Paradigms in Consciousness Science Workshop
Consciousness Science, also known as the Scientific Study of Consciousness, is a multidisciplinary field that investigates how conscious experiences relate to the subject matter of the natural and human sciences—most notably, the brain.
This workshop is dedicated to discussing and critically reflecting on the paradigms in Consciousness Science. Our goals are:
- To identify the paradigms at play in contemporary consciousness science across research areas and research topics.
- To understand the historical and cultural roots of these paradigms, and, a fortiori, how these roots shape current research in the field.
- To critically reflect on the scope and limitations of the paradigms, in particular, where the boundaries and ultimate questions of the field are concerned.
- To highlight where and how paradigms in the field are already changing or starting to change.
- To facilitate the discussion of new ideas and proposals that mayto change paradigms in Consciousness Science, in particular in conversations with other fields and contemplative traditions.
On the first day of the workshop, we explore these topics from a theoretical perspective. Together, we will ask: What are the dominant assumptions or even dogmas currently shaping the field? How do they emerge, persist, and influence research agendas? And how might they be revised, challenged, or expanded? Our goal is to open up a shared space of reflection on the very foundations of the discipline.
On the second day of the workshop, we turn to practical considerations, with a focus on methodological innovation: Which existing approaches already embody a paradigm shift in consciousness research? Which new methods (conceptual, empirical, or theoretical) should be developed to realise the shifts envisioned during the first day? Our goal with the second part of the workshop is to inspire researchers to engage with new tools, approaches, frameworks and conceptions that could seed future paradigm shifts in the field.
Both days of the workshop will comprise invited talks as well as discussion sessions. To make the workshop easily accessible to researchers from around the globe, it will be held in a hybrid format.
Interactive in nature, this workshop brings together researchers with diverse backgrounds and from all academic career stages. It seeks to encourage creative experimentation and aims to provide a safe environment to share and exchange perspectives on current and emerging paradigms in consciousness science, as well as novel work that already puts paradigm-shifts into practice. Our hope is for the workshop to spark creative approaches and novel ideas to advance consciousness research.
Date & Time
Date: December 11 – December 12, 2025
Time: Programme TBA
Location: BAMΞ, University of Bamberg, Bamberg & Online, Zoom
This workshop is part of BAMΞ's Mathematical Phenomenology Sprint.
Invited Speakers
TBA
Registration
If you would like to participate in this workshop, please apply via the form linked below. Please note that in order to facilitate good discussion sessions, spaces are limited. We are looking forward to welcoming you!
Organizing Institutions
Bamberg Mathematical Consciousness Science Initiative (BAMΞ)
Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum
Department of Communication, University of Copenhagen
Contact
In case of questions, please email lara.braeuchle(at)ruhr-uni-bochum.de.
Updates
Updates about this workshop and similar activities are available via:
- Our mailing list, register here.
- Our Google calendar, available here.