Francisco Varela Lecture Series: "Well-Being Is a Skill" with Richard J. Davidson, PhD

Francisco Varela Lecture Series: "Science & Mindfulness: Well-Being Is a Skill" with Dr. Richard J. Davidson.

Scientific evidence suggests that we can change our brains by cultivating habits of mind that will improve well-being, including happiness, resilience, compassion and emotional balance. Each of these characteristics can be shaped and modified within our brain by experience and training, as shown by the ground-breaking research at the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the Waisman Center, UW-Madison. In this talk, Dr. Richard Davidson will share how using mental training to cultivate well-being can have a positive impact on happiness, creativity and productivity in the work place and at home.

Dr. Davidson's presentation will be followed by comments from panelists Tor Wager, PhD, Sona Dimidjian, PhD, and Naropa's Peter Grossenbacher, PhD. There will also be an opportunity for questions from the audience.

Richard J. Davidson, PhD, is a renowned neuroscientist and one of the world’s leading experts on the impact of contemplative practices, such as meditation, on the brain. He is the James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, Director of the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, and the Founder of the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison. Author of numerous publications, including The Emotional Life of Your Brain, he is the subject of the documentary Free the Mind. Learn more about Dr. Davidson's work.