John Vervaeke, Ph.D. is an award-winning professor at the University of Toronto in the departments of psychology, cognitive science, and Buddhist psychology. He currently teaches courses in the Psychology department on thinking and reasoning with an emphasis on insight problem solving, cognitive development with a focus on the dynamical nature of development, and higher cognitive processes with an emphasis on intelligence, rationality, mindfulness, and the psychology of wisdom. In addition, he taught a course in the Buddhism, Psychology, and Mental Health program on Buddhism and Cognitive Science for fifteen years. He is the director of the Consciousness and the Wisdom Studies Laboratory. He has won and been nominated for several teaching awards including the 2001 Students’ Administrative Council and Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students Teaching Award for the Humanities, and the 2012 Ranjini Ghosh Excellence in Teaching Award.

‍

Dr. Thomas Steininger has been a pioneer and explorer of dialogue for over 25 years. The philosopher, founder and editor of evolve magazine, presenter of Radio evolve and co-founder of emergent dialogue, has been practicing meditation for 40 years and has been introducing people to meditation practice for 15 years.

‍