About the Film
“Theatre of Thought is a captivating exploration of the human mind through the lens of legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog. In this film, Herzog delves into the complexities of consciousness, the mysteries of the human mind, and the nature of thought itself, engaging with leading experts from various fields. With his signature blend of philosophical inquiry and cinematic artistry, Herzog invites audiences to question the very essence of what it means to be human. A mesmerizing journey into the depths of the mind, Theater of Thought challenges perceptions and sparks introspection about our inner worlds.”
~ Neurorights Foundation
About the Speakers
Dr. Eberhard Fetz is Emeritus Professor of Neurobiology & Biophysics and DXARTS (Digital Arts & Experimental Media) at the University of Washington. His research has focused on the neural control of limb movement in primates and mechanisms of neural computation. In recent years, his lab developed a brain-computer interface that records activity of cortical neurons during behavior and can convert this activity to stimulation of the brain and spinal cord. He is also interested in the relation between art and the brain, including artistic ways to represent the operations of the brain.
Dr. Sara Goering is Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Washington, Seattle. She is also a member of the core faculty in the Disability Studies Program and the Program on Ethics. With Eran Klein, she co-leads the UW Neuroethics Research group, a philosophy-based team that collaborates with neuroscientists and neural engineers on research projects related to brain-computer interface technologies. Their current NIH R01 grant in neuroethics is titled “Caring for BRAIN Pioneers: Understanding and enhancing family and research support in neural device trials.”
Dr. Christof Koch is a neuroscientist at the Allen Institute and at the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, the former president of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, a former professor at the California Institute of Technology, and the president of Intrinsic Powers, Inc, developing a device to assess the presence of consciousness in behaviorally unresponsive patients. His latest book is Then I am Myself the World.
Dr. Rajesh P. N. Rao is the CJ and Elizabeth Hwang Professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Washington (UW). He is also the co-Director of the Center for Neurotechnology (CNT), Adjunct Professor in the Bioengineering department, and faculty member in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at UW. He is an IEEE Fellow and the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Fulbright Scholar award, an NSF CAREER award, an ONR Young Investigator Award, a Sloan Faculty Fellowship, and a David and Lucile Packard Fellowship. His research spans computational neuroscience, brain-computer interfaces, and artificial intelligence.
Panel Moderator: Dr. Tim Brown is an Assistant Professor of Bioethics & Humanities at the University of Washington. He is a founding member of and long-term contributor to the neuroethics efforts within the Center for Neurotechnology at UW. He serves on the board of directors at the International Neuroethics Society. Dr. Brown is currently the lead ethicist for the NIH-supported Human Mamalian Brain Atlas consortium, where he explores the challenges surrounding brain donation, human specimens handling, data management, and open science. Dr. Brown’s approach to research is interdisciplinary, embedded, and encourages deeper collaborations between humanists and scientists.
