The 2023 Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies Grants Program: “The Challenge”

After a massive international response judged by a panel of outstanding experts, the 2021 Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies (BICS) essay contest (“The Contest”) established that there is evidence beyond reasonable doubt for the survival of consciousness after permanent physical death (“life after death,” or “the afterlife”). Building on that success, the 2023 BICS Challenge will fund research into contact and communication with post-mortem or discarnate consciousness leading to the reception of higher order information of benefit to humankind with the allocation of a grand total of up to $1 million in grants.

Up to $50,000 will be awarded to 12 projects and up to $100,000 will be awarded to a further 4 projects, exclusively in the field of the survival of consciousness after death. (BICS reserves the right to determine the value of each project and the final amount awarded.)

As a general guide, historical examples of such contact and communication with “the afterlife” have included: Emanuel Swedenborg; Allan Kardec; William Stainton Moses; Edgar Cayce; and Jane Roberts.
Historically, the methods used have been wide-ranging, including, but not limited to, automatic writing, dreams, visions, veridical hallucination, trance, hypnosis, direct voice, mental mediumship, physical mediumship, so-called spirit boards, etc.

Applicants are free to decide on their approach, but projects must address the hypothesis that valid higher order information, generally classed as “wisdom,” can be received in communication with post-mortem or discarnate consciousness through the use of robust methodologies.

In the first instance, applicants should submit a preliminary proposal with professional bio, or bios of all team members, (including photos of all applicants) showing their qualifications and experience in this field (“the survival of human consciousness after death”). Individual applicants may apply. In addition, BICS encourages researchers to form teams or consortia, ideally, but not necessarily, with a host entity.

Preliminary proposals should be precise and succinct, and include an abstract, a thorough budget breakdown showing how payment instalments will be tied to research deliverables (“milestones”) over the course of the project, and a clear demonstration that the project design is novel and will stand up to academic scrutiny.
Preliminary proposals are invited from November 1st, 2022, to January 1st, 2023, with selected applicants being invited to submit full proposals from January 1st, 2023, to April 1st, 2023. Grants awarded will run from August 1st, 2023, to May 1st, 2024 (9 months).

Preference will be given to new and innovative studies. BICS will not enter into discussion or “coaching” of proposed projects. Further terms and conditions can be found at bigelowinstitute.org.

Submit your preliminary proposal from Nov., 1st, 2022, until Jan., 1st, 2023, to Dr Colm Kelleher at info@bigelowinstitute.org. Submissions will be considered and approved on a rolling basis, therefore applicants should submit as early as possible.
 

Call for Chapters

Is There Life After Death? Vol. 2: Case Studies

Edited by Dr Leo Ruickbie and Robert McLuhan for the Society for Psychical Research

Rationale

It is one of the fundamental questions that everyone will ask themselves, but in an age of global pandemics, with the increasing challenge to once universal religious certainties and the growing partisan stranglehold on information, the question ‘what happens to the human personality after death?’ takes on renewed urgency to seek answers from every discipline of knowledge, from history to computer science.

This book continues where Volume 1 left off by narrowing the focus to single case studies to build a uniquely valuable reference series, reflecting the state-of-the-art of research. As with Vol. 1, contributions are invited from historians, sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists, parapsychologists, philosophers, medical researchers and other experts.

Several key researchers have already agreed to contribute, including the President of the Society for Psychical Research, Prof. Chris Roe, the host of New Thinking Allowed Dr Jeffrey Mishlove, Dr Jane Katra, leading reincarnation researcher Dr James G. Matlock, the well-known author and former editor of Psychic News Roy Stemman and the SPR’s Archivist Dr Melvyn Willin.

This book project is being conducted under the auspices of the Society for Psychical Research. Established in 1882, the SPR is the world’s oldest, largest and most reputable organisation for the scientific study of what we now call the ‘paranormal’. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to contribute to a project of fundamental importance and a unique chance to join the SPR’s long tradition of open-minded inquiry.

Subjects

This book will focus solely on case studies that present the best evidence for the survival of the human personality after death.

Proposed contributions will be expected to be rigorously researched cases. These can be new or historical, as long as original and significant findings are presented.

Submissions will be invited that cover the range of ‘life after death’ evidential categories, which will, to an extent, mirror the structure of Vol. 1 and provide continuity of reference, for example:

• after-death communication;

• mediumship;

• haunt-type experiences;

• near-death experiences;

• reincarnation.

Style

In addition to being academically rigorous, the tone of the book will be accessible, aiming to create a readable and interesting volume that will appeal to non-academic, as well as academic audiences. Full scholarly apparatus (notes, bibliography) will be required.

Length

Individual chapters will be expected to be 4,000 words in length. The book will be c.100,000 words in length, featuring approx. 25 contributions.

Proposals

Send an abstract of 300 words plus brief biography to Dr Leo Ruickbie at paranormalreview@spr.ac.uk.

Deadlines

Deadline for chapters: 1 October 2021. Deadline for abstracts: 30 April 2021, but please apply early.

Any questions by email, please.

Is There Life After Death? Arguments, Theories, Evidence

Edited by Leo Ruickbie and Robert McLuhan for the Society for Psychical Research

Deadline for abstracts: 8 June 2020.

Read the full call for chapters here https://www.academia.edu/42971607/Call_for_Chapters_Is_There_Life_After_Death

and here https://www.spr.ac.uk/news/call-chapters-there-life-after-death