Hokkaido University
Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
September 30 – October 4, 2025

▸ MoC6 Main Page ▸ Practical Information ▸ Registration ▸ Talk Application ▸ Schedule Information

---

Dear friends and colleagues,

By the kind invitation of Hokkaido University’s Center for Human Nature, Artificial Intelligence, and Neuroscience, we, the Association for Mathematical Consciousness Science, and all of our organising and supporting institutions, are delighted to announce the sixth Models of Consciousness conference (MoC6) 2025. As the first occasion of the conference to be held in Asia, Hokkaido University in the city of Sapporo, Japan, provides an exciting location for the conference and a wonderful opportunity to make new research connections.

The conference is devoted to bringing together researchers whose scientific activities relate to models of consciousness and mathematical approaches in the scientific study of consciousness. This year’s edition of the conference comprises the following core themes:

▸ Philosophy of Consciousness and Mathematized Phenomenology

▸ Quantum Approaches to Consciousness and their Assumptions

▸ Research on Artificial Consciousness

The MoC conference series began at the University of Oxford in 2019, went online in 2021, and was then held at Stanford University in 2022, Oxford University in 2023 and the University of Bamberg in 2024. We are delighted that MoC6 is being hosted at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan from September 30 to October 4, 2025.

The conference comprises a diverse programme of activities designed to maximise opportunities to advance the scientific goals of the field, including invited talks and contributed talks by application, discussion sessions on open questions, and a colourful social programme. Participation is by registration only; the link is at the bottom of this page.

We look forward to welcoming you to Hokkaido University, Japan!

The MoC6 organising committee.

Conference Programme

Invited speakers

We are delighted to welcome the following invited speakers to Models of Consciousness 6!

Shigeru Taguchi Director, Center for Human Nature, Artificial Intelligence, and Neuroscience, Faculty of Humanities and Human Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan		A Monoid Model of Consciousness: How Category Theory Can Help Us Understand the Unity of Consciousness
Susan Schneider Director, Center for the Future of Mind, AI & Society, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL. USA		From Circuits to Sentience: Why Digital Chatbots Aren’t Conscious but Biological AIs May Be
Takashi Ikegami Director, Ikegami Laboratory, Department of General Systems Studies, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan		From Prediction Machine to Individual: Constructive Consciousness and Informational Synergy in the Android ALTER3
Miguel Aguilera Ikerbasque Research Fellow and la Caixa Junior Leader Fellow, Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Spain		Non-equilibrium Neural Computation: Critical Integration, Binding, and Sequential Memory
Tom Froese Associate Professor & Principal Investigator, Embodied Cognitive Science Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan		Re-Envisioning the Future of Human-AI Relations by Integrating Human Consciousness into the Natural Order
Ryota Kanai Founder & CEO of Araya Inc., Japan		Qualia and Symmetry
Fernando Rosas Assistant Professor in Computer Science & AI, School of Engineering and Informatics, University of Sussex, United Kingdom		Consciousness and emergence: Formalisms, opportunities and challenges
Yuko Ishihara Associate Professor, College of Global Liberal Arts, Ritsumeikan University, Osaka, Japan		Mirroring Consciousness: Nishida’s Mirror-Imagery and Self-Consciousness
*50 minutes plus 10 minutes for questions

Apply to give a talk!

The conference hosts various opportunities for participants to present their research to the community. (Participants are also welcome to attend without giving a talk.)

Discussion sessions

Following the spirit and tradition of previous MoC conferences, discussion sessions in small groups are an integral part of the conference. These give participants a chance to discuss open questions in the field and are intended to help develop a shared sense of purpose and long-term goals among researchers who work on mathematical approaches in the scientific study of consciousness.

Each discussion session will focus on a specific question, related to models of consciousness, the development of Mathematical Consciousness Science, characterization and classification of research projects, and similar topics that focus on bringing greater clarity and transparency to the field. Participants will also be able to suggest and vote on topics using the conference’s web interface during the conference.

Core Themes

We are delighted to announce that Models of Consciousness 6 comprises the following core themes. (However, please note that contributed talk applications are open to any topic in the field.)

Social Programme

Excursion

In the tradition of earlier meetings, the first day of the conference (Tuesday 30^th September) is devoted to an excursion that allows participants to connect and discuss their ideas, research and interests on a one-to-one basis.

Option 1: Hiking in Hokkaido

Late September, early October, is the perfect time of year for hiking on the island of Hokkaido, north Japan. It’s considered the thing to do, with ideal temperatures and the Japanese countryside looking spectacular in autumn. The island with its volcanos and lakes is adorned with hiking trails.

Details about the hike are now in the conference booklet and also HERE.

Only choose this option if you are in general good health and are happy to walk five to twelve kilometres along paths that include inclines. Pickup and drop-off will be by conference coach from Sapporo, and a lunch pack will be provided.

Option 2: Botanic Garden, Hokkaido University (updated option)

Due to temporary closure of the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, we recommend participants to visit the Botanic Garden, Hokkaido University, in close proximity to the conference venue (self-organized), Address: North3, West8, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060-0003.

Socializing

Outside of conference activities, Sapporo, a city of over two million people, offers a host of opportunities for cultural and social activities. Stay tuned for details!

More Information

For more information, please visit the conference’s subpages:

▸ MoC6 Main Page ▸ Practical Information ▸ Registration ▸ Talk Application ▸ Schedule Information

Conference Videos

Conference Booklet

The schedule is also available here.

Carbon offsetting

How to join the conference?

We invite researchers of all disciplines who have an interest in the scientific study of consciousness to join MoC6.

▸ Participation in the conference requires registration using the online registration form.
▸ Details about travel, accommodation, and the venue are available on our practical information page.
▸ If you would like to give a talk, please apply using our talk application form.

Deadline for talk applications: 6 July 2025 (Now extended to 15 July 2025).
Deadline for registration: 31 August 2025.

Organisers and Advisory Board

Grants

This conference is partially supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grant No. 24H00076) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

This conference is partially supported by a grant from the Barbara-Wengeler-Foundation.

Organising and Supporting Institutions

Contact

In case of any question, please do not hesitate to contact us at
moc6-organisers@amcs.science.

---

▸ MoC5 Main Page ▸ Practical Information ▸ Registration ▸ Talk Application