49th ABS Annual Conference: Full Schedule

9:00am MDT

From the Mind of the Conquerer to the Mind of the Humble Servant: An Examination of our “Call to Serve"

Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Enrique Dussel argues that conquest & domination are foundational to Western thought and praxis. Dussel questions the widely held view that Western metaphysics begins with Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am”, proposing instead that the basis of Western metaphysics is the act of conquest-where one’s subjectivity is established through acts of domination. This panel will examine this “metaphysics of conquest” in the discourses on technological advancement, carceral logics, and religious propagation. It will then explore responses to these themes within the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith, offering a view on how to move from domination to humility & service.

Speakers

Rolando Aguilera

Rolando Aguilera is Legal Counsel with the British Columbia Public Service in the Indigenous Legal Relations Unit within the Ministry of the Attorney General. He previously worked in the Indigenous Justice Division, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General where he assisted the division... Read More →

Maral Moradipour

Maral Aguilera-Moradipour is an assistant professor in Asian refugee literatures and cultures. After completing her PhD at the University of Western Ontario in English Literature and a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Toronto Scarborough, she joined Simon Fraser... Read More →

Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Glen 206 South building - 2nd level

Race Unity, Breakout

10:30am MDT

An Exploration of the Profound Influence of Music on Society and the Human Soul

Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Glen 206

This session will explore the relationship between music, well-being and societal advancement. The influence of music will be examined from the perspective of the Bahá’í writings and academic literature. Musical excerpts with a positive impact will be shared from a variety of genres including country, hip-hop, and classical, helping to shed light on the questions under consideration. Through guided discussion, participants are invited to, together, gain a deeper understanding of the concepts presented and to reflect practically on how music with a positive effect can be increasingly created and shared.

Speakers

Melody Mazloom

Melody Mazloom is from Toronto, Canada. She began her study of music as a child and has been part of multiple musical groups. She also has experience and interest in fields such as alternative education, process efficiency, systems thinking, and theatre.

Saturday August 2, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Glen 206 South building - 2nd level

Arts & Humanities, Breakout

2:00pm MDT

Using Knowledge of Science and Religion to Transform Our Lives

Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT

Glen 206

‘Abdu’l-Bahá teaches that “the reality of man is his thought,” and that the purpose of the Manifestations is to transform humanity. Science supports this, showing that our thoughts shape reality and that transformation is possible. Recent discoveries of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new neural pathways—demonstrate that individuals can rewire their brains to change their thinking. By integrating the wisdom of the Baha’i Writings with modern science, a methodology is presented for memorizing the Writings to harness the brain's neuroplasticity and to create new pathways to foster personal transformation.

Speakers

Kurt Kreuger

Dr. Larry Kurt Kreuger is a researcher, consultant, and educator in the area of complex systems and public health. He works with government agencies, universities, and other organizations on topics related to suicidal behavior, obesity, homelessness, and health care. He holds a PhD... Read More →

Amelia Villagomez

Dr. Amelia Villagomez is Associate Program Director of the Integrative Psychiatry Program at the University of Arizona and adjunct faculty in the Psychiatry Department at UT Southwestern. She has published on nonpharmacologic approaches for mental disorders and is a child/adult psychiatrist... Read More →

Jesse Villagomez

Jesse Villagomez worked in Process Improvement at Verizon and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and has served on various Baha’i institutions and committees. Jesse, who is of Hispanic backgroud, is presenting at the ABS Conference for the first time.

Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Glen 206 South building - 2nd level

Science & Technology, Breakout

3:30pm MDT

Reframing Risk in the Social and Behavioral Sciences

Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT

Glen 206

This presentation shares emerging research highlighting the impact of purpose and mindfulness on youth behavior, revealing that risky behaviors including dangerous driving and crashes are significantly lower when young people report higher levels of mindfulness, and have a sense of purpose that centers on service to their community. This suggest that some adolescent risky behaviors could be mitigated with the presence of meaning and purpose in life. Reframing risky behaviors as a symptom of diminished sense of life purpose underscores the need to address more broadly existential dimensions in behavioral science. Reflections on initial experiences of offering these findings in academic settings will also be presented.

Speakers

Health & Mental health, Breakout

49th ABS Annual Conference

9:00am MDT

Rolando Aguilera

Maral Moradipour

10:30am MDT

Melody Mazloom

2:00pm MDT

Kurt Kreuger

Amelia Villagomez

Jesse Villagomez

3:30pm MDT

Michelle Duren

Johnathon Ehsani

Brydon Grant

Hsing-Fang Hsieh