I have been meaning to mention this for a very long time! Back in 1981 a new UK parapsychology group, ASSAP, was founded. ASSAP stands for the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena, and they today describe themselves as a “paranormal education and research charity”, and are very active. I was a member for a while in the 1990’s and am rejoining after a long period of poverty enforced my absence, and I hope to get more involved in ASSAP matters.
Anyway from 1981 to 2011 is thirty years, and ASSAP are putting together what looks to be a truly fantastic conference to be held this year at the University of Bath, on the 10-11th September. The anniversary conference is entitled Seriously Strange, and looks perfect for both the really hard-core paranormal research types who are interested in Ganzfeld experiments & Bem’s precognitive habituation, through the most ardent ghosthunter, and certainly given ASSAP’s always critical and sceptical approach Sceptics. Forteans will love it too, from what I can see of the line up.
So where is Bath, and how do I get there?
It’s in the Southwest UK, but within easy reach of London, Bristol, Cardiff, Oxford and the South Coast, and only an hour from Birmingham. If you are further north then it may be a long drive, but certainly worth it! Travel details on conference site here. All contact details are here, but you can book online or by calling 0845 652 1648
However note that the SPR’s 35th International Psychical Research Conference is in Edinburgh the weekend before ( I may well blog on this when I have more details) and if you are in North America Atlantic University is hosting a Parapsychology & Consciousness conference in October.
So how much does Seriously Strange cost?
Always my first question! For non-ASSAP members it is £15 for the whole weekend, which is an amazing bargain. If you happen to be a member, it is still possible you might get a free ticket, if you act fast. So a good reason to join ASSAP? There is also some rather nice accommodation very reasonably priced for Bath at the venue – click here for details…
Who is giving talks?
Well 19 of the most respected researchers in the field, and one less respected, namely me! Here is the line up from the web page…
Looks great!
What is the BIG announcement that will change the future of Paranormal Research in the UK forever?
I don’t actually know what this announcement that is due to be made at the conference involves, but I do know it will be big, and potentially effect all ghost groups and paranormal investigators in the UK. Us poor speakers won’t be told till anyone else! Shall I speculate? Why not!
I doubt that Dave Woods and Nicky Sewell have caught a ghost in a bottle, or have managed to set up an ITC channel to the Other Side and we will have a live discussion with the ghosts of Elvis and Einstein. I don’t think this is a scientific breakthrough, or I think we would be awaiting a journal publication. So what is it? My guess would be something regarding the ethics and “best practice” of UK paranormal investigation. ASSAP have for many years run a training course for would be paranormal investigators, and grant a type of “kitemark” standard to those who pass it who become Accredited Investigators. I suspect something seriously big along those lines?
Or it could be something organizational like a merger with the SPR I guess; that would certainly be huge, as I think it was fair to say that ASSAP was a split off from the SPR at a time when the latter organization was more focused on experimental lab psi research and less on spontaneous cases. Perhaps a cooperative programme to set up research units across the country? Who knows!
Finally I can only think of either a new Parapsychology undergrad degree (the first in UK since Edinburgh shut theirs in 1981), or some kind of national reporting system like the SPR Spontaneous Cases Committee, which processes appeals for help from the public.
The truth is, I don’t know, but if you are in to “ghost culture” and live in the UK you will probably want to be there to voice your opinions of whatever it is and react!
Hope to see you all there!
cj x
"And sometimes he's so nameless" 
I should hope that if the announcement involved a merger with the SPR I would have heard already, so I don’t think that is it. I am intrigued by this as well, and hope that non-attendees will be told afterwards by ASSAP asap.
Well we can rule that one out then. 🙂 Are you coming Tom?
Can’t make it I’m afraid, which is a shame as it has a good line-up, present company included!
> a new Parapsychology undergrad degree (the first in UK since Edinburgh shut theirs in 1981)
Did Edinburgh actually dish out degrees in para..? I can’t believe I didn’t know that (though I can believe most anything some days)
I’m not sure. I saw a reference to undergrads at Edinburgh back in 1986, but it could have been a mistake in the article: the article said the undergrad closed in 1981. I guess I’ll have to check this!