The Participatory Universe Recent results in physics and cosmology point to a participatory and holistic view of the universe that transcends both materialism and naïve realism. This talk explores some of the innovative insights from cutting-edge science that suggest that self, mind, and cosmos are deeply intertwined in ways that have profound implications for us personally, culturally, and as a species. Stephan Martin is an astronomer and educator who has taught astronomy and physics at colleges and educational centers across the U.S. for more than 25 years. His graduate and subsequent astronomical research has focused on dark matter, infrared studies of spiral galaxies, and observations of the solar corona. He has worked for the Space Telescope Science Institute and was also supervisor of the Williams College observatory, where he participated in research expeditions around the world to study and observe solar eclipses. He was core faculty in the graduate program of Consciousness, Healing and Ecology at New College of California where he helped design and teach an innovative curriculum that integrated rigorous academic work with personal and cultural transformation. In addition to his teaching, workshops, and astronomical consulting, Steve also works as a life integration coach and purpose guide for the Center for Spiritual Emergence in Asheville, North Carolina. His book Cosmic Conversations: Dialogues on the Nature of the Universe and the Search for Reality has recently been translated into Czech and features dialogues with many of the speakers at this conference. His website is www.cosmicconversations.org