Dear computational neuroscience colleagues, we have a request for you today and an opportunity to have input into a new initiative. 

A group of researchers in contemplative science and humanities are planning a think tank to discuss building a new association tentatively called "The Society for Contemplative Research." This would bring together humanists, contemplative scholars and scientists from many disciplines who are working on the experience and nature of contemplative practices and their applications across a wide range of human endeavors. This includes the neuroscientific and clinical study of mindfulness, meditation, compassion, empathy, prosocial behavior, contemplation and other mind-body practices, as well as their philosophical and cultural contexts.

Towards this end, we have developed a survey that will help determine the level of interest in such an association and potential forms it could take. This information will be used to inform the Think Tank process happening in 2021. Therefore we are asking you to please fill out the attached survey, which will take around 10-12 minutes of your valuable time. Many thanks for this important contribution to advancing research and scholarship in the study of contemplation.

Survey link:  https://redcap.link/SCR

If you have questions, please feel free to contact us at: contemplative.info@gmail.com

Many thanks, MLI Think Tank Organizing Group (https://www.mindandlife.org/grant/international-society-for-contemplative-research/)

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David R. Vago, Ph.D. | Director | Contemplative Neuroscience & Mind-Body Research Laboratory

Research Associate Professor | Department of Psychology | Vanderbilt Brain Institute | Vanderbilt University

Director | AWARE Labs | Contract Research and Consulting

David.vago@vanderbilt.edu | P: 801-647-5906 

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Research Associate, Department of Psychiatry | Brigham & Women’s Hospital | Teaching Affliate of Harvard Medical School

Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory | dvago@bwh.harvard.edu