Two Zhichenkhar Talk Series Initiative on 1)Artificial Intelligence and 2) Mental Flourishing

In April-June 2021, Zhichenkar is hosting two virtual seminar series that engage Bhutanese and global experts in conversation on some of the great issues of our day: technological innovations and mental flourishing.

Below please find the programmes of each seminar series. Past seminar entries include links to the videos and presentations given; the speaker, moderator, date and time of the Future seminars are also provided together with their links. All seminars are also available on facebook. The series is organised by the Centre for Bhutan and GNH Studies together with the International Society for Bhutan Studies.

Mental Flourishing: Scientific and Practical Views on Emotional and Mind Training Series

 

Unwinding Anxiety

Professor Judson Brewer (Brown University)

  • Moderator: Dr Chencho Dorji (Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital)
    • 4 PM, Friday 23 April 2021

 

Buddhism and the Brain

Professor Richard Davidson (University of Wisconsin)

Social Connectedness and the Right to Belong

Professor Kim Samuel (Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness)

 

 Positive Emotions: A View from Affective Science.

Professor Barbara Fredrickson (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill )

Topic: Leading from the Emerging Future: From Ego-System to Eco-System Economics 

Speaker: Dr. C. Otto Scharmer (MIT)

  • Moderator: Aum Tashi Pem ( Director General, Royal Civil Service Commission)

Topic: Mindfulness: New Findings and Insights

Professor Willem Kuyken (University of Oxford Centre)

  • Moderator: Director Chencho Dorji ( Director of the office of the Prime Minister)
    • Friday 18th June 2021

Topic: Wellbeing mindset: What is the role of Mindsets in Development & Wellbeing?

Speaker: Jürgen Nagler

Moderator: Director Rinchen Wangdi( Gross National Happiness Commission)

    • Friday 2nd  July 2021

Topic:The value Orientations of Buddhist Entrepreneurs

Speaker: Dr. Gábor Kovács (Business Ethics Center of Corvinus University of Budapest)

Moderator: Mr.Singye Namgyel Dorji(Joint Managing Director, RSA Private Ltd.)

    • Friday 12  July 2021

Topic: Tantra: Englightenment to Revolution(Buddhism in Conversation on Contemporary Challenges)

Distinguished Speaker: Dr.Imma Ramos(Author, and Curator of the medieval to modern South Asia Collections at the British Museum)

Moderator:Dasho Zanglay Dukpa ( Former Vice Chancellor of Royal University of Bhutan and Former Minister of Health, Bhutan)

    • Friday 22  July 2021

Topic: Buddhism in Conversation on Contemporary Challenges (Life of Tsangpa Gyare(1161-1211), the founder of the Drukpa Kagyu School)

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Seiji Kumagai (Associate Professor Kokoro Research Center of Kyoto University)

  • Moderator: Khenpo Ugyen Namgyel (Leytshog Drungchen(Secretary), Central Monastic Body of Bhutan)
Topic: Buddhist and Western Views of Mind-Body Processes: Living with Plural Forms of Knowledge

Distinguished Speaker: Prof.Geoffrey Samuel (Honorary Associate at the University of Sydney, Australia and Emritus Professor at Cardiff University: Wales, UK)

Moderator: Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi (Opposition Leader, Former Minister of Minister of Labour and Human Resources, and Buddhist Practitioner )

    •  22nd September 2021

The Use of Artificial Intelligence and Innovative Solutions to Support Ethical and Good Governance

 The Role of Digital Technologies in Automating Civil Service Procedures:

H.E. Professor Bambang Brodjonegoro,  Minister of Research and Technology, and Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency

AI Solutions to Urban and Cyber Security Challenges:

Dr Yudhistira Nugraha, Director of the Jakarta Smart City Programme of the Provincial Government of Jakarta

  • Moderator: Department of Information Technology Director Jigme Tenzing
    • 2 PM, Thursday 22 April 2021)
    • Link to Powerpoint

Digitization of Ancient Texts
Dr. Elie Roux, Buddhist Digital Resource Centre BDRC

  • Moderator: Lama Lungten Gyatso (President of the Institute of Language and CulturalStudies, Royal University of Bhutan)

AI Solutions to Support Ethical and Green Government Policies

H.E Dr Maria Ohisalo, (Minister of the Interior, Finland)

Technology and Values in Government

Professor Ngaire Woods (Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford)

Water: New Strategies and Technologies for its Management and Use

Professor Robert Hope (University of Oxford)

Digital Technologies and Healthcare

His Excellency Honorable Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, in his professional capacity as Doctor and Surgeon will engage in a substantive dialogue with Professor Andrew Farmer, University of Oxford.

Affordable Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture

Professor Vikram S. Adve (Director AIFARMS National AI Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

The Role of AI and Drone Technology in Environmental Conservation  

Dr Yves Laumonier (Senior Scientist, Center fir International Forestry Research, CIFOR)

  • Moderator: Mr Sonam Wangdi ( Chief of Nature Conservation Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests)

COVID and COVID Vaccine

Professor Adrian Hill (Lakshmi Mittal Professor of Vaccinology and the Founder and Director of the Jenner Institute )