• Ephesus, Turkey

• March 22nd to 28th, 2026

• 20 participants

• 990€ - Participation fees will include accommodation for 6 days, all meals and the workshop fee.

• A limited amount of bursaries will be available for participants who wouldn’t be able to attend otherwise, covering part or all of the fees

• Application deadline: December 28th 2025, 23:59 anywhere on earth

What is it to be conscious? Who or what can be conscious, and how can we know? These timeless questions are at the center of one of today’s most exciting areas of science. Only in the past few decades has consciousness science become a lively, interdisciplinary field that brings together philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, medicine, computer science, physics, mathematics, and more. As artificial systems become more advanced, understanding consciousness in humans, in animals, and perhaps even in machines is more important than ever. Our one-week Winter School brings together curious people from around the world with the goal of educating and connecting the next generation of consciousness scientists. The curriculum is designed to offer an accessible and thorough overview of the main research areas in consciousness science. With keynotes, hands-on tutorials, and discussions led by leading researchers in the field, participants will engage with a wide range of scientific perspectives, build meaningful connections, and receive guidance on navigating their own paths in consciousness research. Set in a beautiful, supportive, and collaborative environment, the Winter School is designed to teach and build community. Whether you are an undergraduate, master’s, PhD student, or Postdoc, if you are eager to think deeply, learn widely, and join a vibrant international community, we warmly invite you to apply.

Program

The Winter School offers a week-long introduction to the science of consciousness through lectures delivered by leading experts across multiple disciplines. We begin with the historical and philosophical foundations of consciousness, followed by a day dedicated to major contemporary theories. In the following days, we will dive into several different subfields, including: neuroscience, enactivism, phenomenology, psychedelics research, and disorders of consciousness. Alongside the lectures, we offer interactive, hands-on tutorials that show how these philosophical, theoretical, and empirical frameworks can support and inspire your own research. Led by experienced researchers, these sessions provide both conceptual clarity and practical tools. By the end of the week, you will gain new knowledge, a supportive network of peers and potential collaborators, and a richer perspective on the many ways consciousness can be studied.

Scientific Chair

For the upcoming MESEC Winter School we are delighted to have Prof. Anil Seth as the scientific chair with us in Ephesus, Turkey. As one of today’s influential thinkers in consciousness science, Prof. Seth is widely known for advancing the “real problem” of consciousness. According to this approach, the main task of consciousness science is to explain, predict, and control the phenomenological properties of experience by understanding why a conscious experience has the specific qualities it has and how these arise from physical mechanisms in the brain and body. His bestselling book, Being You (2021), provides a more detailed and engaging introduction to the real problem and expands it into a broader account of how the brain constructs the self and our lived world. His recently published Behavioral and Brain Sciences article on biological naturalism has opened a heated debate about whether AI can ever be conscious and what the requirements for something to be conscious might be. Prof. Seth is Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex and Director of the Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science as well as Co-Director of the Brain, Mind, and Consciousness Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR).

We can’t wait to welcome you to a thoughtful and engaging week with Prof. Anil Seth. With his interdisciplinary perspective that combines neuroscience, philosophy and cognitive science, he brings a clear and approachable way of exploring consciousness. If you want to read more about him, have a look at his website.

Location

Ephesus, located in Turkey’s Central Aegean, has long been at a crossroads of cultures and spiritual traditions; offering a rich historical setting for exploring questions related to consciousness. Its landscape — forests, fertile fields, and vineyards along the Mediterranean coast — provides a calm and reflective atmosphere that supports dialogue and exchange. From ancient worship at the Temple of Artemis, to the early Christian presence evidenced by the House of the Virgin Mary, the area carries traces of diverse ways in which humans have understood the mind, the self, and the sacred. This layered heritage creates a thought-provoking backdrop for examining consciousness as a central aspect of human experience. The mild climate in late March, together with the scenic venue in the hills of Selçuk, offers a comfortable and welcoming environment conducive to focused learning, meaningful discussions, and the open exchange of perspectives.

Bursary

At MESEC, we recognize that participation fees can present challenges for early-career researchers. To help remove these barriers, MESEC Winter School offers a bursary program to reduce the cost of participation. With the generous support of the Templeton World Charity Foundation and the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), our bursary system helps ensure a diverse and accessible Winter School experience. We welcome applications from early-career researchers and students across all levels, from undergraduate through postdoctoral studies. If you are interested in applying for a bursary, please refer to the application form for further instructions. We encourage all eligible researchers to apply and we look forward to welcoming you to the MESEC Winter School!

Inclusivity and safety

As an organization, we are committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure a safe, inclusive environment, where participants and speakers from diverse backgrounds and communities feel welcome. All attendees will be picked up directly from Izmir Airport and transported by shuttle to our venue in Selçuk, an idyllic locale nestled in the hills overlooking the sea. The venue, which includes our accommodations, the lecture hall, and discussion spaces is located on a private property that will be occupied exclusively by Winter School attendees and a few members of venue staff. Additionally, MESEC has implemented an incident prevention and reporting process that will be fastidiously followed should an unexpected event arise. Rest assured, the wellbeing and safety of attendees is our highest priority.