Programme Head: Sangeetha Menon

Efforts to start discussions on consciousness studies at National Institute of Advanced Studies commenced with Dr R.L. Kapur and Prof. B.V. Sreekantan joining NIAS in the initial years of its inception. While Dr Kapur spearheaded meetings and papers on human health, behavior and creativity, Prof Sreekantan initiated research in scientific and philosophical studies on consciousness. Subsequently, Dr.Sangeetha Menon and Dr Anindya Sinha joined NIAS who focused on Indian philosophical contributions and animal cognition respectively. A larger group with other members was formed later and came to be called as ‘Culture, Cognition and Consciousness’ unit, which over a period of time extended its interests from science and philosophy to culture.

Currently, Sangeetha Menon works on the place of ‘Self’ in consciousness and brain studies, from a broader context of Indian psychology and philosophy. BV Sreekantan is interested in larger questions of philosophy of science, and Anindya Sinha on social cognition in non-human primates.

Website of Consciousness Studies Programme

Several landmark national and international conferences were organized by this group at NIAS such as “Scientific and Philosophical Studies in Consciousness” (1998, NIAS). This meeting was the first conference in India bringing together scientists, philosophers, artists, et.al. to seek answers for fundamental questions on consciousness and human identity. Other major conferences co-organised are “Science and Metaphysics: Consciousness and Genetics” (2002, NIAS); “Science and Beyond” (2003, NIAS); “Consciousness, Experience and Ways of Knowing” (2006, NIAS). Major scientific and philosophical institutions in India, United States and Europe sponsored these conferences.

The latest conference and fifth in the series was organized during 5-7 January 2012, on “Looking Within: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Consciousness”. “Looking Within: Interdisciplinary approaches to Consciousness” was inspired by our mandate to bring to timely discussion the challenging questions in the broad areas of consciousness covering neurophysics, animal cognition and the self. The Conference focused on three Themes and dedicated one day each for the three Focal Themes. These Focus Themes were:

• Neurophysics, Quantum Mechanics, Artificial Intelligence 

• Animal Consciousness and Cognitive Neuroscience 

• Self in Neuropsychiatry, Neurophenemenology and Neurophilosophy

Over 175 registered participants and students attended the Conference. This included teachers, academicians, students, researchers, engineers, technologists and the public. The registered participants and students represented 70 institutions and 9 countries such as Canada, France, Finland, Germany, India, Japan, New Zealand, UK and USA. . As in the past, for this Conference too, we were keen that the delegates of the Conference benefit as much as possible from interactions and discussions that will ensue during the three days. Towards fulfilling this goal a pre-Conference Reader with exhaustive information and academic material was printed. This document with a collection of information pertaining to the Conference such as focal theme notes, lecture abstracts, poster abstracts, addresses, etc. facilitated the participants with the work and profile of fellow participants and speakers in advance.

» To download a free copy of the Reader Click here.

The Conference was co-organised by the Mani Bhaumik Foundation, Calcutta and co-sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, GoI, New Delhi, Indo-US Science & Technology Forum, New Delhi, Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), Mumbai, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, Defence Research & Development Organisation and Department of Biotechnology.

Video Webcasts of International Conference, 5-7 January 2012 | Looking Within: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Consciousness