We are pleased to announce the first International Symposium on the Role of Consciousness in Solving the World’s Problems: Making Life Work for Everyone, to be held July 25–30, 2021.
Sunday, July 25 • 1:00–2:30 pm Central Time
Session 1: What is Consciousness? Why Consciousness Is Primary and What This Means For You
Keynote address
- Tony Nader, MD, PhD, MARR – leader of the international Transcendental Meditation organizations • Author of One Unbounded Ocean of Consciousness • leading expert in the science of consciousness
Panelists
- John Hagelin, PhD – President of Maharishi International University • International President, Global Union of Scientists for Peace
- Fred Travis, PhD – Chair, MIU Department of Maharishi Vedic Science • Director, Center for Brain, Consciousness, & Cognition
- Keith Wallace, PhD – Chair, MIU Department of Physiology and Health • Founding President of Maharishi International University • Co-Director of the MIU PhD program in Physiology and the MS program in Maharishi AyurVeda & Integrative Medicine
- Gary Kaplan, MD – neurologist and clinical associate professor of neurology at Hofstra University School of Medicine.
Monday, July 26 • 8:30–10:00 am Central Time
Session 2: The Primary Role of Consciousness in Education:
Development of Consciousness to Awaken the Full Potential of Every Student and Create a Peaceful World
Moderator
- John Hagelin, PhD – President of Maharishi International University • International President, Global Union of Scientists for Peace
Panelists
- Tony Nader, MD, PhD, MARR – Keynote
- Dr. Bevan Morris — President Emeritus, Maharishi International University • Prime Minister, Global Country of World Peace
- Margaret Brissett-Bolt — Principal, Holy Trinity High School, Board of Directors, Jamaica Foundation of Consciousness-Based Education • Leading Jamaican educator and administrator • Former official of the Ministry of Education, Jamaica
- Susie Dillbeck, PhD — President, International Foundation of Consciousness-Based Education • International Professor of Education, Maharishi International University
Participants
- Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” – former Minister of Education of India
- Celso Niskier – Vice Chancellor of Unicarioca and President, ABMS
- Father Gabriel Mejia — Founder, “Center de Hogares Claret,” Colombia
Monday, July 26 • 1:00–2:30 pm Central Time
Session 3: The Primary Role of Consciousness in Mental Health:
Healing PTSD and the Mental Health Impact of the Global COVID Pandemic
Panelists
- Tony Nader, MD, PhD, MARR – Keynote
- Scott Gould, EdD – Former Deputy Secretary/Chief Operating Officer for the US Department of Veterans Affairs for strategy, resources and management infrastructure
- Sandy Nidich, EdD – MIU Professor & Physiology and Health and Education • Director, MIU Center for Social-Emotional Health & Consciousness
- Yolanda Lewis-Ragland, MD – Founder, Dr. Yolanda Cares Foundation • Medical Director, Healthy Encores • Community leader at THEARC, Washington, DC
Tuesday, July 27 • 8:30–10:00 am Central Time
Session 4: The Primary Role of Consciousness in Leadership, Governance, and Problem Solving:
Increasing Positivity and Harmony in Collective Consciousness to Address Humanity’s Urgent Problems • PART 1: Government
Panelists
- Tony Nader, MD, PhD, MARR – Keynote
- José Luis Ramírez León – Ambassador • Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States
- Suzanne Camelia-Römer– Former Prime Minister of Curaçao • Former Minister of Health, Government of Curacao
- Pat Reed – Co-founder and principal consultant at iHoriz • Experienced Agile executive, coach, transformational leader, and adjunct professor
- Mrinalini (Lani) Ingram – Digital Transformation Futurist • President & BOD Eclipz • former VP Verizon & CEO Verizon Smart Communities
- Ash Pachauri, PhD — Senior Mentor, POP Movement • Associate Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science
Tuesday, July 27 • 1:00–2:30 pm Central Time
Session 5: The Primary Role of Consciousness in Health and Wellness:
Strengthening Collective Health
Panelists
- Tony Nader, MD, PhD, MARR – Keynote
- Nancy Lonsdorf, MD – Author of The Healthy Brain Solution for Women Over 40, The Ageless Woman, and A Woman’s Best Medicine
- James Bray, MD — Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
- Keith Wallace, PhD – Chair, MIU Department of Physiology and Health • Founding President of Maharishi International University • Co-Director of the MIU PhD program in Physiology and the MS program in Maharishi AyurVeda & Integrative Medicine
- Julia Terry Arnold, PhD – 40-year cancer researcher
- Robert Schneider, MD – Dean of the College of Integrative Medicine and Co-Director of the PhD Program in Physiology at Maharishi International University • Director of the Institute for Natural Medicine & Prevention
- Ravi Patel, MD — Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Bakersfield, California
- Naina Patel, MD — Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Bakersfield, California
- José Saraiva Felipe, MD, PhD — Professor of Public Health, University of Minas Gerais, Brazil • Federal Congressman for 24 years • Secretary Health for the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais • Secretary of Medical Services Government of Brazil • Former Minister of Health of Brazil
Wednesday, July 28 • 1:00–2:30 pm Central Time
Session 6: The Primary Role of Consciousness in Leadership, Governance, and Problem Solving • PART 2: Business and Economic Development
Panelists
- Tony Nader, MD, PhD, MARR – Keynote
- Her Excellency Rosalía Arteaga Serrano – Former President of the Republic of Ecuador • former Secretary-General of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization
- Pat Reed – Co-founder and principal consultant at iHoriz • Experienced Agile executive, coach, transformational leader, and adjunct professor
- Mrinalini (Lani) Ingram – Digital Transformation Futurist • President & BOD Eclipz • former VP Verizon & CEO Verizon Smart Communities
- Anil Maheshwari, PhD – MIU Professor of Management & Information Systems
- Pratima Thakar, PMP, CSM – Former Senior Vice President, Citi Financial Services
- Marcelo Zambrano Lozano – Mexican business leader
Friday, July 30 • 1:00–2:30 pm Central Time
Session 7: Experiences of Higher States of Consciousness – Throughout Time and Today
Panelists
- Tony Nader, MD, PhD, MARR – Keynote
- Dr. Bevan Morris — President Emeritus, Maharishi International University • Prime Minister, Global Country of World Peace
- Fred Travis, PhD – Chair, MIU Department of Maharishi Vedic Science • Director, Center for Brain, Consciousness, & Cognition
- Craig Pearson, PhD – MIU Vice President of Academic Affairs • Author, The Supreme Awakening: Experiences of Enlightenment Throughout Time – and How You Can Cultivate Them
Today, when the world is facing so many critical problems, it is timely and vital to consider the primary role of consciousness in providing practical and profound solutions to the most important issues in our fields and to bring these solutions to the world’s leaders.
The symposium will be conducted by Tony Nader, MD, PhD, MARR, leader of the international Transcendental Meditation organizations, foremost expert in the science of consciousness, and author of the new book, One Unbounded Ocean of Consciousness: Simple Answers to Life’s Big Questions.
The sessions will feature presentations by experts in a range of fields and discussions with Tony Nader, exploring how consciousness and its development can address the challenges facing humanity and create a world that brings fulfillment to everyone.
John Hagelin, PhD, President of Maharishi International University, will moderate the sessions.
This symposium marks the first in a series of symposia to educate scientific and academic leaders. During this event, we will also plan for the series of symposia that will begin this fall. For this series, we will invite thought leaders in every area of human concern.
These symposia commemorate Maharishi International University’s Golden Jubilee, celebrating 50 years of Consciousness-Based education. MIU was founded in 1971 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who brought to light the simple, effortless technique for experiencing pure consciousness, Transcendental Meditation.
The symposium will be hosted at MIU and broadcast via Zoom.
NOTE – The participant list is subject to change
