The practice of mindfulness will be the topic of a Bluffton University colloquium presentation by Dr. Will Slater, a Bluffton professor of psychology, at 4 p.m. Friday, March 16, in Stutzman Lecture Hall in Centennial Hall.

Mindfulness is defined as paying attention on purpose and in the present, non-judgmentally. "A sabbatical quest to better cultivate and better understand mindfulness and its implications for health, quality of life and education" is the title of Slater's talk, which is free and open to the public.

He will describe mindfulness meditation training-which he has received-as well as the practice and benefits of mindfulness, and lead colloquium attendees in a brief demonstration of cultivating greater mindfulness in one's life.

Also the chair of Bluffton's social sciences department, Slater says strong scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of mindfulness in helping people manage stress and chronic pain, while also enhancing immune function and overall quality of life.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, which originated at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, is now taught in more than 250 hospitals to patients, physicians, staff and others in the helping professions.