BrainMind Science Collective 2025
On March 21–23, 2025, in the Bay Area, the BrainMind Science Collective series united 150 scientists, innovators, and thought leaders working at the forefront of brain and mind sciences, alongside cross-disciplinary thinkers from AI, physics, and beyond.
The gathering was an "unconference", shaped not by a fixed agenda but by the collective energy and curiosity of the hand-picked participants. The format was open and unstructured, with ample space for spontaneity and creativity. Together, our diverse group of curious, accomplished attendees set the course, guiding discussions, leading breakout groups, and delivering 5-minute lightning talks. It was an intense, unpredictable, enlivening weekend--a living, breathing testament to curiosity and discovery.
While the unconference format encouraged open topic proposals, this inaugural gathering highlighted key themes: AI and brain science, vibrant brain aging, consciousness, cutting-edge neurotechnologies, contemplative neuroscience, and human flourishing. This was a space to leave orthodoxy and boundaries at the door, as together we questioned, learned, and reimagined the mind’s potential.
BrainMind gatherings are invitation-only. All participants are members of the BrainMind ecosystem and are carefully selected for potential contribution, influence, and intent. Apply below if you are interested in attending gatherings like this.
Memories from the BrainMind Science Collective
Learning:
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Experiencing:
Lightning Talk and Deep Dive Topics
Featuring
Ed Boyden is Y. Eva Tan Professor in Neurotechnology at MIT, a McGovern Institute Investigator, and professor of brain and cognitive sciences, media arts and sciences, and biological engineering at MIT. He is also an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Boyden leads the Synthetic Neurobiology Group at MIT, which develops tools for analyzing and repairing complex biological systems, and applies them to repair the brain and to create biologically accurate computer simulations of the brain. He also co-directs the MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering, which aims to develop new tools to accelerate neuroscience progress, and the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, which pioneers transformational bionic interventions across a broad range of conditions affecting the body and mind. He is a faculty member of the MIT Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Computational & Systems Biology Initiative, and Koch Institute.
Boyden received his PhD in neurosciences from Stanford University in the labs of Jennifer Raymond and Richard Tsien. He started college at age 14, studying chemistry at the University of North Texas with Paul Braterman, and went on to earn three degrees from MIT in physics, electrical engineering and computer science, by age 19. Boyden joined the MIT faculty in 2007 and was named a McGovern Investigator in 2010.
Ed Boyden, MIT
Featured Speaker
Dr. Keltner is one of the world’s foremost emotion scientists.
He is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the director of the Greater Good Science Center. He has over 200 scientific publications and six books, including Born to Be Good, The Compassionate Instinct, and The Power Paradox. He has written for many popular outlets, from The New York Times to Slate. He was also the scientific advisor behind Pixar’s Inside Out, is involved with the education of health care providers and judges, and has consulted extensively for Google, Apple, and Pinterest, on issues related to emotion and well-being.
Dacher Keltner, UC Berkeley
Featured Speaker
Combining a passion for music with scientific curiosity, Professor Viskontas works at the intersection of art and science. She has published more than 50 original papers and chapters related to the neural basis of memory and creativity. Her scientific work has been featured in Oliver Sacks’ book Musicophilia, Nautilus, Nature: Science Careers, and Discover Magazine. She has also written for MotherJones.com, American Scientist, Vitriol Magazine, and other publications. Her first book, How Music Can Make You Better, was published by Chronicle Books in April, 2019, and within a week was the best-selling music appreciation book on Amazon. She also serves as the Director of Communications for the Sound Health Network, an initiative promoting research and public awareness of the impact of music on health and well-being.
She often gives keynote talks, for organizations as diverse as Genentech, the Dallas Symphony, SXSW, TEDx and Ogilvy, along with frequent invited talks at conferences and academic institutions. Her 24-lecture course Essential Scientific Concepts was released by The Great Courses in 2014. Her second course, Brain Myths Exploded: Lessons from Neuroscience, based on a class she taught at USF, was released in early 2017 and hit #1 on the nonfiction bestseller list at Audible.com. Her third course, How Digital Technology Shapes Us was also based on a class she teaches at USF, and was released in 2020. Her forthcoming course, The Creative Brain, is slated to be released on the Wondrium platform in 2022. Dr. Viskontas's creative work includes stage directing opera. She is the Creative Director of Pasadena Opera, where she directed The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat, a chamber opera based on the famous case study written by Oliver Sacks. Other directing credits include Katya Kabanova with West Edge Opera at Cal Shakes in Orinda in 2021.
Indre Viskontas, University of San Francisco
Music Curator