U.Va Establishes Groundbreaking Contemplative Sciences Center

The University of Virginia will launch an innovative Contemplative Sciences Research Center in October 2024. This interdisciplinary hub will study how ancient practices like meditation and yoga can address modern challenges in healthcare, education, and mental wellness.

Key Research Focus Areas

The center will investigate:
- Mindfulness for healthcare professionals: Can meditation reduce nurse burnout?
- Yoga in education: How contemplative practices improve teacher effectiveness
- Clinical applications: Using mindfulness as adjunct therapy for:
- Major depressive disorder
- Alcohol addiction recovery
- Stress-related conditions

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

This initiative brings together experts from:
- College of Arts & Sciences
- School of Medicine
- School of Nursing
- Curry School of Education

Research teams will include:
- Humanities scholars
- Medical practitioners
- Clinical researchers
- Education specialists
- Yoga/meditation teachers

Philanthropic Foundation

The $10 million project was funded by alumni donors Sonia and Paul Tudor Jones (U.Va '76), inspired by their Ashtanga yoga teacher Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Their vision positions U.Va as:

"The global leader in contemplative education research within 5-10 years"

Current Status

Launch date: October 2024
Leadership search: National hunt for center director underway
Research partnerships: Building cross-disciplinary teams

Additional Resources

Articles tagged "higher-education"

Articles tagged "higher-education"

U.Va Launches Contemplative Sciences Research Center