09/18/2025
Last week at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, we joined an extraordinary gathering of scientists, philosophers, and visionaries exploring some of the deepest questions of existence — from the origins of life to the future of consciousness.
This event felt like a full-circle moment. Back in 2023, when MINDS was just beginning to take shape, Candice Olson () invited us to Here House for an intimate evening where Bruce could share his journey with the origins of life and the early vision of what would become the Center for MINDS. We booked the venue, but it was Candice and Michaela who rallied the community, inviting guests, selling tickets, and giving us our very first public platform. That evening planted a seed that has grown into the work we’re doing today.
Two years later, it was an honor not only to return to Aspen but to contribute to the development of , Candice’s own visionary project. Across six hours of talks and dialogue, (including MINDS own join on stage by CIIS’ ) one theme rang clear: life is a collaborative effort, born through countless cycles of trial and error, shaped by death and chaos, and ultimately propelled by a force that seems to want life to exist. As Dr. Damer shared, “death wrote the code of life,” and in that paradox lies a profound lesson for our civilization.
We left inspired by the reminder that we are all stardust — carriers of a 13.8-billion-year story of survival and creativity. And if life itself emerged through community and collaboration, so too must our solutions to the challenges of today.
Deep gratitude to Candice and the Frontiers of Knowledge team for inviting us to walk alongside you in shaping this space for wonder and wisdom. 🌌
