institution?

Every year, new programs and courses in the study of consciousness have been offered at universities around the world, in departments ranging from psychology to philosophy to transformative studies to sociology to medicine. Starting two years ago, when the first version of this workshop was offered in 2014, the Society of Consciousness Studies began a series of discussions with many people of the consciousness community in an effort to pool our knowledge.

For this workshop, expert panelists that were engaged in these discussions will share their views in a moderated discussion offering their different perspectives regarding some of the fundamental questions related to teaching in consciousness studies.

During the second half of the workshop attendees will have work individually or in small groups to develop their own syllabi and curriculum interests, and assisted by the panelists and presenters.

 

In preparation we suggest the following articles as food for thought.

De Quincey, C. (2000). The promise of integralism. A critical appreciation of Ken Wilber's integral psychology. Journal of Consciousness Studies7(11-12), 177-208.

Klahr, D., & Simon, H. A. (1999). Studies of scientific discovery: Complementary approaches and convergent findings. Psychological Bulletin, 125(5), 524.

Petitmengin, C. (2009). The validity of first-person descriptions as authenticity and coherence. Journal of Consciousness Studies16(10-12), 252-284.

 

Presenters:

Frank Echenhofer                Allan Combs

               

 

Panelists:

 Gino Yu                         Beth Torpey             Chip McAuley

        

 

Frank Echenhofer, PhD is a professor of Clinical Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies and a licensed psychologist. His teaching specializations bridge east-west psychology, and include Eastern and Western comparative psychology, philosophy, and psychophysiology. Frank has conducted EEG meditation & qualitative research in India, in collaboration with the Dalai Lama. He is currently involved in research studies in Brazil and Peru examining the potential benefits of the shamanic brew ayahuasca to facilitate the healing of depression and to enhance creativity and spiritual development. He teaches a course in Neuroscience and Spirituality which is part of the consciousness studies curriculum at CIIS. 

Allan Combs, PhD is Doshi Professor of Consciousness Studies and Director of The Center for Consciousness Studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies. He is also Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina, Asheville. Professor Combs is the founder of The Society for Consciousness Studies, and Editor of CONSCIOUSNESS: Ideas for the 21st Century. He is a cofounder of The Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology and the Life Sciences, and co-editor of the Journal of Conscious Evolution. Allan was the winner of the 2002-2003 National Teaching Award of the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs. Many of his publications can be accessed at http://ciis.academia.edu/AllanCombs . Many of his is books are listed below.

Panelists:

Gino Yu, Ph.D. is a Professor and Director of Digital Entertainment and Game Development in the School of Design at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He received his BS and Ph.D. at the University of California at Berkeley in 1987 and 1993 respectively. After receiving his PhD, he taught at the University of Southern California and worked to establish multimedia initiatives including the Integrated Media Systems Center. From 1995 to 1997, he taught at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology where he helped to establish the Center for Enhanced Learning Technologies. His main area research interests involve the application of media technologies to cultivate creativity and promote enlightened consciousness. http://phusikoi.blogspot.com/

Beth Torpey has had a career of over 25 years as a scientist in the environmental field, and completed her Master’s with a good part of the thesis focused on consciousness studies, which is entitled, Global Sustainability, the Evolution of Consciousness and the Role of Water. She currently teaches Science and Spirituality online through the Vermont State College system, Community College of Vermont.

Chip McAuley

Chip McAuley, PhD is a consciousness educator and scholar. He is an adjunct faculty member of CIIS and editor of a variety of scholarly and popular literary venues. He writes articles and essays for the noted cultural criticism site PopMatters.com as well as a variety of award-winning newspapers, magazines and Websites.

 

 

 

Optional - Pre-Conference Workshops

Workshops are held:  Monday/Tuesday, April 25 - 26

Monday Morning 9-1:  Monday Afternoon 2-6

Monday Evening 7-10 and Tuesday Morning 9-1

half day and evening Workshops

Early Workshop Fees:

TSC Student Registrants                $40 half day

TSC General Registrants                $60 half day

General Public - Student - Workshop only $75 half day

General Public - Workshop only  $125 half day