20 Years of ASSC: are we ready for its coming of age?

This is a subjective summary of the recent meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness (ASSC) in Buenos Aires (2016), with some highlights, as well as reflections on the state of the field in general. I argue that we are likely at a critical point where the field is in the process of transforming itself, and the ASSC meeting is accordingly becoming the premier venue to update each other on the latest exciting findings, rigorous methods, and novel ideas. I also discuss the rapidly changing roles of authoritative opinion and theoretical ideas based largely on speculation, whether we still need them, and where may be the best venues for disseminating them