Steven Laureys is a Belgian neurologist. He is recognized worldwide as a leading clinician and researcher in the field of the neurology of consciousness. He is Clinical Professor in the Neurology Department at the University of Liège, Belgium, and director of the Coma Science Group at the University Hospital. He is chair of the European Neurological Society committee on disorders of consciousness and a recipient of both the William James Prize (Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness) and the Cognitive Neuroscience Society Young Investigator Award. He is the author of three books.
Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk who had a promising career in cellular genetics before leaving France to study Buddhism in the Himalayas 35 years ago. He is a bestselling author, translator and photographer, and an active participant in current scientific research on the effects of meditation on the brain. He lives and works on humanitarian projects in Tibet and Nepal. He is the author of a number of books.