Month: June 2011

General

Parapsychology and Consciousness Conference

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From October 14th to 16th, Atlantic University in Virginia Beach is hosting a Parapsychology and Consciousness conference titled, The Best in Parapsychology: From Our Minds to Yours.

The list of speakers is a who’s who of current parapsychology, including:

Julie Beischel, PhD, Edwin C. May, PhD, Roger Nelson, PhD, Dean Radin, PhD, Doug Richards, PhD, Carlos S. Alvarado, PhD, Christine Simmonds-Moore, PhD, Nancy L. Zingrone, PhD, Henry Reed, PhD, John Palmer, PhD, James Carpenter, PhD, Robert Van de Castle, PhD, Ginette Nachman, MD, PhD, Frank Pasciuti, PhD, Loyd Auerbach, MS, David McMillin, MA, and Stephen Braude, PhD.

From the brochure: “These dedicated men and women are seeking the answers we need. Some study the relationship of psychic experiences to psychological well-being. Others focus on the intersection of psychic phenomena and modern physics. All are working to get an unbiased understanding of what we know out to the people who need it the most. Our speakers think deeply about the scientific underpinnings of psychic functioning and about what these phenomena say about interconnectedness, entanglement and the meaning of life.”

To see the conference brochure with a complete list of the speakers and talks, click here.

Books and Publications

Fringe-ology

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I only just heard about this book Fringe-ology a few minutes ago, but the first review by David Pitt at Booklist is promising!

“In the spectrum of paranormal literature, with rigid skepticism at one end and jaw-dropping gullibility at the other, this book occupies a space squarely in the middle. Volk explores the way paranormal phenomena have been reported, investigated, and categorized. He includes numerous personal accounts, including one from his own life, but isn’t really focused on personal stories or even whether paranormal phenomena exist. He is interested in the interpretation of the word paranormal—the meanings attached to it and the way perception of the word colors how we view the world. Arguing that paranormal phenomena, genuine or not, should be openly discussed and analyzed, he proposes adopting a what-if attitude. For example, if some ghost sightings can’t be explained away as products of a person’s imagination, what does this say about the natural world? He points out perceptively that “what is seen today as wacky often leads to tomorrow’s progress,” citing the importance of the study of alchemy to the science of chemistry, A sharply written, intelligently argued book that should appeal equally to believers and skeptics.”

The author is a longtime reporter out of Philadelphia, and his website is here. Oh, and I see he’s doing a reading in New York, on July 13, 7 pm, at Barnes and Noble, the one at 97 Warren Street. Good luck, Steve! Your book sounds great!