Beyond the Brain 2023 – Online Conference

I regard consciousness as fundamental, matter is derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness. There is no matter as such; it exists only by virtue of a force bringing the particle to vibration and holding it together in a minute solar system; we must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. The mind is the matrix of all matter.

Max Planck, Nobel Laureate

Beyond the Brain is the world’s premier conference series exploring new research on whether and how consciousness and mind extend beyond the physical brain and body. This year’s event covers children who remember previous lives, energy medicine and healing, spiritual awakening in scientists and academics, neuroscience and spirituality, terminal lucidity, DMT and consciousness, and the more general issues of nonlocal consciousness and the consciousness-brain relationship. There will also be an experiential session on each day.

Consciousness is one of the hottest topics in science, which is why we established the interdisciplinary Beyond the Brain conference series with Willis Harman and Edgar Mitchell of the Institute of Noetic Sciences at St John’s College, Cambridge in 1995. This will be the sixteenth in the series. The conferences all explore the frontiers of consciousness research beyond the limits of scientific materialism based on the assumption that the brain gives rise to consciousness.

We are hosting this year’s event in partnership with three other organisations active in the field: The Institute of Noetic Sciences, The Division of Perceptual Studies, University of Virginia and The Alef Trust, with whom we collaborate on MSc in Transpersonal Psychology and Consciousness Studies. This year marks the Golden Jubilee of the SMN as well as of IONS.

Our speakers are all at the cutting edges of their fields and will be discussing innovative research that probes the nature of consciousness. You will gain a vital overview and a deeper understanding of how consciousness research is expanding the horizons of science. This mind-stretching conference is not to be missed, so we greatly look forward to your participation!