International Conference on Contemplative Studies
June 19-23, 2024 – University of Padua
Padua hosts the International Conference of the Year “Embodied Cognition and Intersubjectivity in Uncertain Times: Interdisciplinary Frameworks for Contemplative Research and Education”.
On June 19 – 23, 2024 the University and the city of Padua hosted the second major annual meeting of the International Society for Contemplative Research (ISCR), co-organized with Mind & Life Europe, the University of Padova (Postgraduate Program in Contemplative Studies), and the Research Center of the Italian Buddhist Union.
This extraordinary event – among the most significant events worldwide in the emerging field of Contemplative Studies – brought together over 350 international participants, featuring 200 talks, 90 posters, workshops, roundtables, practice sessions, and interdisciplinary gatherings.
The conference offered a unique space for exchange between neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, the arts, religious studies, and education. Key topics included embodied consciousness, the relational nature of meditation, contemplative education, and the role of immersive technologies in contemplative practices.
Among the speakers were some of the most prominent voices in the field: Harold Roth, Eve Ekman, Amy Cohen Varela, Davide Vago, Anne Klein, Claire Petitmengin, and others.
The Role of the Research Center
The organization of an event of this magnitude in Italy was made possible thanks to the dedication of the Research Center of the Italian Buddhist Union, which played a key role in the design and realization of the conference.
Crucial, too, was the collaboration with the University of Padova, particularly through the Postgraduate Program in Contemplative Studies. This is a unique academic initiative at the international level, born from the synergy between the University and the Research Center. This program has helped establish Padua as a European hub for innovative contemplative research.
Meditation as a Scientific Subject
The perception of meditation has changed profoundly:; no longer seen solely as a spiritual practice, it is now also a recognized subject for scientific study.
In addition to its well-documented therapeutic effects (on stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and so forth), the conference highlighted how meditation supports the development of soft skills such as creativity, empathy, active listening, and collaboration, as well as how it can play a proactive role in social change, intercultural dialogue, and addressing global environmental challenges.
Technology, Art, and the Future of Contemplative Education
The integration of contemplative practices with emerging technologies (such as virtual reality and biofeedback), the dialogue with artistic experience, and the experimental use of psychedelics in therapeutic contexts were all widely discussed.
Contemplative education was one of the central themes; participants explored how meditative practices and approaches can be integrated into school and university curricula, laying the foundation for a new international network for carrying these reflections forward.
A Documentary to Tell the Story of the Conference
A documentary, directed by Antonio Bocola, was filmed during the conference, capturing voices, faces, and key themes from the gathering.
