International Seminar
An international seminar on Emotions, Beliefs, and Mental Health: Cognitive and Neurological Perspectives was orgnised at Loyola College of Social Sciences, Trivandrum, drawing faculty, research scholars, and over 150 students from colleges across Kerala’s southern districts. The event was jointly organized by Loyola College of Social Sciences , Trivandrum, and St. Xavier’s College, Thumba , in collaboration with prestigious academic partners.
The seminar was inaugurated by Dr Miguel Farias (Oxford University) alongside symposium directors and academic leaders. Dr. Sabu P. Thomas , Principal of Loyola College of Social Sciences, and Dr. Nisha Rani , Principal of St. Xavier’s College, Thumba, offered felicitation. Fr Sunny Thomas, Manager of Loyola Institutions, Sreekaryam presided over the inaugural session and Dr Binoy P Jacob, seminar coordinator, welcomed the gathering. The keynote sessions featured distinguished international speakers, including Dr. Miguel Farias (Oxford University), Dr. Lluis Oviedo (Pontifical University Antonianum, Rome), Dr. Marta Helena Freitas (Catholic University of Brasília, Brazil), and Dr. David Leech (Bristol University, England) presenting papers and interacting with the academic community present.
With academic collaborations from the Brain, Belief & Behaviour Laboratory (Coventry University, England) and XLRI Jamshedpur, the seminar explored the complex relationship between emotions, religious beliefs, and mental health. Discussions covered a range of topics, including mindfulness, meditation, the neurological foundations of belief formation, and the psychological implications of emotions.