The VERITAS Research Program of the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health (formerly the Human Energy Systems Laboratory) in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona was created primarily to test the hypothesis that the consciousness (or personality or identity) of a person survives physical death.
STATUS
As of January of 2008, the post-doctoral fellowship position of VERITAS Research Program Co-Director Julie Beischel, PhD, was completed. Dr. Beischel continues to perform survival and mediumship research as well as medium certification at the Windbridge Institute for Applied Research in Human Potential. Directed by Dr. Beischel, the Windbridge Institute has more freedom and flexibility in the direction and scope of research than is possible within the University system.
In January of 2008, the VERITAS Research Program, as it existed prior to 2008, was closed and the research was expanded into a broader, more comprehensive, spiritual communication project named the SOPHIA Research Program. In June, 2006, funding was obtained to create the SOPHIA Research Program, directed by Dr. Gary Schwartz.
The SOPHIA Research Program investigates claims of communication processes involving various spiritual levels, from deceased individuals, through guides and angels, to purported communication with a higher power or divinity. Its focus is on healing and life-enhancement. The IRB research approval process was completed in the summer of 2007 for the first major experiment.
INVESTIGATORS
GARY E. SCHWARTZ, Ph.D., Director of the VERITAS Research Program, is a professor of Psychology, Medicine, Neurology, Psychiatry, and Surgery at the University of Arizona and director of its Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health and its Center for Frontier Medicine in Biofield Science. After receiving his doctorate from Harvard University, he served as a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Yale University, director of the Yale Psychophysiology Center, and co-director of the Yale Behavioral Medicine Clinic. Dr. Schwartz has published more than four hundred scientific papers, edited eleven academic books, is the author of The Afterlife Experiments, The G.O.D. Experiments, and The Truth About Medium, and is the co-author of The Living Energy Universe.
JULIE BEISCHEL, PhD, Co-Director of the VERITAS Research Program, received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology with a minor in Microbiology and Immunology/Immunopathology from the University of Arizona. Dr. Beischel was the first ever recipient of the William James Post-doctoral Fellowship in Mediumship and Survival Research and, as of January of 2008, will continue performing mediumship and survival research at the Windbridge Institute for Applied Research in Human Potential.
MICHAEL BIUSO is a University of Arizona undergraduate currently working as a Research Assistant with the Program.
MARK BOCCUZZI is a Research Assistant with the Program and a Research Technician with the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health.
PUBLICATIONS
Rock AJ, Beischel J, and Schwartz GE. (accepted). Thematic analysis of research mediums' experiences of discarnate communication. Journal of Scientific Exploration
Beischel J, Schwartz GE. Methodological advances in laboratory-based mediumship research. Proceedings of the Rhine Research Center 2007 Conference: “Consciousness Today,” March 23-25, 2007.
Beischel J, Schwartz GE. Anomalous information reception by research mediums demonstrated using a novel triple-blind protocol. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science & Healing. 2007;3(1):23-27.
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Beischel J, Schwartz GE. Are research mediums real? A triple-blind study of anomalous information reception. Toward a Science of Consciousness 2006, April 4-8, 2006.
Schwartz GE (with Simon WL). The Truth about Medium: Extraordinary Experiments with the Real Allison DuBois of NBC’s Medium and Other Remarkable Psychics. Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing Company; 2005.
Schwartz GE, Beischel J. Survival is in the Details: Emerging Evidence for Discarnate Intention from Mediumship Research. 2005 Parapsychology Foundation International Conference, Charlottesville, Virginia, January 28-30, 2005. (Proceedings not yet published.)
Schwartz GE. 2003. How Not To Review Mediumship Research: Understanding the Ultimate Reviewer's Mistake.
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Schwartz GE, Chopra D. 2002. Nonlocal Anomalous Information Retrieval: A Multi-Medium Multi-Scored Single-Blind Experiment.
Schwartz GE (with Simon WL). The Afterlife Experiments: Breakthrough Scientific Evidence of Life After Death. New York: Pocket Books (division of Simon and Schuster); 2002.
Schwartz GE, Chopra D, and Grenard S. 2002. Evidence of Accuracy and Specificity for Long-Distance Mediumship: The “Double-Deceased” Multi-Medium Paradigm.
Schwartz GER, Russek LGS, Barentsen C. Accuracy and replicability of anomalous information retrieval: replication and extension. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research. 2002;66(3):144-156.
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Schwartz GER, Russek LGS. Evidence of anomalous information retrieval between two mediums: telepathy, network memory resonance, and continuance of consciousness. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research. 2001;65(4):257-275.
Schwartz GER, Russek LGS, Nelson LA, Barentsen C. Accuracy and replicability of anomalous after-death communication across highly skilled mediums. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research. 2001;65(1):1-25.
Schwartz GE. 2001. Accuracy and replicability of anomalous after-death communication across highly skilled mediums: a call for balanced evidence-based skepticism. The Paranormal Review: 20.
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Schwartz GE, Russek LG. 2001. Celebrating Susy Smith’s Soul: Preliminary Evidence for the Continuance of Smith’s Consciousness After Her Physical Death. Journal of Religious and Psychical Research 24(2): 82-91.
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Schwartz, Ph.D., Gary E. R., Linda G. S. Russek, Ph.D., Donald E. Watson, M.D., Susy Smith, Elizabeth H. Smith (hyp), William James, M.D.(hyp), Henry I. Russek, M.D.(hyp), and Howard Schwartz, M.S.(hyp). 1999. Potential Medium to Departed to Medium Communication of Pictorial Information: Exploratory Evidence Consistent with Psi and Survival of Consciousness. The Noetic Journal 2(3): 283-294.
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