United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Learning
in the Perspective of Complex and Long-Term Change
Click
on the forms and documents below to register for the colloquium;
to submit a proposal for a session or activity(deadline
April 1, 2007); and to obtain information about payment of
the conference fee.
If you use the MS Word versions
of the forms, right-click on the relevant form and use the 'save
target as' option to place it on your hard drive. Then open it,
fill out the various details, save it and email the completed
form to [email protected]. For any queries, or to request that
we send you the forms by email, please also contact [email protected].
The second Building the Scientific
Mind colloquium, BtSM2007, will take place in Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada. The Learning Development Institute (LDI) is
pleased to announce that it will be collaborating in organizing
the event with the Emily Carr
Institute of Art + Design (ECIAD). The adjacent photograph
shows an interior view of the Institute. ECIAD is based on Granville
Island, a beautiful part of Vancouver and a trendy place for
shopping and cultural activities. It is connected to the mainland
by a causeway for walkers, bikers and those who choose to use
public transport. It can also be reached by water taxi. Like
LDI, Emily Carr sees itself as a learning community, one that
is devoted to excellence and innovation in the Visual Arts, Media
Arts and Design.
ECIAD's offer to host BtSM2007
is not only practical as it allows us to keep the cost of participation
low; it is also highly relevant. In the spirit of transdisciplinarity,
which we see as an important perspective to overcome some of
the crucial shortcomings in the development of human learning,
it makes every bit of sense to pursue the dialogue on building
the scientific mind in an environment that cherishes the arts.
The previous - and first ever
- Advanced International Colloquium on Building the Scientific
Mind, BtSM2005, took place from 17 to 20 May 2005. It was organized
by the Learning Development Institute in collaboration with the
Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, The Netherlands, under
the patronage of UNESCO. Extensive detail regarding BtSM2005,
including papers, slides and sound files, is available elsewhere
on this Web site. The success of the first BtSM colloquium,
along with the determination and enthusiasm of those who participated
in it, is at the basis of the decision to continue the dialogue
and enhance it after a two-year interval. Work has thus started
to prepare for the 2007 event in Vancouver. The second colloquium
will provide an occasion to assess and discuss advances made
since the first meeting of the minds in 2005 while at the same
time offering the opportunity to explore new angles. Considering
the ongoing nature of the dialogue, would-be attendees of BtSM2007
will find it useful to explore the work done in 2005 and to (re)visit
the concept paper on The
scientific mind in context.
Thus, for the 2007 edition of
BtSM we have chosen to focus specifically on exploring the development
of a scientific mindset against the backdrop of the theme Learning
in the Perspective of Complex and Long-Term Change. The choice
of this theme is motivated by the realization that increasingly
the challenge of living together on a small planet requires humans
at all levels to situate themselves, and the consequences of
their actions, within such a comprehensive perspective. Among
other resources dealing with this issue, readers of this page
and prospective participants in the Vancouver colloquium, may
want to read Edgar Morin's Seven
complex lessons in education for the future (also available
in French as Les
sept savoirs nécessaires à léducation
du futur and in Spanish as Los
siete saberes necesarios para la educación del futuro
as well as in Arabic).
For practical reasons, the working
language of the colloquium will be English. However, we welcome
the participation of individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic
backgrounds. Papers in languages other than English, provided
they include a one-page summary in English, may be considered
for inclusion in the colloquium proceedings. As simultaneous
interpretation will not be available, we strongly recommend that
participants prepare their communications in English.
Further detail about BtSM2007
will follow. For the time being we will appreciate hearing from
anyone interested in participating and will also welcome ideas
that will help us to organize the colloquium in the true spirit
of creative collaboration. Emails can be sent to [email protected]
with in the subject field BtSM2007 (no spaces).
Keynoters
Among the confirmed keynoters
are:
eminent French philosopher and
scientist Edgar Morin (see above), who addresses the question
Is it possible to conceive of a different kind of scientific
mind, a new scientific mind?,
2001 Physics Nobel Laureate
Carl Wieman, whose keynote has the title Research
on how school is nurturing the anti-scientific mind and how this
can be changed, and
Kalina Christoff, Principal Investigator, Cognitive Neuroscience
of Thought Lab, University of British Columbia, who addresses
issues concerning Human thinking: Lessons from Neuroscience.
Endorsements
Endorsements for the Building
the Scientific Mind colloquia have been received from:
Leon Lederman - 1988 Nobel Laureate
Physics; Director Emeritus FermiLab; Resident Scholar Illinois
Math and Science Academy, and
Federico Mayor - President,
Fundación Cultura de Paz; former Director-General UNESCO
(1987-1999).
Partnership and sponsors
The colloquium is being organized
in close collaboration with the Emily Carr Institute of Art and
Design and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. The United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has
granted patronage to the Colloquium. The collaborating partners
contribute financially, through infrastructure and organizational
effort to the event. In addition, sponsorship has been received
from the Fundación
Cultura de Paz.
Registration, session/activity
proposal submission, and payment
Prospective participants in
BtSM2007 may want to seek accommodation in any of the hotels
listed below, which have been contacted by the Emily Carr Institute
of Art and Design.
Please note that breakfast is
not included in any of the rates listed below.
Granville Island Hotel
50 rooms are being held for BtSM2007 up until 30 days prior to
arrival. They have been blocked for the period from May 27 to
June 2, 2007. Rates are CAN $ 145 for single plus 10% provincial
tax + 7% GST, CAN $ 155 for double plus tax. Guests should make
their own reservation and refer to the special rate as agreed
with the Emily Carr Institute. This is the best location - right
next door to the conference venue and on the beautiful Granville
Island itself.
The other hotels listed below
(in alphabetical order) are all on the mainland.
The Burrard Inn offers special
rates to the BtSM2007 colloquium participants as follows: Single
CAN $ 99.00; Double CAN $ 109.00; and Twin CAN $ 119.00 + tax.
Rates are net and non-commissionable. Delegates can make their
reservations directly with the Burrard Inn.
Toll free # 1-800-663-0366. E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: 604-681-2331 Fax: 604-6819753. www.burrardinn.com
Delegates must ensure they quote the name of the colloquium "Building
the Scientific Mind."
Delegates may extend their stay
at the same rates based on availability.
Howard
Johnson Hotel
Room rate CAN $ 105 + tax for both single and double occupation.
A total of 25 rooms have been blocked at the Howard Johnson for
the period from May 27 to June 2, 2007. These rooms are being
held up to 30 days prior to the event. Guests should refer to
"Building the Scientific Mind" to get this rate if
they book by telephone. When booking the hotel online, go to
http://www.hojovancouver.com/,
click the "book now" button and, on the "reservation
request" page enter the optional access code 2222 and proceed.
Sylvia
Hotel
Their estimated rate for the period of the Colloquium is CAN
$ 169 + tax.
YWCA
Please check their website for rates. Delegates can phone or
email the hotel to set up a booking and get a 10% discount when
referring to "Building the Scientific Mind" as long
as rooms are available.
Check out your preferred online
or offline travel agent for alternative hotel options. However,
as accommodation in Vancouver tends to be expensive around the
dates of the colloquium, we recommend that you make your bookings
as early as possible.
Tourism
For information about what more
there is on offer in Vancouver, check out the Web site of Tourism
Vancouver.
Le second Colloque sur la construction
de l'esprit scientifique, BtSM2007, se tiendra à Vancouver,
dans la province de Colombie-Britannique, au Canada. Le Learning
Development Institute (LDI) est heureux d'annoncer que cet événement
sera organisé en collaboration avec le Emily
Carr Institute of Art + Design (ECIAD). La photographie ci-contre
montre une vue intérieure de l'ECIAD, qui est installé
sur l'île Granville, un endroit magnifique de Vancouver
et un endroit très recherché pour le shopping et
les activités à caractère culturel. L'île
Granville est reliée au continent par une chaussée
réservée aux piétons, aux cyclistes et à
ceux qui ont choisi d'utiliser les transports publics. Elle est
également desservie par des bateaux-taxis. Tout comme
le Learning Development Institute, le Emily Carr Institute of
Art + Design se considère comme une communauté
d'apprentissage, orientée, dans le cas de l'ECIAD, vers
l'excellence et l'innovation en matière d'arts graphiques,
de contenu multimédias et de design.
Que l'ECIAD ait proposé
d'héberger le colloque BtSM2007 n'est pas seulement très
avantageux sur le plan financier, car cela permettra de réduire
le montant de la participation aux frais. C'est aussi un partenariat
tout-à-fait pertinent. Dans une optique de transdiciplinarité,
que nous voyons comme un élément essentiel pour
aller plus loin dans le développement de l'apprentissage
humain, il est logique qu'un dialogue sur la construction de
l'esprit scientifique se déroule dans un lieu voué
à la promotion des arts.
Le précédent Colloque
international sur le développement d'un esprit scientifique,
le BtSM2005, et premier du genre, a eu lieu du 17 au 20 mai 2005.
Il a été organisé par le LDI en collaboration
avec l'Institut des Sciences Sociales (Institute of Social Studies)
de La Haye, en Hollande, sous le parrainage de l'UNESCO. Tous
les détails sur le colloque BtSM2005, y compris communications,
présentations et enregistrements sonores sont disponibles
sur le site Internet
du LDI. Le succès de la première édition
du colloque BtSM, ainsi que la détermination et l'enthousiasme
des participants, sont autant de raisons pour continuer et approfondir
le dialogue en organisant un colloque tous les 2 ans. La préparation
de la nouvelle édition du BtSM2007 à Vancouver
a déjà commencé. Cette deuxième édition
sera l'occasion d'examiner le chemin parcouru depuis 2005 et
dans le même temps d'explorer de nouvelles perspectives.
C'est ainsi que pour l'édition
2007 du colloque nous avons décidé d'étudier
le développement de l'esprit scientifique avec pour toile
de fond le thème " Apprendre dans la perspective
des évolutions complexes et à long terme ".
Le choix de ce thème est motivé par le constat
que pour relever le défi toujours plus difficile de vivre
tous ensemble sur cette petite planète, les êtres
humains doivent apprendre à se penser, et à envisager
les conséquences de leurs actions, par rapport à
une telle perspective. Parmi les matériaux disponibles
sur ce thème, les lecteurs intéressés par
une participation au colloque de Vancouver sont invités
à se reporter au texte écrit par Edgar Morin, Les
sept savoirs nécessaires à l'éducation du
futur (également disponible en anglais sous le
titre Seven
complex lessons in education for the future, en espagnol
sous le titre Los
siete saberes necesarios para la educación del futuro
et enfin en arabe).
Pour des raisons de commodité
(surtout en ce qui concerne la réduction des frais de
participation), l'anglais sera la langue de travail lors du colloque.
Cela dit, nous encourageons la participation d'individus de tous
les horizons culturels et linguistiques. Les communications rédigées
en d'autres langues que l'anglais seront prises en considération
pour figurer aux actes du colloque, à la condition qu'elles
comportent un résumé d'une page en anglais. Nous
recommandons cependant fortement aux participants de rédiger
leur communications en anglais, étant donné l'absence
d'interprétation simultanée.
De plus amples détails
concernant le colloque BtSM2007 seront prochainement publiés
sur ce site Internet. Entre temps, nous serions très heureux
d'échanger avec toute personne intéressée
à participer au colloque. Nous sommes également
à l'écoute de toute idée qui nous permettra
d'organiser le colloque dans un esprit à la fois créatif
et participatif. Les messages à ce sujet peuvent être
envoyés à l'adresse [email protected] en indiquant
BtSM2007 (sans espace) comme sujet.
Hébergement
Voir les détails des
hotels disponibles et conditions offertes plus
haut dans la version en langue anglaise de cette annonce.
Tourisme
Pour plus d'information sur
les attraits touristiques de Vancouver, nous recommandons le
site Internet Tourism Vancouver.