MESEC Winter School 2024 - Banyoles, Catalunya
The Mediterranean is a symbol of creativity and diversity, of intellectual and cultural exchange, and of the search for a deeper understanding of the world and ourselves.
Inspired by this, the Mediterranean Society for Consciousness Science (MESEC) was born as a grassroots association of researchers in training in consciousness science. We seek to create the space to enter, reflect on, and flourish in the field of consciousness science. We nurture a diverse community that values open discussion and intellectual humility, and provides equal access to knowledge and opportunities to anyone passionate about consciousness science.
By organizing human-scale events in awe-inspiring environments, we create a space that motivates open-mindedness, imagination, and intellectual insight.
Winter School
The Winter School is the perfect entry route into consciousness science! Ideal for students as well as advanced researchers arriving from other fields, this event is designed to teach a theoretical background on methods, models, and philosophical underpinnings of consciousness science through a mix of lectures and hands-on tutorials. In addition to the educational content, the schedule involves engaging discussion sessions, a career panel, and a variety of social activities.
Workshop
The Workshop invites advanced students and researchers together with several leading scholars to jointly work on some of the most promising frontiers in consciousness science. You can expect a unique collaborative atmosphere with in-depth lectures, team projects, and inspirational scientific exchange. Balancing intellectual engagement with joint cooking of daily meals, an excursion, and various social activities, the Workshop provides a platform to explore innovative ideas in a relaxed Mediterranean style.
Residency
Inspired by artists' residencies and lab retreats, the Residency is an event for the MESECeers (alums of previous events) to reconnect, collaborate, and engage with our growing community. The schedule is intentionally light and flexible, including elective tutorials, one-on-one sessions, and project presentations. Participants are welcome to either focus on their own work or develop team projects, and we provide a space for shared projects to emerge organically.
Core values
Intellectual Curiosity
We approach science with an open mind and humility, balancing plurality of opinion with scientific integrity and rigour. By exchanging ideas with leading scientists and embracing diversity of thought, we encourage early-career researchers to explore beyond their niche.
Inclusive Empowerment
We strive to support early-career researchers in developing confidence and building resilience in academia, by providing them with training, tools, and a sense of community. By emphasizing inclusivity, we create equal opportunities for all early-career researchers to thrive in consciousness science.
Shared Qualia
At the core of our association are nice qualia : the sun and the sea–symbolising the warmth and breadth of our community. We believe that enjoying experiences together nurtures scientific partnerships, inspires novel ideas, cultivates long-term friendships, and in the long run creates wholesome careers.
