Our annual student idea incubator, talk competition, and conference
Overview
PsychedelX is a free virtual conference, talk competition, and idea incubator open to the general public that features 15-20 minute live and pre-recorded talks from IPN members on any topic related to psychedelics. It launched in 2021 and takes place every Spring or Summer. These talks are accompanied by live Q&A sessions, themed keynote lectures, and professional development panels. Topics last year ranged from the role of touch in MDMA-assisted therapy to psychedelic film analysis. Below are some popular talks from 2022:
Rationale
After decades of stigma, psychedelics are receiving a tremendous level of media attention. During this critical period, effective communication and engagement of novel, well-informed, and diverse ideas will shape how these compounds become integrated in the modern world. History shows us these paradigm shifts are most often led by young people, especially students. However, despite us being a wellspring of creativity, curiosity, and optimism, there are few opportunities for students interested in psychedelics to develop their skills and engage their ideas with the public.
Selection
PsychedelX is a competitive program; ranging from 60-100+ applications each year, where the top 20-30 students and/or youth were selected as speakers. Any IPN member is eligible to apply and applications open in late winter and close in the spring. In 2023, applications were reviewed by our IPN team, with at least 3 team members reviewing each application. Selection was based on the novelty, clarity, uniqueness, and impact of ideas. We are so proud of this year’s cohort and are thrilled to see the culmination of all their hard work in July!
Process
From the beginning, each speaker is paired with a peer mentor and a talk-creation team (2-4 people) so they are always supported by one another. The PsychedelX process allows students to gain experience sharing their ideas with their peers whilst creating a lasting community and professional connections.
- Train and Network. Learn from interactive workshops on effective communication and storytelling while meeting other students (e.g. via Discord and social events).
- Peer Mentor. Receive and provide constructive feedback in small peer mentoring groups led by an experienced talk coach.
- Practice Presentations. Run through several rounds of practice talks before final recording where top scorers present live to the public and a panel of expert judges.
- Build a Lasting Cohort. Engage with your peers after the conference and stay connected to IPN through projects like this one (e.g. as a talk coach next year!)
Impact
Ultimately, we hope that the PsychedelX experience will continue to inspire students to be confident in their next professional steps. In its third year, PsychedelX has “graduated” over 40 students and youth interested in psychedelics who have gone on to pursue graduate degrees, publish research papers, and present at prestigious conferences. Fundamentally, we believe that with encouragement and honest feedback, students can convey their perspectives and ideas in a way that strengthens their sense of purpose and help make the world a better place. We hope the talks shared and connections made at PsychedelX will continue to reverberate in the psychedelics space for years to come.
2023 Team
Aurore Lyon
Talk Coach
TBD
Bianca Watt
Talk Coach
TBD
Jocelyn Wensel
Talk Coach
Jocelyn Wensel is a second-year medical student at the International University of Health Sciences. She has her Bachelors in Biology from Claremont McKenna College and a Masters Degree in Medical Sciences from Heritage University. She lives in Eugene, OR. She is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion. She is interested in working in the public health policy space and hopes to incorporate knowledge of functional and integrative medicine, plant based nutrition, yoga, reiki, and psychedelics into her future practice in family medicine.
Kevin Garcia
Talk Coach
TBD
Ky Romero
Talk Coach
TBD
Martin Pham
Talk Coach
Regan Harle
Talk Coach
Currently I am in the process of receiving a PhD in Neuroscience. My particular area of focus is the neurobiology of language and consciousness. I want to prove that language is able to sustain and modify higher order consciousness and to use psychedelics as a biomarker for this. Our lab, UNITy, (@psychedelicunit) is going to be conducting one of the biggest fMRI studies on DMT, wherein I will look at language changes before and after the psychedelic experience through questionnaires, a specialised experience sampling app & brain scans pre/post watching a movie in the scanner. In my free time, I love the colour pink, makeup and all things drag.
Uma R. Chatterjee
Talk Coach
Uma is a neuroscientist, board-certified Mental Health Peer Specialist, and mental health advocate. She is currently completing her M.S. in neuroscience at the University of Texas-Dallas, studying the hemispheric lateralization of the central amygdala in the Kolber Lab. She has also conducted award-winning psychedelic research, bringing together her multidisciplinary background to study the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy on comorbid OCD and PTSD across several disciplines. She has presented her research at numerous scientific conferences and received several accolades for her novel findings, including winning the PsychedelX 2022 conference and several research awards. Uma’s research, MHPS practice, and advocacy are all informed by her lived experience with AYA cancer, OCD, PTSD, and chronic illnesses. Her survivorship serves as the bedrock of her advocacy, carried out through her work as an educator, organizer, and host of the podcast ‘A Chat with Uma.’ Uma is also a global Advocate for the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF).
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