About

At Human Energy, we find hope in the potential of humanity’s collective intelligence.

WHO WE ARE

Human Energy’s team of scholars, scientists, philosophers, educators, and professionals represent top international universities and think tanks at the forefront of new research into the future of human collective consciousness.

Our wide-ranging specialties bring together insights from neuroscience, anthropology, psychology, astrophysics, technology, data science, humanistic management, social entrepreneurship, environmental design, communication, education, sustainability, humanitarianism, spirituality, and world affairs.

Speaker panel at Human Energy’s N2 Conference at the University of California, Berkeley, Fall 2023

Our Vision

We envision a future where humanity consciously evolves toward its full collective potential—in harmony with technology and the planet.

Our MISSion

Human Energy is a catalytic hub for evolving collective consciousness.

We ignite shared human purpose and optimism by equipping people to recognize and shape this transformative phase in human evolution.

Through research, education, media, and interactive events, we illuminate the noosphere—our planetary sphere of shared thought.

And by applying its insights, we address the defining techno-social challenges of our time.

We engage a global, multi-generational audience—with a special focus on younger generations— cultivating a dynamic community of thinkers, creators, partners, and change-makers.

WHAT WE DO

Virtual classroom composite image of the faces of hundreds of attendees of Human Energy's online Master Class: Science of the Noosphere
Attendees at Human Energy’s “Science of the Noosphere” Master Class, Summer 2023

As part of our collaborative research into the evolution of social change, it is imperative that we explore the ethical implications and potential solutions to this unprecedented global challenge.

Human Energy’s network of interdisciplinary experts advances its findings through international conferences and workshops, scholarly research articles, educational modules, our popular online Master Class, and multimedia interview series.

Evolution is progressing towards a greater collective potential. Deeper understanding of this paradigm shift will enable humanity to tap into our full potential and ensure the flourishing of our species and our planet.

As modern society grapples with exponential technological change, we see a way forward through global and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Human Energy is the first organization of its kind to research and bring awareness to this techno-social dilemma. At the individual level, it manifests as an existential crisis – a loss of meaning, direction, and values. On a global scale, it is an existential threat to our very species: the root cause of modern society’s compounding crises, from the misuse of AI and social media to climate change and geopolitical conflict.

“We have to start thinking as a collective. There’s collective knowledge. There’s collective wisdom. The good of humanity requires us to come together. This is fundamental for our future.”
- Ben Kacyra
Founding Director and President, Human Energy

Core Leadership and Operations Team

Sheila Hassell Hughes
CEO
Nancy Topp
CFO
Devin O’Dea
Director of communications and marketing
Alyssa Plummer
Manager of Projects
Samantha Tsang
Project Management and Administrative Associate

Board of Directors

Joe turner
Chair and director
Barbara Kacyra
Secretary and Director
David Olson
Treasurer and Director
Lisa Moore
Director
Nancy Topp
ex officio
Sheila Hassell Hughes
ex officio

Advisory Board

Dr. dee frewert
Senior Director of  Oracle Center of Excellence
Dr. Paul Turnbull
President
Mid-Pacific Institute
Dr. Brian Thomas Swimme
Professor of Evolutionary Cosmology
California Institute
of Integral Studies (CIIS)
Dr. David Sloan Wilson
Distinguished Professor of
Biological Sciences and Anthropology
Binghamton University
Dr. Francis Heylighen
Professor and director of
the center leo apostel (CLEA)
Free University of Brussels (VUB)
Dr. Terrence Deacon
Professor of Anthropology
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Berkeley
Dr. Raphaël Liogier
Scientific Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies and holder of the Transitions Chair at UM6P (Morocco)

Research and Education consultants

Dr. Michael Pirson
Professor OF Global Sustainability
and Social Entrepreneurship
Fordham University
Dr. Michael Jacob
Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, UCSF
Weill Institute for Neurosciences
Dr. Ellen Rigsby
Professor of Communication
Saint Mary's College
of California
Dr. Clément Vidal
Philosopher and visiting researcher
university of california seti research center and the Free University of Brussels (VUB)
Dr. Carolyn Peterson
Research associate
Saint Mary’s College
of California
Monica DeRaspe-Bolles
PhD student
California Institute
of Integral Studies (CIIS)
Parham Pourdavood
ai researcher and web developer
Dr. Shima Beigi
senior researcher
free university of brussels (VUB)
center leo apostel (CLEA)
Founder of Mindfulness Engineering
Dr. Marta Lenartowicz
Interdisciplinary Researcher
and Educator
Free University of Brussels (VUB)
Dr. Tomás Veloz
Professor at Universidad Tecnologica Metropolitana (Chile) & Researcher at Centre Leo Apostel at Free University of Brussels (Belgium)
Dr. Emily DeMoor
Director of Christophany Groups for the Center for Christogenesis
dr. Michelle Haj-Broussard
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Nathan Pellegrin
Director of Research and Planning, Merritt college
dr. Kimberley LaMarque Orman
associate clinical professor at the Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University
dr. Boris Shoshitaishvili
Philosopher and social scientist - Berggruen institute

Media team

Alan Honick
Documentary film
Producer, writer, and Editor
Devin O’Dea
Video Producer,
Director, and Editor
Abe Costanza
Video and media production - communication department.
Parham Pourdavood
ai researcher and web developer

Next Generation Advisory Board

Sadie Stock (Board Chair)
University of Southern California (2026)
Major: Computational Neuroscience Minor: Business
Franchesca Brown
University of Southern California, (2026)
Major: Behavioral Economics
Minor: Finance
Beata Gold
University of California, Berkeley (2024)
Major: Cognitive Science
Kellen Steplight
Saint Mary’s College of California (2026)
Major: Psychology; Minor: Philosophy
Samantha Tsang
University of California, Berkeley (2024)
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies (digital technology & culture focus)

Our late Founder and First president

Ben Kacyra

THE HUMAN ENERGY TEAM

The extended Human Energy team gathered for the Fall 2022 Workshop at St. Mary’s University of California

Partner Organizations

Logo of the University of California, Berkeley, a Human Energy partner organization. Image links to their website.
Logo of Fordham University, a Human Energy partner organization. Image links to their website.
Logo of St. Mary's College of California, a Human Energy partner organization. Image links to their website.
Logo of Stanford University, a Human Energy partner organization. Image links to their website.
Logo of UM6P, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, a Human Energy partner organization. Image links to their website.
Logo of VUB, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels), a Human Energy partner organization. Image links to their website.
Logo of Center for Christogenesis, a Human Energy partner organization. Image links to their website.
Logo of Cyark, a Human Energy partner organization. Image links to their website.
Logo of the International Humanistic Management Association, a Human Energy partner organization. Image links to their website.
Logo of ProSocial World, a Human Energy partner organization. Image links to their website.

We are indebted to our growing network of collaborators for their generous contributions to our scientific research, publications, educational module development, multimedia projects, conferences, and workshops.

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