Bhuvanesh Awasthi, PhD
Turning scientific discoveries about the mind and behaviour into actionable interventions
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What is Consciousness? How does the mind work? What is its relationship with the body (specifically, the brain)? How do we think, feel and make decisions?
What is Consciousness? How does the mind work? What is its relationship with the body (specifically, the brain)? How do we think, feel and make decisions?
The nature of human experience has fascinated philosophers and scientists across the historical record. The mental experience is central to what makes us human.
The nature of human experience has fascinated philosophers and scientists across the historical record. The mental experience is central to what makes us human.
What do we do with the emerging knowledge related to the mind-body-brain relationship? How can cognitive neuroscience guide us in improving and enriching our lives?
What do we do with the emerging knowledge related to the mind-body-brain relationship? How can cognitive neuroscience guide us in improving and enriching our lives?
Dr Bhuvanesh Awasthi 'Bhuvan' is a transdisciplinary leader in the science-policy-diplomacy space, a civil servant currently working as a Senior Behavioural Scientist with the Canadian Federal Government in Ottawa.
Background
Over the last two decades, he has had a contemplative journey spanning through research in consciousness, cognition and brain imaging to Public policy and science diplomacy. Following his Doctorate in Cognitive Science from Australia, Dr. Awasthi has held four postdoctoral research fellowships across four continents. His work has spanned diverse fields, including perception and behaviour, attentional allocation, computational linguistics, the neuroscience of disgust and emotional threat, mindfulness, neuroeconomics, the psychology of eating, consumer perception, and applied aspects of mandatory public disclosures. Additionally, he received two prestigious policy fellowships: the MITACS Canadian Science Policy Fellowship and the Inter-American Institute Science, Technology and Policy Science Diplomacy Fellowship. Dr. Awasthi also earned a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard Kennedy School and a certificate in Ethics, Technology and Public Policy from Stanford University. His early training was in Life Sciences from the University of Pune, a Consciousness Studies Masters from BITS Pilani.
Global Experience
Dr Awasthi has worked across North America (USA, Canada), South America (Uruguay), Europe (UK, Denmark, Russia), Asia (China, India) and Australia with various organisations, applying the science of cognition, brain and behaviour in academic, business and public policy contexts. His ongoing and past projects have provided research, advice and inputs at the UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab, OECD- International Network on Financial Education (Paris), the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), the Government of Canada (Financial Consumer Agency of Canada; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), Government of Denmark (Danish Veterinary and Food Administration) and Government of India (NIPFP, LBSNAA, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser) as well as on projects with the national science agencies of USA (NIH), France (CNRS) and Australia (CSIRO).
Research, Advisory and Consultancy work
His research has been published in various international peer-reviewed outlets (academic journals and conferences). He has been invited to present his research to a variety of audience (Scientists, Economists, Policy Experts, Government Officials, Psychotherapists, Students and Parents) across North America (Harvard, US National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine - Washington DC, UW-Madison, UCLA, Rutgers, SfN San Diego, Government of Canada), South America (Montevideo, Uruguay; Guatemala), UK (Glasgow, the Royal Society, London), Europe (Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Paris, Leuven, Warsaw, Brno, Moscow), Middle East (Beirut, Dubai), India (IITs, IIM, IISc, IISER, NIPFP, Pune), Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) and China (Beijing, Shanghai).
Dr Awasthi has received numerous scholarships, grants, awards and fellowships from several academic, government and non-profit partners across five continents. He has delivered invited talks across the globe - for scientists, subject matter experts, government and policy professionals, University and school students as well as lay audience.
Current focus
Through these interfaces, Dr Awasthi is applying cognitive, behavioural and neuroscience research for design and implementation of evidence-informed policy interventions (behavioural finance, science diplomacy for AI and climate change, behaviourally-informed policy for plastic pollution mitigation, impact evaluation, insights for service delivery).
Scientific research is a social activity and has many direct and indirect applications. My research on social perception and risky decision making has direct implications for personal well-being, policy and business.
Scientific research is a social activity and has many direct and indirect applications. My research on social perception and risky decision making has direct implications for personal well-being, policy and business.
How does human psychology shape individual decisions and market outcomes? I apply findings from the neuroscience of emotion and perception - behavioural insights - to solve real world problems.
How and why human beings think, feel and are conscious of their thoughts and feelings? How do we make simple and complex decisions?
How and why human beings think, feel and are conscious of their thoughts and feelings? How do we make simple and complex decisions?
I use a variety of subjective and objective measures, in particular self-reports, behavioural and brain measurements to conduct research on perception, emotion, consciousness and decision making.
I use a variety of subjective and objective measures, in particular self-reports, behavioural and brain measurements to conduct research on perception, emotion, consciousness and decision making.
My academic genealogy, peer-reviewed publications, academic and consulting profile details are available on these sites
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