Jonathan Rowson is co-founder and Director of Perspectiva, "a research platform that seeks to build the intellectual foundations for a more conscious society – a diverse and plural society awake to itself, united by an awareness of ecological constraints, systemic influences and the development of human empathy and consciousness throughout the lifespan." He is an applied philosopher with degrees spanning a range of humanities and social sciences from Oxford, Harvard and Bristol Universities. He is also a former Scottish chess grandmaster, a three-time Scottish Chess Champion and the No. 1 ranked Scottish player as of October 2017. As Director of the Social Brain Centre at the United Kingdom's Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), he authored numerous research reports on behavior change, climate change, and spirituality.