Introduction: TOPIC 2012

About 10 years ago, Roger Penrose was for the first time a guest in Lucerne in the Lucerne Theatre on the occasion of the Symposium “The Enigma of Consciousness” (2001) which was organised by the New Gallery Lucerne. At that time, the issue at stake was that quantum processes might play a decisive role in sustaining the emergence of consciousness and it led to a now almost legendary dispute among the participants revealing fundamental epistemological differences.

The Orch OR consciousness model proposed by Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff criticises the prevalent view on the brain and the mind. It rejects neuroscientific explanations of consciousness, arguing that the processes involved that give rise to consciousness should be located much deeper underneath the neural structures on the level of quantum-physical processes taking place in microtubules. For the first time, the most recent research results from the field of molecular electronics and mathematical biology – which offer a more comprehensive view on the function and complexity of the microtubules in the human brain – will be presented in Lucerne to a larger audience for controversial discussion. Roger Penrose’s impressive and far-reaching research program will provide the core of the debate by including in particular the polemics that numerous scientists have rekindled against the idea of a fundamental role of quantum processes in the brain as well as the relationship between (quantum)physics and consciousness.

On the second day of “The Large, the Small and the Human Mind – Part 2”, Roger Penrose will present his thesis of a cyclic universe – likewise for the first time in Switzerland – that has been hotly disputed on internet forums, in publications and panel discussions for quite some time now. It is the intention of the Swiss Biennal together with renowned scientists from Armenia, Canada, England, France, Hungary, India, Switzerland and the USA, not only to make possible the public discussion about the foundations and the future of quantum- and astrophysics, cosmology and the coming into being of consciousness. It also provides a space for questions that are related to the boundaries of our knowledge and of human imagination. The  Lucerne conference brings the two themes consciousness and cosmology deliberately together in talks and panel discussions in order to critically investigate the knowledge of the natural sciences as well as epistemological borderlines.

Keynote Speakers, Chairpersons

Prof. Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay, Physics and Molecular Electronics, National Institute for Material Science (NIMS), Tsukuba – Japan
Dr. Chiara Caprini, Cosmology, Institut de Physique Théorique, CNRS & CEA Saclay – France
Prof. Dr. Ruth Durrer, Theoretical Physics and Cosmology, Département de Physique Théorique, Université de Genève
Dr. Andor Frenkel, Theoretical Physics, Theoretical Physics Department, Research Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (KFKI), Budapest
Prof. Dr. Vahe G. Gurzadyan, Astrophysics and Cosmology, Physics Institute and Yerevan State University – Armenia
Stuart Hameroff, M.D., Anesthesiology, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson – USA
Prof. Dr. Emeritus Malcolm Longair, Astrophysics and Cosmology, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge – UK
Prof. Dr. Emeritus Ezra T. Newman, Mathematical Physics, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh – USA
Sir Roger Penrose, Mathematical Physics and Cosmology, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford – UK
Prof. Dr. Emeritus Abner Shimony, Philosophy and Physics, Boston University – USA
Prof. Dr. Jack Tuszynski, Mathematical Biology and Physics, Centre for Mathematical Biology (CMB), University of Alberta, Edmonton – Canada

Abstracts All Abstracts
Program Booklet Poster

Organization
Location
Swiss Museum of Transport, Coronado Hall
Bus: 10 Minutes, No. 6, 8, 24, Station: “Verkehrshaus”
Train: 6 Minutes, S3 and “Voralpenexpress,” Stop at “Luzern Verkehrshaus”

Dates
Saturday, March 31, 2012, 12 – 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 1, 2012, 12 – 7 p.m.

Concept
René Stettler

Information
New Gallery Lucerne, P.O. Box 3501, CH-6002 Lucerne / Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0) 41 370 38 18
Mobile: +41 (0) 78 853 56 76

Simultaneous Interpretation
Conference Consulting OEG, Vienna
English-German and German-English

Tape and Video Recording
Private Taperecording and Videotaping are not allowed. All rights reserved to the New Gallery Lucerne.

Documentation and Technical Support
arteaudio, Bruno Lori, Ebikon

Tickets
Lectures and Panel Discussion March 31, 2012
(Penrose – Hameroff – Shimony – Bandyopadhyay – Tuszynski) CHF 75.00
Concessions (Students and Senior Citizens with ID) CHF 60.00

Lectures and Panel Discussion April 1, 2012
(Penrose – Gurzadyan – Newman – Longair – Durrer) CHF 75.00
Concessions (Students and Senior Citizens with ID) CHF 60.00

Ticket for March 31 and April 1, 2012 CHF 120.00
Concessions (Students and Senior Citizens with ID) CHF 90.00

Ticket Reservation by Phone
March 19 – 29, 2012
Monday to Thursday 2 PM – 6 PM
Tel.:  +41 (0) 41 362 20 77. Please collect your reserved ticket(s) in the Swiss Museum of Transport’s Conference Center at 10.30 AM. No seat reservations.

Registration
You can register by sending an e-mail to renestettler at centralnet.ch Please, mention your first and last name, exact address, city, country, telephone number, e-mail address and the number and category of the desired tickets. Your registration will be confirmed by e-mail within 2 days.

Patronage
Rosie Bitterli Mucha, Chefin Kultur und Sport, Stadt Luzern
Hanspeter Fischer, Architekt HTL, Ennetbürgen
Bodil Dahl Jørgensen, Kastanienbaum
Ursula und Herbert Kneubühl-Muheim, Claro
Claudia Moser, Luzern
Peter Schulz, Publizist, Luzern
Carla Schwöbel-Braun, Luzern
Dr. Uli Sigg, Unternehmer, Mauensee
Urs W. Studer, Stadtpräsident von Luzern
Roman Wüst, Ebikon
Reto Wyss, Regierungsrat, Bildungs- und Kulturdirektor des  Kantons Luzern

Food and Beverages
Entrance to Coronado Hall

Books
Coronado Hall

Accomodation
Hotel zum Rebstock (Conference Hotel)
St. Leodegarstr. 3, CH-6006 Lucerne Map
Tel.: +41 (0) 41 417 18 19

Special Offer:
Single Room CHF 150.00 with rich Breakfast Buffet
Double Room CHF 240.00 with rich Breakfast Buffet
Reservation «Swiss Biennial»

Other Hotels
Lucerne Tourism, Bahnhofstrasse 3, CH-6002 Lucerne Tel.: +41 (0) 41 227 17 17

 Map City of Lucerne
Getting to the Swiss Museum of Transport