CONFERENCE ON MEDITATION AND SCIENCE TIME AND PLACE: Monday, May 5, 2014, from 18:30 to 20:30, at Auditorium of Biblioteca Almeida Garrett, Porto, Portugal SPEAKER: Matthieu Ricard (PhD, Buddhist Monk - http://www.matthieuricard.org) PANEL DISCUSSION: - Alexandre Castro Caldas (Director of Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Univ. Católica, Portugal) - João Relvas (Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Univ. Porto, Portugal) - João Forjaz de Lacerda (Faculdade de Medicina, Univ. Lisboa, Portugal), moderator DESCRIPTION: During the past 20 years, neuroscientists have learned that the plasticity of the human brain is greater than previously known, and that it can be modified by both internal and external factors via the exposition to new events and training processes. In this conference, Matthieu Ricard will present the benefits of meditation - mind training - for overcoming the power that obsessive thoughts and negative emotions have over our minds, a power which undermines our well being and ultimately is the deep cause of suffering. He will describe work carried out by neuroscientists at prestigious research centers in the USA, such as Madison, Princeton, and Berkeley, and in Europe, such as the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, among others, and results showing that mind training can bring deep changes to our personalities. The talk will be followed by a panel discussion with Prof. Alexandre Castro Caldas (Univ. Católica), Dr. João Relvas (Univ. Porto), and Prof. João Forjaz de Almeida (Univ. Lisboa) as moderator. REGISTRATION (SCIENTIFIC ATTENDEES): If you would like to attend please send an email to office@krfportugal.org containing your name, scientific affiliation, and email address. The available space is limited, and seats will be assigned on a first come first served basis. There is no registration fee. REGISTRATION (GENERAL PUBLIC): Seats will also be available to non-scientific attendees, and tickets can be purchased from http://ticketline.sapo.pt/evento/meditacao-e-ciencia-8546. ORGANIZATION: Fundação Kangyur Rinpoche, Songtsen INFORMATION: office@krfportugal.org, (+351) 936 812 484 SUPPORT: Centro de Apoio ao Sem Abrigo (CASA, IPSS), Multicare, Câmara Municipal do Porto Any profits resulting from this event will be donated to CASA.