|
First Year Students | ||
Gerhard Eilbacher |
B.Sc, Cognitive Science, University of Osnabrück , Germany Research Interests: Neuroscience, Cognitive Psychology, Psycholinguistic, Depth Psychology, Transpersonal Psychology, Consciousness Personal statement: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but in seeing with new eyes.” - Marcel Proust
My voyage of discovery leads into the countryside of the mind, the nature of consciousness and the realms of the unconscious. My aim is to research the neuro-somatic mind-body system and the mechanisms of human consciousness. My way is the method of science on the basis of experimentation, documentation, careful & conscious interpretation and merciless doubt.
In the half year I spend here at the BI I want to accumulate philosophical considerations focused on the contemporary possibilities and problems of consciousness research.
| |
Prashant Chandra |
B. Pharm, Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Personal statement: One of the attractions of this program is its inter-disciplinary nature; I think this will help a great deal in my career, as I will gain acquaintance with relevant areas from major disciplines in sciences. The fact that the Institute has access to several national and international journals and offers world-class facilities to its students, besides having a group of learned group of faculty members, has made me very keen on joining here for my pursuit of science of consciousness and the exciting areas connected to it. There are several outstanding issues in science. Whether we are nothing but our genes and what genes can and cannot do is still a highly debatable question. The entire scientific community was taken by surprise when they found that the number of genes in humans was much less than what was predicted; it is intriguing how a highly complex being like man came about to have just a few genes more than a fruit fly! These are very exciting areas in science, and I learn that the Bhaktivedanta Institute has this issue (about genes) as one of the areas in their research agenda. I would be previleged to be a part of this work at the Institute. There is a lot of research going on on this broad topic; gene therapy, biotechnology, clonig, stem cell research are few of them. During my B. Pharmacy days I got fascinated by human brain/mind. Do neurotransmitters cause various states of te mind or they are just associated with the respective mental states? Are we just our mind/brain or something more? What is memory and how is it created? Are the mechanisms of memory in humans and animals the same? I used to think about these and other questions. There are several neurological problems such as dyslexia, autism, schizophrenia, alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, ADHD, aphasia, and so on. We don not yet know their exact causes and don’t also have their complete cures. Also, we don’t know how brain gives rise to behavior; how it allows us to learn and have memories, be able to talk and so on; we don’t know what exactly happens when anaesthesia is given and the state of mind/brain in coma; we don’t know what is unconscious mind, its connection with the conscious mind and how it influences our conscious mind; how do sometimes people remain “conscious” even after being anaesthesized? We don’t know what emotions are and how do they originate in brains; to what extent and in what ways emotions are connected to reasoning; and whether we can explain everything about the brain in terms of its biochemical features; what is artificial intelligence; how is the mind state connected to various body states especially in case of bodily disorders. These are only few of the exciting areas I’d be interested in pursuing. I am also interested in pursuing the foundations of science. I think that in this course I will get an opportunity to study all these areas and much more. I think that this course will help me in achieving very good expertise in the area of my interest; I learn that there is a course called Guided Study in each semester as a part of which I can choose a topic, and do a research project in the same. I have gone through the Institute’s website and taken a look at the four approaches to study consciousness: “Current empirical science can now adequately account for the phenomenon of consciousness; science needs to evolve in a fundamentally new way in order to study the phenomenon of consciousness; consciousness cannot be studied within empirical science at all”. The Institute’s fourth approach to Consciousness Studies is very exciting. The Relational Property Viewpoint proposes the existence of relational properties which are different from primary and secondary properties. The consciousness-based study of matter, about studying consciousness-like properties of matter, is a very interesting and approach indeed, and I would be keen on pursuing it.
| |
Shikhar Maheshwari |
B. Pharm (Hons), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, U.P. Personal statement: We had always heard that we need to be conscious of the activities we do and what we think. But what we mean by telling one needs to be "conscious". I studied science in my school days, junior college as well as in my Engineering. There were many questions which were there at school and college levels but were never answered by my teachers, elders or peers regarding science and scientific theories and the way they are there. We had studied various theories which we used to cram up for the sake of examinations but never tried to understand the scientific basis behind them and the impact they had in our day to day lives. There were so many theories which were nothing more than theories which I read but could never understand the significance they had without the inclusion of the principle faculty to understand them and that is "consciousness". The question as to how science and scientific theories has an impact to our lives and its influence on the fabric of the society was mostly an unanswered question and will remain unanswered without understanding "consciousness". With this background, I joined the Bhaktivedanta Institute for pursuing MS in Consciousness Studies. It gives you a really rare opportunity to study as well as raise the fundamental questions of science and probe for answers in the paradigm of science. Consciousness Studies promises a landmark in a new way of looking at the structure of matter in a comprehensive and holistic way. One of the aspects of this program that I liked the most is its inter-disciplinary nature. This feature of the program will help me stand in good stead as regard industrial and research prospects, because these days people with inter-disciplinary exposure are preferred in industries as well as research. After having done my B. Pharm.(Hons.) and with a 3 year experience as a Software Developer, I would like my skills be utilized to be a part of solution to problems in the field of consciousness studies.
| |
Irina Martynenko |
Specialist degree in Mathematics, Kiev National University Research Interests: Mathematics, Consciousness and Philosophy. Personal statement: I liked mathematics from childhood, because my grandmother created a lot of fun with mathematical objects and I was fascinated. Only when I was 14 I realized how mathematics had so many applications. From being a hobby mathematics became an intriguing topic for me. After I had finished University I wanted to understand the nature of the world and philosophical connection between consciousness and mathematics. I think Bhaktivedanta Institute is the ideal place for doing that.
| |
Lalit Saraswat |
B.Tech, Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, U.P. Research Interests: Philosophy of Biology, Cognitive-Neuroscience, Dreams-Analysis, Epigenetics And Evolution, Systems Biology. Personal statement: Since my childhood, living world has always fascinated me. The complexity, variety and diversity of life forms have always intrigued me. I always wanted to discover the modus-operandi of this world in a precise way. Certainly as I grew up, biology provided me the apt tool to discover life in numerous forms and vigor. My education in Biotechnology always inspired me to ponder deep into the workings of any biological or technological system for that matter. To be more precise it has given me a rationalized and scientific way of questioning things. It is only at the masters level that I discovered the philosophical approaches to understand any matter, system and moreover the idea of Consciousness. Here, with its uniqueness of interdisciplinary approach, I got an opportunity to affirm or re-model the understanding of a particular subject.This course brought to me a new kaleidoscope to look at the things (cognitive-neuroscience, genetics, evolution etc ) differently . As I advance, many facets about objects, systems, cognition and information appear in a new light. Currently my work is on junk DNA along with the Epigenetic aspects and then I would move to neuro-genetics and its implications on human consciousness.
| |
|
Second Year Students | ||
Ronan Sandford |
B.Sc, in Computer Science , Institut Universitaire de Technologie de Lannion, France; Research Interests: Nature, Animal and Plant Kingdom, Philosophy, Artificial Intelligence, Science, Consciousness, Life, Psychology and Sociology. Personal statement: Since my childhood I never stopped to question the world and while growing I discovered many more questions. It is for me the most interesting challenge of life: understanding the reasons, if there is, about this world and the life we are living. I got interested in science very early as it seemed to be a good analysis of reality, but I then realized that something was missing in the explanation: consciousness itself. In fact all the basic questions that we all ask at least one time in our life are not answered by science: why am I here? What is the purpose of all these thing?.
| |
Jayant Mishra |
B.Sc. Microbiology, Bangalore University; Research Interests: Philosophy of Consciousness, Microbiology, study of relational property of matter in relation to biological systems, cellular intelligence, Mind Body medicine. Personal statement: "Scientists investigate that which already is. Technologists create that which has never been." I wished to engage in both. This choice was enhanced by a personal yearning to apply all that I learned. This was only possible in the field of Consciousness Studies. The interdisciplinary approach made it more interesting and worth pursuing. It was this need that propelled me to join Bhaktivedanta Institute, Mumbai .The institute was suggested to me while I was doing my post graduation by one of my professors.
| |
Amit Srivastava |
B.E. Computer Science and Engineering, University of Rajasthan; Research Interests: Consciousness, reality. Personal statement: Today the world has become a small place to live in. Information about the world is readily available in the world community. The intellectual and incisive abilities have also grown up. For those who have an logical and scientific attitude towards looking at things and see the mysteries of life and nature as subtleties surrounding us and have some insights revealing new facets of life and living. People who have got some faith evolved in some higher force at work and about the incompleteness of the scientific knowledge today to express the reality. Let me tell you that you are not alone. By the grace of God, whatever intellectual ability I have evolved and the experience of life I have had and for the studies I have done here, let me tell that for people sharing such experiences and views, I think that I am amongst the best places if not the best place in the world for such studies.
| |
Gautam Dalal |
B.E. (Hons) Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan; Research Interests: mind, consciousness, evolution, philosophy. Personal statement: | |
Meenu Kapoor
|
B. Pharmacy, University of Bombay; DCM, DVPT, Datapro
Research Interests: Application of consciousness studies to society, academics, socio-economics and corporates. Personal statement: I have been into IT and management for the past eight years. Having acutely felt the lack of higher education, I wanted to pursue my masters in a field that in some manner took cognizance of my knowledge in the pharmacy field and experience in the IT and Management sector. My bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy taught me, among other things, the influence of drugs on the human body and the physiology and anatomy of the human body. My brush with IT and more precisely programming languages exposed me to the world of logic and computers. This fueled my interest in the ‘Artificial Intelligence’ field, with a desire to know more about what intelligence, in humans and in machines in particular, is all about. To pursue a post graduate degree in management or pharmacy (if I wanted to join the pharma bandwagon) would have been the logical progression for me. I realized that a post graduate degree in any pharmacy-related field (pharmacology, pharmaceutics or clinical pharmacy) would be too didactic and unstimulating, and likewise for an MBA. I wanted to use my scientific and logical mind to approach certain issues that have always aroused my curiosity, like the meaning of life, intelligence, nature-nurture, consciousness, cognition and psychology. These issues have remained in the spiritual and psychological realm, but I wanted a truly scientific and logical study into these disciplines. I was looking up cognitive sciences over the net when the page of BVI cropped up in one of my searches. The more I read about it, the more I was convinced about the relevance of the course to my needs. One semester into the course, I realize that science is approaching the frontiers of the human mind and consciousness. Or rather, the subject of consciousness is knocking the doors of our understanding. In every scientific field, be it molecular biology, genetics, quantum physics, neuroscience or chemistry, we seem to have hit the final roadblock towards the ultimate comprehension. There seems to be an anticipation that one theory would suffice to account for all the puzzles that have dodged the above-mentioned sciences. The interdisciplinary nature of this course affords a study into the nature of consciousness and cognition from varied standpoints like those of AI, neuroscience, philosophy, psychology and logic. I hope to come out from this course with a deeper and broader understanding of life in general and cognition in particular and subsequently utilize this understanding to contribute significantly to whichever field I pursue later, be it research, academia or the corporate sphere. | |
|
Alumni (Some of the Past Graduates from the Program) | ||
Sergey Yelanin |
B.Sc. (Telecommunications), Kiev Institute of Communications, Kiev, Ukraine Research interests: artificial intelligence, neural networks, perception, knowledge acquisition and representation, memory, intelligence, consciousness, belief, philosophy. Personal statement: When I was fourteen, I became interested in things like origin of universe and life, life beyond death, paranormal phenomena. I tried to explain those things rationally and read books on cosmology, astronomy, physics, genetics, etc. One day I read a book about achievements in bionics and cybernetics of 1970s. It wasn't a "state of the art" book, but the idea of artificial life remained in my memory. I thought it could help me to reveal the secret of life. In 1998 I entered Institute of Communications in Kiev. A couple of years later I remembered that interest and found some books on neural networks and tried to simulate them on my computer. I also started to learn Prolog, an AI programming language. Along with it I was trying to model humans in 3D-modelling software and provide them with intelligence. I was also interested in Virtual Reality as an idea of the existence of different perceivable worlds. I have basic skills in 3D graphics, Web programming, Database management and programming, C/C++ programming. In 2002 I received BSc and in 2003 MSc in Engineering (Telecommunications) (thesis on fiber optic networks). I would like to do research in field of A.I. and Consciousness Studies. I think that consciousness is not just a product of highly organized matter or complex combination of brain cells and neural signals. It is something more subtle, something that manifests itself through that. It is an amazing, miraclous and mysterious phenomenon. We do not know yet what it really is. We constantly discover new dimensions of it, extend knowledge about it and deepen our understanding of this phenomenon. I want to understand the nature of mind and consciousness, and I think I can do that through A.I. studies. I would like to thank the administration of Institute for providing an opportunity to study and do research under the guidance of the professional and highly qualified faculty.
| |
Rozaliya Radeva |
B.S. Molecular Biology, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Research Interests: consciousness, subconsciousness, neuronal disorders Personal statement: In the beginning of my studies in the field of molecular biology I was convinced that molecular biology is the only and best way to show how life looks. But subsequently I realized that there must be something behind the processes which maintain the amazing order in the cell. What makes the cell to function (or disfunction) in a certain way but not in some other? Most of all, what is the final purpose of it? I like to see the cell as a small universe, and giving answers(even only approximately) to these questions will help me to understand the world which we belong to. I think Bhaktivedanta Institute gives an unique opportunity for this.
| |
Anand Kamal
|
B.E. in Medical Electronics, Vishveswaraiah Technological University, Belgaum Karnataka
Research interests : philosophy, cognitive neuroscience and perception Currently working for IPPro (a patent services firm) in Bangalore. Personal statement: When I saw the B.I. poster for the first time, I had envisioned B.I. as more of a research institute than an academic one. Apart from the fascination of the course itself, the exploratory atmosphere that a research institute creates was a compelling reason for me to join B.I. Two semesters into the course, the excitement that the poster created within me is very much alive and growing. My experience at B.I. so far has been very pleasant. To begin with, I must say that my stay was made very comfortable here with convenient lodging and healthy food. I couldn’t have benefited from the course had this not been so. The institute was kind enough to grant scholarship to me which has enabled me to pursue my study here without any financial worries. I find the course content to be very comprehensive. What impresses me more is the scholarly way in which the entire program is conducted. By emphasizing on investigative learning and critical thinking, the lectures and class discussions have inculcated a strong research culture in me. The guided study projects gave me an opportunity to know what it’s like to research on a scientific topic. The course design makes ample time available for this activity. Besides imparting interdisciplinary knowledge, the lectures here have shaped me into a mature thinker. Thus, this course has truly been a stepping stone to research for me. The fellow students here are well versed in their respective fields. My interaction with them has broadened my knowledge to a large extent. Frequent informal discussions with them have sharpened my thinking, and improved my ability to articulate my ideas clearly and concisely.
| |
Deepak Gupta |
B.E. (Electronics and Communication Engineering), Punjab University Research Interests: foundations of physics, mathematics, AI and philosophy Currently working for IPPro (a patent services firm) in Bangalore. Personal statement: I belong to Chandigarh. Since early age, I have been exposed to good education, especially in High School, where I was lucky to have wonderful teachers. During this period I developed a genuine interest in physics. They stressed on clearing the fundamentals and discussions in the class were a way to clear your ideas. As a result I got admission in B.E., Electronics and Electrical Communication, PEC, Chandigarh. The environment in college was very different; it motivated learning for exams and not for developing understanding. I was not able to adjust to requirements of the situation. During the course, I was introduced to AI, and I found it very interesting as the field was still young. I gave two seminars on AI, which helped me to understand the basics of the field. But further study led me to believe that AI was missing something, which I didn’t know, at that point. After completing B.E., I taught physics to pre-engineering students. During this time I listed the subjects I wanted to study, and the only institute that was teaching those subjects, in the whole world was BI. So, I decided to join the course. I have found the institute according to my needs. Library has an excellent collection. Faculty is itself involved in research and is very helpful to students. All students are self-motivated for research and long discussions are part of the day. Further, institute has provided me with full scholarship, which allows me to fully focus on the course work.
| |
ROHIT GUPTA |
M.Sc. (Mathematics), Mumbai University Research Interests: theoretical physics and philosophy Currently working at eClerx--a KPO Dissertation Title: Non-standard Models of Peano Arithmetic—A Review Personal statement: I live in Mumbai and have completed my education over here. I developed interest in research during B.Sc. I have been interested in mathematics because it requires sharp logical mind. Mathematics helped me to sharpen my logical skills. I developed certain ideas about doing research during B.Sc. I always wanted to get to the roots of whatever I was doing, because I believe that understanding the fundamental issues is a necessity for complete understanding and innovation. So, I joined M.Sc. course in mathematics at Mumbai University with the idea of pursuing research in mathematics. But there I felt that these courses do not answer the fundamental questions like why certain things are true. Many of these fundamental questions cannot be answered or probably do not have any answers but one can at least discuss these issues. Such kinds of discussions are generally not entertained in our education system. Especially, in mathematics, which originates from human mind, one should know how a certain idea was realized and was thought of. I became interested in this M.S. course because the curriculum deals with such fundamental questions. Here the teachers are very helpful and encourage all sorts of questions from the students. The library is excellent and the other facilities like computer, accommodation are also good.
| |
Bhuvanesh Awasthi
|
M.Sc. Life sciences, University of Pune, Research Interests: Neural correlates of consciousness, mind-body medicine, philosophy of science, altered states of consciousness, foundations of quantum physics. Dissertation Title: Psychophysiology of Emotion: review and alternative views Personal Statement: Having spent a major part of my academic life in Pune, my skeptic mind was intrigued by its very own existence. Quest for understanding and scientifically analyzing the hidden mysteries of life and consciousness brought me to Bhaktivedanta institute which is one of its kind in the world and is a pioneer in the field of consciousness studies or rather consciousness based studies of matter. Western science and all of its brilliant discoveries have been built on the tenet that we can and should want to achieve objectivity. On the other hand, we see the world in the unique way our life experience, socialization, and cultural & religious upbringing permit us to see it. An effort to understand how we ‘understand’ and the science of experiencing draws my attention towards this new frontier in science-the multidisciplinary field of consciousness studies which has immense potential to deepen our relations and insights into Art, Science, literature and philosophy. The eternal enigma of life and its origin has been haunting human species since pre-historic times. My understanding of life and life sciences during my academic days in the Oxford of the East i.e. University of Pune made me consciously choose to get into this unique inter-disciplinary field of consciousness studies. With several allied fields in the program that include artificial intelligence, quantum physics, psychology, neurosciences and mind-body medicine, it is surely a privilege to be a part of this new revolution and a possible paradigm shift in scientific understanding of nature and life and our perception of this world.
| |
BHAUSAHEB BIRADAR |
B. Pharmacy, Pune University
Research Interests: philosophy of mind, theoretical physics, cognitive science, neuroscience Currently a Project Officer at Bhaktivedanta Institute Personal statement: Since my early graduation days my mind has always been abuzz with some profsound questions like ‘What it actually means to be a human being?’ ‘What is the place of humanity in this universe?’ ‘What is life and its ultimate truth?’ etc. which I think is quintessentially human. The most striking, fascinating, (I’m scrambling for adjectives of course) aspect that sets us apart and places us above (we think so…and we might be right too…) the inanimate matter and lower animals is our being bestowed upon with a wonderful gift in the form of higher levels of consciousness--the most enigmatic ‘stuff’ in this universe. I understand that unfolding the conundrum of consciousness will greatly heighten our understanding of ourselves and usher us in the close vicinity of knowing what life is. I want to dedicate my entire life to brain research. I attended an international conference on consciousness in Bangalore, India which helped me make my acquaintance with some of the topics in this field. I wanted to pursue this field but didn’t know any institute which offered well-designed, globally acknowledged academic course in. Then I saw this institute’s poster in Osmania University and applied immediately. I thank this institute for giving me this wonderful opportunity to study this field. I think the beauty of this course here lies in its multidisciplinary nature where subjects like philosophy & consciousness, neuroscience & consciousness, mind-body medicine, physics & consciousness, artificial intelligence & consciousness are taught. The institute’s maverick approach to study matter called ‘Consciousness-based Study of Matter’, ingeniously developed by the director, upon reaching its culmination will not only peel away our layers of ignorance but change the face of science altogether.
| |
RAJESH PARASURAMAN (Year: 2000) |
M.Tech, Biomedical Engineering. I.I.T, Mumbai, India M.B.B.S, Nagpur Medical College, India M.S. Consciousness Studies, Bhaktivedanta Institute, Mumbai & BITS, Pilani, India Research Interests: Attention, Perception, Matter & Quantum Physics, Mind-Body Medicine, Indian philosophy. Personal statement - I live in Mumbai and work as a day scholar in Bhaktivedanta Institute. After a few years of professional life, I got enrolled for a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, at I.I.T, but an interest in Consciousness brought me here. Consciousness Studies is the emerging new discipline. I am interested in all major consciousness related subjects like Neuroscience, Mind-body medicine and Quantum Physics. Consciousness Studies has expanded the horizons of science and in the process has 'redefined' science and I consider myself fortunate to be a part of this major scientific revolution. The Bhaktivedanta Institute provided me with a unique opportunity to study diverse subjects like Artificial Intelligence, Neuroscience, Physics, Western and Indian Philosophy, Mind-Body Medicine, Psychology, all under one roof. My thesis area is a defined aspect of Consciousness, namely, Attention - and its analysis from the perspective of Psychology, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering and Quantum Physics. The Institute library has a very good collection of books and the best experience here has been the intellectually stimulating formal and informal discussions with people from varied areas of research interest.
| |
VINOD KUMAR.U (Year: 2000) |
M.A - Psychology. Calicut University, India M.Phil, Psychology. Calicut University, India M.S. Consciousness Studies, Bhaktivedanta Institute, Mumbai & BITS, Pilani, India Research Interests: Vision, Illusions, Psychoanalysis, Clinical Psychology, Neuro-scientific aspects of Consciousness (Neural Correlates). M.S. Dissertation title: "Visual Illusions - The Significance of Context". Guide: Dr. R.V.Gomatam Personal statement - My home is in Kerala, South India. (Kerala is a beautiful state - visit www.kerala.com) The Consciousness Studies program has much to offer for all fields and that involves my subject of interest too, i.e. Psychology. My primary area of interest in consciousness is its psychological and neuroscientific aspects and its analysis from a cultural and historical perspective. That way, we might get an interesting picture on how the 'concept of consciousness' evolved and how it relates to the present methodology of research. My M.S thesis is on 'Visual Illusions, with special emphasis on the Role of Context in Illusions' and its importance in the study of consciousness. The Institute provides the perfect foundation for a person of my kind of interest.
| |
SABERI ROY (Year: 2000) |
M.Sc. Psychology, University of Calcutta, India. M.S. Consciousness Studies, Bhaktivedanta Institute, Mumbai & BITS, Pilani, India Research Interests: Philosophy of mind, philosophy of science (matter and causation) consciousness and quantum mechanics, psychoanalysis, Eastern philosophy. Project Officer at Bhaktivedanta Institute 2002-2003 Currently free lance technical writing My research interests include the philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and the relation between the notion of matter and the problem of consciousness, considering the frameworks provided by physics, philosophy and psychology. My M.S dissertation is on the 'Problem of Cause within Consciousness Studies' and where causality stands in the natural sciences. My other interests include creative writing, art, existentialism and psychoanalysis. The institute's growing library is my favorite haunt and has an excellent collection of books related to all fields of consciousness studies. The Institute's unique effort in bringing the 'holy grail of knowledge', the phenomenon of Consciousness, that has perplexed humanity for the past thousands of years, within the realm of science, is worthy of great appreciation and will definitely meet with success.
| |
BALARAJU BATTU (year: 2000) |
M. Sc - Physics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India M.S. Consciousness Studies, Bhaktivedanta Institute, Mumbai & BITS, Pilani, India Research Interests: Quantum Mechanics (EPR Paradox and Bell's theorem), Statistical Mechanics, Consciousness & Physics. M.S. Dissertation title: "The EPR Paradox". Guide: Dr.P.K.Joshi. Personal statement - Before coming here, I was in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (visit-www.fullhyderabad.com and www.hyderabad.com). I am a lover of theoretical physics, poetry, and art films. I have a Master of Science (M.Sc) degree in Physics from Osmania University, Hyderabad. I was enrolled for the M.Sc.Tech program in 'Computational Techniques for Physicists' in the University of Hyderabad, when I learnt about the Consciousness Studies program conducted by Bhaktivedanta Institute in collaboration with BITS, Pilani. I joined the program not only because of its impressive curriculum and course contents, but also because of its emphasis on the 'foundational problems' of modern science. As a student of physics, I am interested in the notions of 'matter' and 'space-time', theories which form the basic issues of inquiry in quantum mechanics and relativity. It is my opinion that though consciousness is a 'philosophical' problem, only by appealing to the foundational issues of theoretical physics, we might be able to solve it. My research interest is the famous 'EPR Paradox', the problem of non-locality and how this relates to consciousness studies. The Bhaktivedanta institute has given me the opportunity to do this unique research on two very important aspects of scientific inquiry: EPR paradox and Consciousness. With its completely 'different' research approach, the institute is bound to emerge as one of the premier institutes within the frontiers of science, in the near future.
| |
ANANT BHASKAR GARG (Year: 2000) |
B.E Computer Science, Motilal Nehru Regional Engineering College, University of Allahabad Advanced Diploma in Software Technology - Center for Electronics Design and Technology of India, Mohali M.S. Consciousness Studies, Bhaktivedanta Institute, Mumbai & BITS, Pilani, India Research Interests: Human-Computer Interaction, Learning and Human Behavior, Bioinformatics, Cognitive systems, Indian Philosophy.
| |
Dr. Chakravarthi Ramakrishna (Year: 1999) |
M.B.B.S., Kasthurba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka M.S. Consciousness Studies, Bhaktivedanta Institute, Mumbai & BITS, Pilani, India Ph.D. Harvard University (2007) Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at New York University, Dept of Psychology and Neural Science M.S. Dissertation Title: "On the Timing of Conscious Experience- A Critical Review of Libet's Work" Guide: Dr. S. Nagarkatti Personal statement - To begin with, it must be said that Bhaktivedanta Institute is a unique institute. I first noticed the poster advertising this course while I was studying medicine in Manipal. I was immediately attracted towards it as it offered all the subjects I really liked - physics (to which I had no access in medicine), neuroscience, evolution, artificial intelligence, philosophy and so forth. I joined the course in spite of advice against it (since I would be leaving a very noble and lucrative profession once I take up research). Once here, the scope and breadth of this multidisciplinary field fascinated me. Consciousness has often touted as the final frontier in human understanding. Almost anything in the universe is potentially explainable within the scientific framework, whereas the questions about how we feel, sense, perceive, and other such 'subjective' qualities do not have even the beginnings of an answer. It is deeply related to the concept we have about ourselves. The relevance of consciousness studies in this fact and also the immense benefits that can accrue by unraveling and understanding the workings of the human mind. For example, advances in artificial intelligence and the cognitive sciences can result in technology that might revolutionize the way we live; or a change in the way we understand the concepts of matter, causality, time, etc., can, once again, change, in Copernican proportions, the way we look at the world.
| |
|
B.A. in Philosophy, California State University, Sacramento, CA, USA M.S. Consciousness Studies, Bhaktivedanta Institute, Mumbai & BITS, Pilani, India M.S. Dissertation Title: "The Act of Conceptualization - An Exploration of Concepts and Cognition" Guide: Dr. R.A. Sinari | |
| Dr. Meenakshi Parab (Year: 1999) |
B.H.M.S., University of Poona, Maharashtra M.S. Consciousness Studies, Bhaktivedanta Institute, Mumbai & BITS, Pilani, India M.S. Dissertation Title: "Dream Phenomenology and Physical Health Status: A Case study" Guide: Dr. S. Nagarkatti
| |
SHAJI THOMAS |
M.Sc. (Physics), University of Calicut, Kerala M.S. Consciousness Studies, Bhaktivedanta Institute, Mumbai & BITS, Pilani, India Project Report: "Language Functions of Brain and Aphasia" (1997) | |
