At this year’s edition of ESRI-European Summer Research Institute, “Down to Earth: Exploring Meaningful Ways of Living, Together“, we had the opportunity to present the Action Plans developed by three Mindful Researchers’ “Work-out” Groups (WGs). These groups were formed after carefully analysing the results of a survey sent to all members to understand the needs, aspirations and priorities of our community.
WGs’ Thematic Areas and Working Dynamics
Each WG took on a specific focus:
WG 1
Mutual &
Personal Support
Participants explored how open dialogue and shared contemplative practices can strengthen mutual support. The group discussed ways of creating a collective space that feels safe, inclusive, and nourishing for all.
WG 2
Shared Contemplative Practice & Inquiry
This group focused on creating opportunities for researchers to engage deeply with contemplative traditions through shared inquiry and practice, enriching both academic research and life beyond academia.
WG 3
Professional Support & Project Incubation
With a strong focus on open innovation and co-creation, this group reflected on how to support researchers in developing and realising projects rooted in contemplative traditions and practices.
Over the course of two months, each group came together for a cycle of three meetings. Every gathering was built on the previous one, while participants kept the conversation alive between sessions through shared documents and exchanges. This rhythm created momentum, and initial ideas gradually took shape, evolved and were refined into actionable plans ready to be shared with the wider community.
Emergent Ideas from the Co-creation “Work-out” Groups
Here is a brief overview of the ideas that emerged from our WGs.
For more detailed action plans, please feel free to reach out to us.
1. Online Library of Meeting Points
An informal online space for mutual support, co-working, and contemplative co-practice. Gatherings might be lightly facilitated or self-organised, encouraging decentralised, community-led connection and activity.
WHAT this includes
Co-working and Focus Space:
Examples: Writing and Reading Hours, structured around check-ins, focused work, and closing reflections with guiding prompts.
Listening Circles:
Examples: Kitchen Philosophy Hours, Let’s Just Meditate!, Shared Silence.
These sessions feature gentle facilitation with optional practices and shared themes or questions.
Emergent Gatherings:
Spontaneous sessions responding to emerging needs or inspirations, lightly supported by a coordination team.
2. Geography-based Members Map
A community-powered tool designed to foster connection by visualising where members are located. It aims to strengthen the sense of belonging, enabling encounters, gatherings and collaborations, while carefully preserving personal boundaries.
WHAT this includes
Opt-in Visual Map
An interactive map showing approximate member locations, with optional proximity notifications when members are nearby or visiting each other’s regions.
Member Profiles
Short bios with interests, contact preferences, and availability for meet-ups, co-working, and collaboration.
Guidelines & Boundaries
Clear community guidelines to ensure privacy, non-obligation, and consent-based interaction.
3. MR Community Platform
A dedicated digital space that brings together researchers, contemplative practitioners, and artists. It fosters connections and collaborations through shared profiles, resources and opportunities.
WHAT this includes
Profile & Discovery
Location, area of research, contemplative and artistic practices, etc.
Communication & Collaboration
Messaging, discussion forums, announcements, offerings, and coordination tools.
Community Calendar
Events and gatherings.
Creative Showcases & Resource Library
Living repository of tools, materials, artistic and academic works.
4. Living Record – Community Tracker & Compass
A repository of the MR community’s unfolding journey and collective sense-making. It serves both as a mirror of where we have been and a compass pointing forward.
WHAT this includes
Orientation & Direction
Shared insights into “where we are” and “where we’re going” in contemplative research, and our current understandings of challenges and aspirations in the field.
Community Memories & Milestones
Key phases, turning points, and learnings captured through multiple voices.
Shared Language & Practices
Living glossary of traditions and practices.
5. Insight-informed Research Lab
A participatory initiative designed to integrate contemplative and artistic practices into research, problem-solving and cross-disciplinary collaborations.
WHAT this includes
Online Research Lab Series
Practice-based sessions grounded in contemplative and artistic practices.
Contemplative Research Retreats
Labs hosted in retreat centers, residencies and other immersive contexts.
Practice and Research Toolkit
Collection of methods and frameworks to support inquiry.
Digital Repository of Insights
Essays, case studies, creative works, and more.
6. Bridging Communication in Contemplative Science
This initiative aims to build a living bridge between contemplative researchers and the diverse array of lived contemplative traditions. It works towards socially relevant, culturally inclusive and practitioner-informed research. Through mutual awareness and exchange, it supports researchers in recruting participants for studies, and helps bring underrepresented traditions into the field of contemplative science.
WHAT this includes
Social Media Presence
Connecting researchers and practitioners, through research updates, personal stories, interviews, etc.
Living Directory
Searchable, filterable directory of researchers, practitioners, and projects.
Community Features
Discussion forum, shared announcements, newsletters, etc.
7. Towards an Innovation Hub for Contemplative Science
This initiative experiments with new interdisciplinary–both conceptual and methodological–frameworks in contemplative science and beyond.
WHAT this includes
Frameworks “Prototyping”
Collaborative developing and testing of new approaches.
Mindful Coworking Circles & Research Retreats
Immersive co-creation spaces for practice-based research.
Hybrid Research Hubs
Online and in-person spaces for collaboration.
Training Programs & Toolkits
Resources to experiments with interdisciplinary frameworks.
8. Mentorship & Peer Support Ecosystem
This initiative supports contemplative researchers – especially those navigating interdisciplinary and non-traditional research paths – through mentorship, consultation and community-based feedback.
WHAT this includes
Mentorship Program
Pairing early-career researchers with experienced interdisciplinary researchers and mentors.
Micro-consultations
Targeted sessions with senior scholars.
Peer Feedback Circles & Reflective Spaces
Collaborative review and exploration of research impact.
Resource Toolkit for Funding Applications
Practical support for securing opportunities.
Hylo – a Community Platform for the Mindful Researchers
Hylo is a community-led, open-source coordination tool designed for purpose-driven groups.
- We envision Hylo as a living hub for conversation and ideation in our community that can also serve as a technical tool to help implement and sustain our initiatives.
- It will act as the backbone for our community’s ongoing co-creation – supporting the development of the initiatives above, as well as new ones yet to emerge.
- Hylo offers a shared communal space for peer-to-peer communication, mutual support, and collective knowledge-building. Over time, it will grow into a repository for resources, experiences, and knowledge, carrying forward the living ecosystem of our community.
Next Steps
Here is the slide deck through which we presented the outcomes of the three WGs at ESRI 2025.
The presentation sparked meaningful engagement: participants showed strong interest and raised thoughtful questions around funding and practical realisation. Together, we recognised that developing sustainable approaches to resourcing is essential for turning these ideas into reality.
As a first step, we will implement an online space on the Hylo platform, beginning with a small circle of members to explore the platform, pilot some of the initiatives outlined above, and learn how it can best serve the community. From there, we plan to gradually extend participation to all members!
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