September 24 - 26, 2010
Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts
The conference will focus on initiatives in contemplative pedagogy taking place in classrooms and institutions of higher education. It will explore how contemplative practices cultivate capacities of attention, equanimity, wisdom, and compassion, which are central to the lives of students and educators.
Contributed papers, poster sessions, and artistic presentations as well as plenary talks and contemplative practice sessions will explore the ways that contemplative practice is serving higher education. As educators integrate these practices into classrooms, studios, and co-curricular initiatives, they are learning how they develop greater mindfulness, open heartedness, and insight.
Featuring:
Stephen Prothero is a professor in the Department of Religion at Boston University and the author of Religious Literacy: What Americans Need to Know (HarperOne, 2007). He has commented on religion on dozens of National Public Radio programs, and on television on CNN, NBC, MSNBC, FOX, and PBS. He was also a guest on "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart and "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Prothero received his BA from Yale in American Studies and his PhD in the Study of Religion from Harvard. He lives on Cape Cod, and he tweets @sprothero.
Arthur Zajonc, Director of The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society; Professor of Physics at Amherst College; scientific coordinator for the Mind and Life dialogues with the Dalai Lama; and author of the recently published Meditation as Contemplative Inquiry and the forthcoming Exploring the Heart of Higher Education with Parker Palmer.
Ed Sarath, Professor of Music and Director of the Program in Creativity and Consciousness Studies at the University of Michigan. He is actively nationally and internationally as performer, composer, and recording artist, and author. His most recent recording features the London Jazz Orchestra performing his large ensemble compositions. His articles appear in music, education, and contemplative studies journals. His book Music Theory through Improvisation was published by Routledge in September 2009, and he is currently completing Jazz, Creativity, and Consciousness: Toward an Integral Vision of Music, Education, and Society. He is founder and president of the International Society for Improvised Music.
Call for Papers
The conference welcomes proposals concerning contemplative pedagogy, methodology and epistemology within and across disciplines and through co-curricular initiatives. Submissions of proposals for panel discussions are also invited. Please send a title and an abstract of not more that 200 words for a 30 minute paper or performance along with name, institutional affiliation and 50 – 100 word professional biography to beth@contemplativemind.org by May 1, 2010. Notification of inclusion in the program will be made by June 1, 2010. Late papers will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Attendance and Conference Fees
Attendance is restricted to Association Members. New members may join at the conference attendance rate of $50 for a one-year faculty membership/$30 for a one-year graduate student, part-time, or retired membership. If you're not yet a member, you can complete the membership application as part of the conference registration process.
Conference Fee
$250 regular/ $190 student, part-time, or retired.
The fee includes meals from reception Friday evening through mid-morning break on Sunday.
Cancellation Policy
Before August 13th: Full refund, less 10% processing fee.
After August 13th: Due to contractual obligations, we will be unable to provide refunds on cancellations made after this date.
Payment is due by Friday, August 13, 2010. No refunds will be made due to cancellation after the due date.
Location
All conference events will take place on the Amherst College Campus. Converse Hall, where there is registration and a reception on Friday, September 24, 2010 at 7:00 pm, is shown on the campus map at https://www.amherst.edu/map/camp_map-3-1.html.
Agenda
A brief agenda appears below. An expanded version is will be available later this Spring.
Friday, September 24
7:00 pm Registration and Reception in Porter Lounge, Converse Hall
8:00 pm Keynote Address
Saturday, September 25
8:00 am Meditation
9:00 am Conference Opening
10:30 am Parallel Sessions on Contemplative Practice and Research from members
12:00 pm Lunch
1:30 pm ACMHE Forum
3:00 pm Parallel Sessions on Contemplative Practice and Research from members
5:00 pm Plenary
6:00 pm Reception and Dinner
8:00 pm Arts Evening with Ed Sarath
Sunday, September 26
8:00 am Meditation
9:00 am Plenary Panel Presentation
10:30 am Parallel Sessions on Contemplative Practice and Research from members
12:30 pm Conference Closing
Abstracts of presentations during parallel sessions and biographical information about the presenters will be posted after June 1, 2010.
Accommodations
The conference has a group booking agreement with two nearby hotels (in Hadley, MA):
Holiday Inn Express
$151/night
413-582-0002
Econolodge
$124/night (includes breakfast)
413-582-7077
Guests make their own reservations. In order to receive the discounted group rates, you must reserve by August 9, 2010 and mention the Contemplative Academy. This tends to be a very busy weekend, so please book your room as soon as possible.
Ride Board and Room Share
After registration, attendees will receive access to the Ride Board and Room Share features in the online professional community on the Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education website.