Everybody in this post has something in common.
After 12 years of primary and secondary school and 4 years of undergraduate education, we all decided that we weren’t done yet.
But why? As it turns out, the graduate students of Penn State College of Medicine have very diverse, inspirational reasons for choosing to continue their education and biomedical research careers. Take a look:
By: Caitlin Millett, 3rd year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
― Aristotle
Moyan Brenn (Flickr)
Meditation is an ancient practice dating back at least three millennia. It’s a fundamental component of many Eastern religious traditions and belief systems including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Daoism, to name just a few.
The term meditation refers to a broad variety of practices meant to clear the mind and build compassion and kindness. It may also ease some health issues, such as high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, and stress. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a component of the National Institutes of Health, notes that:
“Meditation may be practiced for many reasons, such as to increase calmness and physical relaxation, to improve psychological balance, to cope with illness, or to enhance overall health and well-being.”
Due to its purported benefits, recent decades have seen increased interest and additional funding for research on meditation and mindfulness. Moreover, mindfulness has reached an almost fad-like status in the Western world due to its potential positive effects on health.
In December, Penn State Hershey Medical Center offered a free seven-week class to learn meditation. Similarly, the Penn State Hershey University Fitness Center recently held their first ever meditation sessions. But for most of us, especially those of us in the sciences, the question still lingers- is there data supporting the benefits of meditation?
Hey, readers! We want to hear from you!
In our new segment, “Ask a Scientist,” we’d like to answer your burning questions: don’t understand a scientific concept? Curious about life as a graduate student in the biomedical sciences?
Simply leave a comment on this post, or e-mail your question to lions-talk-science@psu.edu. A graduate student will address your query in a future blog!
We are also seeking guest blog posts from undergraduates who are conducting research in the biomedical sciences. What does your field already know about your work, and what are its bigger implications in medicine? For more information on how to contribute, visit the Contact page.
