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Spontaneous forms of thought such as mind-wandering foster creativity and exploration. But digital technologies may be crowding out spontaneity: In the past, during idle times such as waiting for a bus, our minds were more accustomed to wandering. Now we are stuck on our phones. How can we make room for spontaneity in a digital world?

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS! Theme: “Nature and the Built Environment.” The Contemplative Sciences Center's Student Art Showcase invites UVA students to explore the relationship between the natural world and human-made design. How do architecture, landscapes, and everyday structures coexist with, or stand apart from, nature? Where do we find beauty, tension, or harmony in this intersection? Artists are encouraged to reflect on how environments, both organic and constructed, shape our experiences, identities, and ways of seeing the world. Artists are encouraged to interpret this theme in their own way.

UVA STUDENTS! Join fellow students for a productive and restorative Finals Study Break.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration required. There are two separate sections. Golden Hour is a 60-minute, immersive live music experience created by local Charlottesville musicians Suz Slezak and David Wax (of David Wax Museum) and Lauren and Daniel Goans (of Lowland Hum).

As part of the Technosonics 2025 Festival, the special exhibit, "Contemplative Listening In Sonic Immersion" will be available to experience at the Contemplative Commons extended showing, starting November 10, 2025. 2:00-5:00pm.

Join us for a brief midday pause Monday-Fridays in the peaceful environment of the Contemplative Commons. Open and accessible to beginners and advanced practitioners alike, these sessions are short and guided and have time for questions and discussion. Led by the Contemplative Sciences Center and and a variety of guest instructors. Feel free to drop in from 12-12:20pm any weekday.

On the third floor of the Contemplative Commons is the Garden Terrace, an open area surrounded by the building decorated with a variety of plants. It provides an outdoor space within the building for study, conversation, and quiet reflection.

In the center of the building on the first floor is the Ginkgo Garden that opens out to the dell. This is a large courtyard, containing a calming water feature surrounded by Ginkgo trees that provides a consciously-designed contemplative space for visitors to relax by sitting at a table or on a bench.

The Contemplative Commons sits adjacent to the Dell, an 11 acre natural area including a large pond fed from a restored stream between Alderman Road and Emmet Street.

The floor-to-ceiling video wall located in the first-floor lobby displays breathtaking cinematography from award-winning filmmakers. Immerse yourself in stunning ultra-high definition that offers an unforgettable experience that complements the building’s natural design elements.