Professor and theoretical physicist Marcelo Gleiser launched a think tank this fall to address major challenges facing civilization, with a focus on the human capacity for positive change.
Co-led by Gleiser, literary critic and philosopher William Egginton '91, and clinical psychologist (and Gleiser's wife) Kari Gleiser '97, the "Incubator for Human Flourishing" convenes individuals from different disciplines for five-day sessions themed around complex issues such as AI and ethics. The project is funded by a three-year grant from the John Templeton Foundation.
"It is, in a sense, the culmination of my career and intellectual pursuits," says Gleiser, the Appleton Professor of Natural Philosophy and author of many critically acclaimed books, including last year's The Dawn of a Mindful Universe. "Between climate change, growing political polarization, and fast-growing technologies that can literally change what it means to be human, our project of civilization is stressed to a near breaking point. I believe that new directions require a convergence of ways of knowing that celebrate diverse worldviews and cultures."
The grant supports nine meetings over three years. "After five years directing the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Engagement at Dartmouth, I wanted to create a special place where groups of people from different backgrounds come together to dive deep into some of the questions humanity is facing," Gleiser says.
The scientists, humanists, artists, and public intellectuals invited to participate meet in Tuscany, Italy, at the Oratorio di Barottoli, a 16th-century private church and registered historical site, with origins dating back to the 13th century. The location is significant to the process of forging new pathways, Gleiser explains, as it represents the birthplace of the Renaissance and "a source of transformative art and knowledge."
The meetings are designed to generate meaningful engagement with the public through subsequent publications as well as a podcast hosted by NPR. "Our mission is to create impactful messages that will generate active conversations and inspire positive change from the public sphere to academia and beyond," Gleiser and Egginton wrote in their proposal.
The first session took place in October with a focus on intelligence in its myriad forms, from animal and human intelligence to AI. Participants included Indigenous scholar Yuria Celidwen, astrophysicist Adam Frank, evolutionary ecologist Monica Gagliano, essayist Meghan O'Gieblyn, philosophy professor Evan Thompson, and professor and chair of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Peter Tse '84.
The next two meetings will take place in March and April. Gleiser hopes to collaborate with Dartmouth on future related projects, including custom experiences for undergraduates.
The think tank is part of Gleiser's larger organization, Island of Knowledge, which he and Kari founded as a site for leadership retreats, immersive experiential learning for psychotherapists, and courses on science, philosophy, and religion.
