Consciousness Unconstrained

While scientists and philosophers have pondered the question for years, still no one knows why, exactly, we dream. Some say dreams are a way to catalogue our memories, to develop our creative capacity, to train our emotional responses. To dream is to let consciousness and unconsciousness co-exist – but to what end?

As part of our Present Sense series – which explores the mysteries of human consciousness – this panel event takes a look at the science of dreaming and the role of an unchained imagination in making leaps in intelligence.

Host Hilary Harper will be joined by Professor Tom Drummond, Melbourne Connect Chair of Digital Innovation at the University of Melbourne, whose research focuses on machine learning in simulated environments, and Jenny Windt, philosopher at Monash University whose work explores spontaneous thought, for a discussion of just how far our minds can take us when they are allowed to wander.

Presented in partnership with Melbourne Monash Consciousness Research