The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds

CIHM Grand Opening Celebration, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama: May 15-16

The May 2010 celebration marked the public opening of the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds. In partnership with the Waisman Center and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this historic event offered the university, the local community, and the world a rare opportunity to listen and learn about the biology of a healthy brain, and how meditation, as well as love, kindness, forgiveness and compassion, have the potential to transform it.

9th Annual International Bioethics Forum: April 22-23

Taking the Measure of the Magic Mirror: Towards a Science of Consciousness. Guided by leaders in their fields, including philosophy, physics, botany, neurochemistry, and contemplative practice, this year’s program was designed to allow participants to explore many dimensions of this fascinating - and elusive – topic.

Wisconsin Symposium on Emotion: April 21-22

This years theme was Neuroplasticity of Emotion: Psychopathalogy and Treatment. Guest speakers were: Jennifer Beer, PhD; John Krystal, MD; Jon-Kar Zubieta, MD; Richard Davidson, PhD; Richard Tremblay, Phd; and Ron Duman, PhD. The symposium was sponsored by the HealthEmotions Research Institute. See also Press Release.

Sleeping with Enemy: A Mindful Guide to Sustainable Well Being: April 21, Rockford, IL

Presented by Dr. Donal MacCoon who is currently a research scientist with Dr. Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist at the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior. Dr. MacCoon is conducting research on Mindfulness and Sustainable Well-being.

Limpitlaw Lecture Series: February 4 in Hartford, CT

Richard Davidson delivered a Common Hour lecture entitled, “Change Your Brain by Transforming Your Mind: Neuroscientific Studies of Meditation.” at the John D. and Susan G. Limpitlaw Lecture Series sponsored by the Department of Religion and the Mindfulness Project at Trinity College.

University Roundtable: February 10 in Madison, WI

Richard Davidson kicked off this semester’s series with his talk, “Change Your Brain by Transforming Your Mind,’’ which explored the neuroscience of positive human qualities. Location: Memorial Union – Great Hall

NCCAM's 10th Anniversary Research Symposium: December 8 in Bethesda, MD

The symposium, Exploring the Science of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, was the signature event celebrating NCCAM's 10th anniversary. It highlighted exciting areas of science, framed within the key priority areas of natural products and mind-body medicine.

Mind & Life XIX: Educating World Citizens for the 21st Century: October 8–9 in Washington, D.C.

Educators, Scientists and Contemplatives Dialogue on Cultivating a Healthy Mind, Brain and Heart. Richard Davidson spoke during Session Two: Attention, Emotional Regulation, and Learning

Fall 2009 "What is Human?" Conference: October 1-3 in Madison, WI

This was a three day event exploring the transformations and genealogies of the human from a multidisciplinary perspective. The conference traced two overlapping lines of inquiry: one devoted to biotechnology, bioethics, and biopolitics (tissues, stem cells, genomics, IVF, the making of the human body) and the other to neuroscience, neurotechnology, and neuroethics (creativity, sovereignty, identity, emotion, plasticity, the making of the human mind and brain).

On Friday, October 2, Richard Davidson spoke at a session called " Toward a New Science of Feeling" and his talk was titled “Compassion as a Skill: Neuroplasticity and Meditation"

Google Tech Talk: September 23 in San Francisco, CA

Richard Davidson visits Google headquarters to present the Center's latest findings and research in the field of contemplative neuroscience with his talk titled, Transform your mind, change your brain: Neuroplacticity and personal transformation.

The Wisconsin Academy Evenings Series: September 15 in Madison, WI

Happiness 2050: Neuroscience, Education, and the Compassionate World Citizen Speaker: Richard Davidson, William James and Vilas Research Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, UW–Madison. Davidson spoke largely about his team's research and work related to children and adolescence, and what he believes are critical steps to ensuring today's youth are given the opportunity to understand and cultivate positive qualities of mind, such as love, kindness, compassion and focused attention. The scientific inquiry behind how these positive qualities of mind can be cultivated has been the catalyst for establishing the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds.

On demand streaming of this talk available at Madison City Channel home page under right hand "streaming video: on demand" column.

The Dhamma Brothers Film screening: March 26, 2009 in Madison, WI

Can meditation transform the hearts and minds of violent criminals? An award-winning documentary film based on a program in an Alabama prison looks at the issue.

There was a free public screening of “The Dhamma Brothers” at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at the Friends of the Waisman Center Auditorium, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705. The film was followed by a panel discussion.

Co-Sponsors:
UW - Milwaukee Helen Bader School of Social Welfare
UW - Madison Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, Waisman Center
Vipassana Prison Trust

Event press release

CASEL Forum: December 10, 2007 in New York, NY

The Heart-Brain Connection: The Neuroscience of Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning. Neuroscientist Richard Davidson presents his research on how social and emotional learning can affect the brain.

This presentation was recorded on December 10, 2007, at the CASEL Forum, an event in New York City that brought together seventy-five global leaders in education and related fields to raise awareness about social and emotional learning (SEL) and introduce important scientific findings related to SEL.