What is consciousness? The mind produces thoughts, sensations, perception, emotions. How can these inner felt experiences be produced within the darkness of the human skull?

Nicholas Bruckman is founder and CEO of People's Television, a production studio and creative agency that produces independent films, and video storytelling for brands. Collaborating with the The Simons Foundation through their 'Science Sandbox' Initiative, he directed Theater of the Mind, which takes audiences into the creative inner workings of Musician and Artist David Byrne’s brain, showcasing Byrne’s immersive theater performance, which attempts to conceptualize the idea of our sense of self and how malleable the mind truly is.

He directed the award-winning healthcare justice documentary Not Going Quietly, executive produced by Mark and Jay Duplass.

John Tracey is Program Director of Science, Society and Culture projects at the Simons Foundation whose mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences to unravel the mysteries of the universe. The foundation champions basic science through grant funding, support for research and public engagement.

Ian Moubayed started his career as a cinematographer, collaborating with Emmy, Peabody, and Oscar-winning filmmakers. His work includes Netflix’s The Great Hack, NBC Peacock’s The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show, and HBO’s  The Vow.

"People don't change their minds when they hear facts. You're not going to shame someone into action. That's just not that's not going to happen. Stories, and importantly, who is telling that story are so essential. In terms of engaging with science and having a relationship with science, it's critical."

" Speaking about theater and climate change, we produced that piece this year. We followed a young theater performer who, along with other young people, put on a play about climate change informed by real scientists, and real marine biologists, including discussion of reefs and other challenges that oceans are facing due to climate change.

And I think what's really exciting about that piece and that approach, for me personally, is that we don't necessarily expect that the play will move the needle on climate change. But I think it was very clear from following this young protagonist who embarked on this act of storytelling and performance herself, that she felt a great deal of catharsis and also empowerment by creating this artistic piece and sharing it with other young people. And that this artistic expression set her on a lifelong journey to deal with this issue, which she knows - she's 17 - sits uniquely on her generation's shoulders. And so I do think there's an important synthesis between science, the arts, and the actual tackling of the formidable challenge that we face."

www.youtube.com/@sciencesandbox
www.davidbyrne.com
https://nickny.com/bio
https://www.simonsfoundation.org/people/john-tracey/
https://peoples.tv/director/ian-moubayed/

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