The NIAS Consciousness Studies Programme is the only academic programme in India that focuses on the humanistic and health aspects of consciousness along with a critical approach to the theorization of the self. This programme very clearly brings the interdisciplinary nature of complex questions that pertain to the fundamental thinking on various aspects of the society. The programme has developed expertise in Information theory, Philosophy of Mind, Cultural Psychology, Ethnography of Indiegnous Healing, Medical Humanities, and AI & Society.

The overall goal is to bring to the public and the community of students and scholars the importance of health, aesthetic pleasure, and knowledge as a triune reality deeply interconnected with consciousness.

CSP recognising the importance of Connecting Communities, made few specific initiatives, during the COVID-19 Pandemic times, and organised several customised online short courses. The pandemic brought in a “closed down” and a psycho-logical feeling of the inability to connect, socialise, or seek out for help and knowledge, including a peer connect. Considering such a challenge that has social, psychological and pedagogic implications, initiatives were conceptualised and implemented by the CSP team, with the hashtag “#Care Consciously! Defeat Corona”.

A number of online programmes were organised throughout the year to create a bridge with the public at large towards connecting life, living and health in the pandemic times. The programmes were attended by students, professionals and the public from across the world, and more than 300 institutions connected with us on a regular basis. During the 2020-2021 academic year our impact on the society includes: initiated four studies on various aspects of Covid-19 pandemic; 7 Academic Courses; 8 publications; 2 International workshops and lecture series; 57 Lectures; over 300 institutions connected; and over 7000 people attended the programmes and stayed in touch with CSP. Currently the NIAS CSP YouTube Channel has: +2000 subscribers and ~50,000 unique views.

Another core area of interest and expertise for CSP is the intersection between AI and Humanities which is an area with immense significance for society in the next ten to twenty-five years. CSP works on the multi-dimensional impact of AI on science, technology and society. The spectrum of our intervention include: computational, ethical, social, philosophical, cultural, psychological, and medical dimensions of AI impacting life and living.