Paul Mason holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Honours in Science and a Graduate Certificate in Arts (Anthropology). His core research interest is the study of the relationship between brains and culture. Currently, he is performing a cross-cultural study of challenge-dancing in Indonesia and Brazil (Pencak Silat and Capoeira respectively). Having studied Martial Arts, Dance and Music from an early age, the study of Pencak Silat and Capoeira has been a natural progression of Paul’s academic and personal interests. He has performed ethnographic fieldwork in Australian Contemporary Dance, Brazilian Capoeira and Indonesia Pencak Silat. His laboratory experience ranges from molecular and cellular neurobiology through to Clinical Neurophysiology and Neuroimaging.

In 2006, he presented his research at the Language, Culture, Mind Conference in Paris and hosted a conference in St. Etienne, France, on the Metamorphosis of Industrial Metropoles. More recently, he presented at the International Conference on South East Asia, at Universiti Malaya. Paul will be co-hosting the Music and Movements in Indonesian Culture Conference and Workshops in Sydney during October, 2007.