Robert Cohen

Many TSC participants consider consciousness to be fundamental. But what would that entail for science? The Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS) serves as the primary scientific consultant for India’s largest science museum—a four-story exhibition that illustrates how a consciousness-based universe can explain our phenomenal world. The exhibit integrates insights from contemporary consciousness research with the wisdom of India’s ancient yoga tradition. How might consciousness reshape our understanding of the world—of physics, biology, and neuroscience? We shall explore a worldview grounded in the primacy of consciousness, presented within a scientific and non-idealist framework. The museum, located north of Kolkata on the banks of the Ganges, will open in 2027 with both a physical and virtual museum.

Bob Cohen is the Executive Director of the Bhaktivedanta Institute of Higher Studies and has been an active participant in the dialogue of consciousness for the past 50 years.