Chris Laszlo

Memorial Lecture Proposal: Science and the Akashic Field: Cultivating a Consciousness of Oneness Through Practices of Connectedness This memorial lecture honors the pioneering work of Ervin Laszlo by exploring the enduring significance of Science and the Akashic Field for understanding consciousness, human flourishing, and our interconnected world. Laszlo's vision of the Akashic Field as a fundamental informational substrate of reality offers a compelling framework that bridges insights from contemporary science, systems thinking, and the world's contemplative traditions. Rather than viewing consciousness as an isolated phenomenon, his work invites us to recognize ourselves as participants in a deeply relational universe in which the boundaries between self, others, and nature are more permeable than conventional worldviews suggest. Building on this foundation, the lecture will invite participants to examine how practices of connectedness—including contemplative reflection, deep listening, compassion, gratitude, immersion in nature, and service to others—can cultivate an experiential consciousness of oneness. Drawing on emerging research in consciousness studies, psychology, neuroscience, and spiritual traditions, the presentation will explore how these practices not only foster individual well-being but also support ethical action, collective flourishing, and regenerative leadership. In celebrating Ervin Laszlo's remarkable intellectual legacy, the lecture will invite participants to consider how consciously cultivating connectedness can contribute to the evolution of human consciousness and help address the complex social and ecological challenges of our time. This talk will be given by Ervin Laszlo’s son, Chris, who is Emeritus Professor of Organizational Behavior at Case Western Reserve University and author of several articles and books on his father’s work.

Chris Laszlo, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Organizational Behavior at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management, where he researches and teaches flourishing enterprise. His first book, The Sustainable Company, was published over 20 years ago. Author of four other books on sustainable business, all published by Stanford University Press, his research has been published in a wide range of journals such as Organizational Dynamics, Business and Society Review, The European Financial Review, and The Engaged Management ReView. In 2012, he was elected a “Top 100 Thought Leader in Trustworthy Business Behavior” by Trust Across America™. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Management and past Chair of the MSR Division at the Academy of Management. Growing up in Switzerland, Chris became a life-long nature enthusiast and loves to run on forest trails whenever he can.