On April 1-7 2025, the Epidemiology Department helped to sponsor The Art of Mindful Living at Dartmouth College. This week of mindfulness practice and instruction was led by Zen Buddhist monastics from Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism. Our department’s Diane Gilbert-Diamond, one of the chief organizers for the event, collaborated with Dartmouth’s Student Wellness and The William Jewett Tucker Center to bring the well-attended event to Dartmouth’s campus. A highlight of the week including a scientific symposium titled, “The Buddha The Scientist” that explored how mindfulness practice can help to cultivate a positive scientific community. During the symposium Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn’s gave an impactful keynote address titled, “The Intersection of Mindfulness with Science and Medicine). Dr. Elli Weisebaum (U. Of Toronto), Dr. Sara Lazar (Harvard Medical School and MGH), Dr. Eric Loucks (Brown), Dr. Zaneta Thayer (Dartmouth), Dr. Jörg" Matschullat (Dartmouth), and Dr. Steven Leach (Dartmouth) also gave wonderful talks at the intersection of mindfulness and science.
All the videos from the week have been uploaded to YouTube as well as an article from Deer Park Monastery.