Beyond the Brain

Beyond the Brain 2024 is coming soon!

8th – 10th November

Take a peek

Join Dr Rupert Sheldrake and Dr Iain McGilchrist in dialogue at Beyond the Brain 2023.

ABOUT

Beyond the Brain is the world’s premier conference series exploring new research on whether and how consciousness and mind extend beyond the physical brain and body.

 The first of the conference series was run in 1995. This year’s event covers science and spiritual practices, the boundary between neuroscience and mystical experience, transpersonal psychology, psychedelics and the brain, death and after-death communication, consciousness in relation to the brain and the universe, and the relationship between science and spirituality. There will also be an experiential session on each day.

Consciousness is one of the hottest topics in science, which is why we established the interdisciplinary Beyond the Brain conference series with Willis Harman and Edgar Mitchell of the Institute of Noetic Sciences at St John’s College, Cambridge in 1995. This will be the fourteenth in the series. The conferences all explore the frontiers of consciousness research beyond the limits of scientific materialism.

testimonials

“Wonderful opportunity to listen to inspiring people, learn about the latest experiments and hypotheses and discuss ideas on consciousness and psi phenomena with others.”

“Quite frankly, this symposium served as an inspiration to me during what I consider to be ‘dark times’ in planetary consciousness. The speakers were excellent and the information quite likely vital if humanity is to survive the current challenges we now face as a collective species.”

“This far exceeded my expectations and allowed me to interact with leading academics on the subject of Near-Death Experience and allied subjects.”

Photo gallery 

Video gallery 

History 1995 – 2023

Beyond the Brain conferences have been running biennially since 1995. These conferences explore themes at the frontiers of consciousness studies, psychology and healing. Topics and speakers at the conference series are listed below:

Beyond the Brain 2023

3rd – 5th November
Location: Online

Speakers

  • Prof Masayuki Ohkado
  • Dr Vasileios Basios
  • Dr Jeffrey Dunne
  • Helané Wahbeh
  • Dorothea Fuckert, MD
  • Dr Oliver Robinson
  • Prof. Jim Tucker
  • Dr Rupert Sheldrake
  • Dr Iain McGilchrist
  • Pascal Michael PhD
  • Evan Premo
  • Paul Mills
  • Marjorie Woollacott
  • Cheyenne Loana Lückemeier
  • Valerie Reichmann Popowski
  • Terence Sexton
  • Michael Nahm
  • Grainne McAnallen
  • Dr Mona Sobhani
  • Dr Dean Radin
  • Prof Bill Bengston
BtB2023 poster
BtB2022 poster

beyond the brain 2022

4th – 6th November
Location: Online

Speakers

  • Dr Natasha Tassell-Matamua
  • Dr Steve Taylor
  • Prof Jeffrey Kripal
  • Ben Gross
  • Dr Yvonne Kason
  • Dr Siegmar Gerken
  • Judith Quin
  • Dr Eben Alexander III
  • Dr Jeffrey Mishlove
  • Fiona Hovsepian
  • Dr Lila Moore
  • Dr Bethany Butzer
  • Dr Oliver Robinson
  • Mitch Horowitz
  • Dr Helané Wahbeh

beyond the brain 2021

5th – 7th November
Location: Online

Access Recordings
Speakers
  • Rupert Sheldrake
  • Etzel Cardeña
  • Caroline Watt
  • Marilyn Schlitz
  • Peter Fenwick
  • Bruce Greyson
  • Graham Hancock
  • David Lorimer
  • Diane Hennacy Powell
  • David Lucke
  • Bruce Parry
  • Anthena Potari
  • Natalie Dyer
  • Oliver Robinson
  • Bernard Carr
  • Jessica Utts
Beyond The Brain 2021 posters 2
not 3

beyond the brain 2020

6th – 8th November
Location: Online

Access Recordings
Speakers
  • Prof Harald Atmanspacher
  • Dr Peter Fenwick
  • Tim Freke
  • Prof Janice Miner Holden
  • Prof Ed Kelly
  • David Lorimer
  • Prof Kim Penberthy
  • Dr Noelle St. Germain-Sehr
  • Amanda St. Germain-Sehr
  • Dr Iain McGilchrist
  • Dr Oliver Robinson
  • Dr Tamara Russell
  • Analaura Trivellato

beyond the brain 2019

2nd – 3rd November
Location: University of Westminster

Access Recordings
Speakers
  • Prof Stephen Braude
  • Evelyn Elsaesser
  • Amanda Feilding
  • Fabio Garces
  • Prof Betty Kovacs
  • Dr David Luke
  • Seth Newman
  • Prof Chris Roe
  • Dr Rupert Sheldrake
  • Dr Steve Taylor
  • Ken Wilber
  • Prof Marjorie Woollacott.
BtB2019 2
Beyond the brain

beyond the brain 2018

3rd – 4th November
Location: Excel Centre

Speakers
  • Dr Eben Alexander
  • Dr Jessica Bockler
  • Dr Peter Fenwick
  • Prof Les Lancaster
  • David Lorimer
  • Dr David Luke
  • Lynne McTaggart
  • Dr Raymond Moody
  • Charlie Morley
  • Karen Newell
  • Dr Rosalind Pearmain
  • Dr Pim van Lommel

beyond the brain 2017

28th – 29th October
Location: Regent’s University

Speakers
  • Dr Eben Alexander
  • Dr Jessica Bockler
  • Dr Peter Fenwick
  • Prof Les Lancaster
  • David Lorimer
  • Dr David Luke
  • Lynne McTaggart
  • Dr Raymond Moody
  • Charlie Morley
  • Karen Newell
  • Dr Rosalind Pearmain
  • Dr Pim van Lommel
BEYOND 1 3
Beyond The Brain 2015

beyond the brain 2015

Location: Latimer Place, Chesham

Speakers
  • Dr Alison Armstrong
  • Dr Ulisse di Corpo and Dr Antonella Vannini
  • Prof Alfred Mele
  • Prof Marilyn Monk
  • Dr Nura Sidarus
  • Prof Richard Silberstein

beyond the brain 2013

Shifting Consciousness: Brain, Mind and Self in the 21 st Century

Location: Latimer Place, Chesham.

Speakers
  • Dr Mario Beauregard
  • Dr Marilyn Schlitz
  • Rev. Peter Owen-Jones
  • Dr Dean Radin
  • Dr Andrew Powell
  • Dr Kate Anthony

beyond the brain 2011

The Science of Empathy and the Spirit of Compassion

Location: University of Winchester.

Speakers
  • Karen Armstrong
  • Dr Iain McGilchrist
  • Geshe Tashi Tsering
  • Prof Paul Gilbert
  • Dr Valeria Gazzola

beyond the brain 2009

Self and Death – What Survives?

Location: University of Winchester.

Speakers
  • Prof Bruce Greyson
  • Dr Peter Fenwick
  • Dr Andrew Powell
  • Prof Betty Kovacs
  • Prof Paul Robertson
  • Dr Anabela Cardoso
  • Prof David Fontana

beyond the brain 2007

A Still Point in the Turning World: Contemplation in Action

Location: Bath Spa University.

Speakers
  • Dr Carol Lee Flinders
  • Camille Helminski
  • Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia
  • Prof Les Lancaster
  • Dr Andy Newberg
  • Prof Paul Robertson
  • Sir John Tavener

beyond the brain 2005

Memory Beyond the Brain

Location: University of Lincoln.

Speakers
  • Dr Rupert Sheldrake
  • Prof John Gruzelier
  • Dr Iain McGilchrist
  • Prof Gary Schwartz
  • Roz Carroll
  • Dr Pim van Lommel

beyond the brain 2001

Scientific and Spiritual Perspectives on Meditation

Location: Ripon College, Yorkshire.

Speakers
  • Z’ev ben Shimon Halevi
  • Dr Ram-Prasad Chakravarthi
  • Dr Peter Fenwick
  • Prof James Austin
  • Dr Andrew Powell
  • Prof Arthur Zajonc
  • Sr Jayanti
  • Prof Guy Claxton
  • Dr Bisong Guo
  • Prof David Fontana
  • Jonathan Shear
  • Dr Alan Wallace
  • Elizabeth West.

beyond the brain 1999

Does Individual Identity Extend Beyond Birth and Death?

Location: St John’s College, Cambridge.

Speakers
  • Dr Marilyn Schlitz
  • Prof Erlendur Haraldsson
  • Diane O’Connell with Prof David Fontana and Dr Andrew Powell
  • Prof Ravi Ravindra
  • Geshe Ngawang
  • Prof Charles Tart
  • Dr Michael Grosso
  • Prof Mark Woodhouse
  • Dr Christine Page

beyond the brain 1997

Frontiers in Consciousness and Healing

Location: St John’s College, Cambridge.

Speakers
  • Anne Baring
  • Barbara Brennan
  • Dr Peter Fenwick
  • Prof David Fontana
  • Thomas J. Hurley
  • Dr Kim Jobst
  • Prof Ervin Laszlo
  • Dr Jean-Marc Mantel
  • Dr Andrew Powell
  • Prof Kenneth Ring
  • Prof Anthony Stevens
  • Dr Roger Woolger
  • Gillian Wright

beyond the brain 1997

Frontiers in Consciousness and Healing

Location: St John’s College, Cambridge.

Speakers
  • Anne Baring
  • Barbara Brennan
  • Dr Peter Fenwick
  • Prof David Fontana
  • Thomas J. Hurley
  • Dr Kim Jobst
  • Prof Ervin Laszlo
  • Dr Jean-Marc Mantel
  • Dr Andrew Powell
  • Prof Kenneth Ring
  • Prof Anthony Stevens
  • Dr Roger Woolger
  • Gillian Wright

beyond the brain 1995

New Avenues in Consciousness Research

Location: St John’s College, Cambridge.

Speakers
  • Anne Baring
  • Dr John Beloff
  • Dr Susan Blackmore
  • Prof Chris Clarke
  • Prof Guy Claxton
  • Dr Peter Fenwick
  • Prof David Fontana
  • Dr Stanislav Grof
  • Dr Stuart Hameroff
  • Prof Willis Harman
  • Prof Brian Josephson
  • Prof Ervin Laszlo
  • Dr Edgar Mitchell
  • Dr Marilyn Schlitz
  • Prof Charles Tart
  • Dr Max Velmans
SMN 1995 Btb

UPCOMING EVENT