Conference Theme: “Trust”
March 28–30, 2012 | The Ramada Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Under the simple but powerful theme of “Trust”, ACP2012, which was held alongside ACERP2012, encouraged us to reflect upon how we think, as well as reason, believe and behave. The conference theme was an important one for all delegates, whether engaged in the study of science, philosophy or religion, and was no doubt in part the reason that the conference attracted more than two hundred and fifty delegates from across the globe.
ACP2012 Featured Speakers included Professor Dexter Da Silva, The Reverend Professor Stuart D. B. Picken, Mr Lowell Sheppard, Professor Monty Satiadarma, Dr Beth Hedva and Dr Patti Tamara Lenard.
Speakers
University of Ottawa, Canada
Patti Tamara Lenard is Assistant Professor of Applied Ethics in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Lenard is deeply concerned with the role of trust in democratic political communities. In most contemporary democracies, high rates of immigration are increasing the number of religions, races, ethnicities and cultures living together and governed by shared political institutions. Her forthcoming book – Trust, Democracy and Multicultural Challenges (Penn State University Press, 2012) – places trust at the centre of democratic politics and then examines its relationship to diversity. In particular, she argues that ethno-cultural diversity as a result of increasing rates of immigration may, if managed improperly, generate distrust. She calls on democratic communities to generate purposefully the conditions under which trust between newcomers and ‘native’ citizens can be built, so that the quality of democracies is not compromised.
The Canadian Institute for Transpersonal and Integrative Sciences, Canada
Dr Beth Hadva is an author, teacher, healer and licensed psychologist, and has built an international reputation for blending the latest psychological approaches with both ancient and contemporary spiritual healing practices and mystical traditions. As past Chair of Continuing Education for the International Council of Psychologists, Dr Hedva has trained professionals and lay-persons globally to use intuition and integrative therapies in ways that introduce new dimensions of inner healing for individuals, couples, families, groups and communities. Formerly core faculty in both the Department of Clinical Psychology at Antioch University of California, and the Department of Transpersonal Counselling Psychology at JFK University in California, Dr Hedva is also Adjunct Research Faculty in California’s Institute for Transpersonal Psychology’s Global Program. Currently living in Calgary, Canada, she is Director of Training for the Canadian Institute for Transpersonal and Integrative Sciences. Dr Beth Hedva holds California State Board Certifications in the unique specialities of Medical Hypnosis and Sexology and maintains status as a Registered Marriage & Family Therapist. With two Masters degrees and a PhD, she is a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology, certified by the American Board of Psychological Specialities.
HOPE International Development Agency, Japan
Lowell Sheppard is Asia Pacific Director of the HOPE International Development Agency, an organization focused on working with the world’s extreme poor in their quest to climb out of poverty. Aside from his 25-year involvement with Hope, Lowell has dedicated much of his life to social and environmental improvement projects throughout the world. He was the chairman of the Whose Earth initiative in the United Kingdom, and was the founding chairman of Novimost, a non-government organization responding to the needs caused by war in the Balkans. He was also CEO of one of the United Kingdom’s largest youth charities and an executive member of Spring Harvest, an annual Christian festival which attracts more than 60,000 people each Easter, and raises more than one million dollars for charities every year. A fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, Mr Sheppard is the author of six books, which reflect his diverse intellectual interests, and life experience. His latest book, Boys Becoming Men, examines the importance of rites of passage, for children becoming adults. Lowell is a noted public speaker, and has given lectures at both undergraduate and postgraduate level on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, and he is a former vice-chairman of the CSR Committee for the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan.
Keisen University, Japan
Dr Dexter Da Silva is currently Professor of Educational Psychology at Keisen University in Tokyo. He has taught EFL at junior high school, language schools, and universities in Sydney, and for the past two decades has been living and teaching at the tertiary level in Japan. Professor Da Silva was educated at the University of Sydney (BA, Dip. Ed., M.A.), and the University of Western Sydney (PhD) He has presented and co-presented at conferences in Asia, Australia, Europe and the U.S., and written or co-written articles and book chapters on education-related topics, such as trust, student motivation, autonomy, and content-based language teaching. He is a past editor and current associate editor of On CUE Journal, regular reviewer for conferences and proceedings, and recent co-chair of the 2011 CUE Conference on Motivation.
Tarumanagara University, Indonesia
Dr Monty P. Satiadarma is an academic and psychologist who has lectured around the world, and who continues to practice in his native Indonesia. He was the Dean of the department of psychology at Tarumanagara University from 1997-2005, and Rector of the University from 2008-2010. Dr Satiadarma has a particular interest in educational psychology, and in music and art therapy, methods with which he treated survivors of the Indonesian tsunami on behalf of the International Red Cross and the United Nations. He is a board member and area chair of the International Council of Psychology, and a founder and board member of the Asian Psychology Association.
Organising Committee
Keisen University, Japan
Dr Dexter Da Silva is currently Professor of Educational Psychology at Keisen University in Tokyo. He has taught EFL at junior high school, language schools, and universities in Sydney, and for the past two decades has been living and teaching at the tertiary level in Japan. Professor Da Silva was educated at the University of Sydney (BA, Dip. Ed., M.A.), and the University of Western Sydney (PhD) He has presented and co-presented at conferences in Asia, Australia, Europe and the U.S., and written or co-written articles and book chapters on education-related topics, such as trust, student motivation, autonomy, and content-based language teaching. He is a past editor and current associate editor of On CUE Journal, regular reviewer for conferences and proceedings, and recent co-chair of the 2011 CUE Conference on Motivation.
Tarumanagara University, Indonesia
Dr Monty P. Satiadarma is an academic and psychologist who has lectured around the world, and who continues to practice in his native Indonesia. He was the Dean of the department of psychology at Tarumanagara University from 1997-2005, and Rector of the University from 2008-2010. Dr Satiadarma has a particular interest in educational psychology, and in music and art therapy, methods with which he treated survivors of the Indonesian tsunami on behalf of the International Red Cross and the United Nations. He is a board member and area chair of the International Council of Psychology, and a founder and board member of the Asian Psychology Association.