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Happy Spring! Today marks the vernal equinox, a rare moment of celestial symmetry where the Earth’s axis aligns perfectly with its orbit. For one brief window, the sun stands directly over the equator, bathing both the North and South poles in light simultaneously. It is a day of "equal night"—a global heartbeat where the world pauses in perfect balance before tilting toward the warmth of a new season.
From the ancient shadows of the serpent descending the Temple of K'uk'ulkan at Chich’en Itza to the vibrant celebrations of Nowruz, humanity has gathered for centuries to honor this transition. As the days begin to outlast the nights, the equinox reminds us of the unceasing rhythmic promise of renewal and transformation. We look to the heavens, we stabilize ourselves on the ground, and we steady our hearts.
Read on for news of Loka’s spring updates!
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Dekila Chungyalpa
Director, the Loka Initiative at the Center for Healthy Minds
University of Wisconsin–Madison
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LOKA INITIATIVE NEWS AND UPDATES
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We are thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the online phase of Loka’s PREP (Preparing Religious Environmental Plans) program, which trained over 40 global faith leaders from 15 countries to design localized, science-integrated environmental and climate projects for their communities of faith. Since launching on January 5, 2026, our participants have engaged in peer-supported learning and practical project life cycle design and management to address vulnerabilities within their unique local contexts. Generously supported by the Templeton World Charity Foundation, our cohort’s journey culminates next week, March 23–27, in Madison, Wisconsin. There, PREP’s faith leaders will immerse themselves in intensive training in media, fundraising, and campaign creation to bring their environmental visions to life!
As part of this in-person gathering, Loka is hosting a public dialogue on UW–Madison’s campus between invited faith leaders and UW scientists. On March 26, 2026, we will convene a select panel of faith leaders for this cross-disciplinary exchange with UW–Madison faculty, including Dr. Richard J. Davidson and Dr. Jonathan Patz. Moderated by our director, Dekila, this event offers a rare opportunity to witness an encounter between world religious traditions and leading scientific perspectives, focusing on our shared responsibility to the planet.
Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
- Time: 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Location: Fluno Center - 601 University Ave, Madison, WI 53715
Limited Spots Left!
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With over 530 new students registered in 2026 so far, our updated Psychology of Deep Resilience course is thriving! Featuring 20 contemplative exercises from diverse traditions, the course program is designed to help you build your inner, community, and planetary resilience; sign up today!
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In a March 10, 2026, opinion piece for Planet Detroit, Huda Alkaff—Founder and Director of Wisconsin Green Muslims, a valued Loka advisor, collaborator, and guest speaker at next week’s PREP convening—explores the spiritual and physical necessity of water. Writing during the holy month of Ramadan, she reflects on the sacred value of water amid the growing threat posed by the AI industry’s massive resource consumption, and demonstrates how faith-led leadership is meeting this challenge.
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(Credit: SL Brown Foundation - Upper House)
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Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. (complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres), 6:30 p.m. (Program)
Location: Upper House - 365 East Campus Mall, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53715
Join Dr. Rick Lindroth, esteemed Loka faculty, to explore why science is increasingly caught in the crossfire of political and cultural polarization. In his lecture, Dr. Lindroth will provide an overview of the nature of science and science denialism, and will consider how to improve science communication across ideological and cultural divides.
This FREE offering is hosted by Upper House, an initiative of the SL Brown Foundation and a center for Christian study and hospitality in the heart of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Come for an engaging talk and live Q&A within a warm, thoughtful community atmosphere!
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In Memoriam: Sister Joanne Kollasch (1930–2025)
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The Loka Initiative is deeply saddened to share the belated news of the passing of our dear friend, Sister Joanne, who died peacefully on December 23, 2025, at the age of 95. A visionary leader and former Prioress of Holy Wisdom Monastery, Sister Joanne was beloved in the Madison community and known for her wisdom and warmth across different faith traditions. Dekila first met Sister Joanne in 2017 in Cartagena, Colombia, where Dekila and her colleagues who led the Religion and Conservation Biology Working Group at the Society for Conservation Biology presented the Assisi Award to Sister Joanne and Sister Mary David Walgenbach, the current prioress of Holy Wisdom Monastery, at the 28th International Congress of Conservation Biology. Dekila has often described this seed of a connection with Holy Wisdom and Madison as deeply meaningful and a sign that she was meant to move to Madison later and create the Loka Initiative here. Sister Joanne’s gentle humor and kindness was a gift to the Loka Initiative, and while we mourn her loss, we remain inspired by her lifelong belief that "there are many doors" to wisdom and that all are worthy of being welcomed.
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Share Updates & Stay Connected!
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Hashtags: #LokaInitiative #Loka🌎
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Loka is an interdisciplinary collaboration among different programs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. It is housed in the Center for Healthy Minds in collaboration with:
The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s and don’t reflect the opinions or beliefs of
UW-Madison, the Center for Healthy Minds or their affiliates.
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