Public Lectures and Appearances by DOPS Researchers
Public Lectures, Presentations, and Special Appearances by DOPS Faculty Researchers
Please contact us at DOPS@virginia.edu if your academic institution, interest group, or professional research organization would like to invite the faculty individually or collectively, to speak about their research.
Upcoming Special Events:
March 11-20, 2021, South by SouthWest, Austin, Texas
SXSW, Austin, Texas, March 11-20, 2022
Panel Discussion: Is There Life After Death?
Our relationship with death and dying is changing and so is our understanding of human consciousness. COVID has heightened anxiety about our own mortality while emerging psychedelic therapies are reinventing end-of-life care. What does it mean to be human? Is there life after death? These are the questions driving the research at the University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies, where researchers explore the nature of consciousness in life and after death, testing the boundaries of prevailing science and shaping future scientific breakthroughs. Their findings expand traditional paradigms about the mind-brain relationship, and more broadly, what it means to be human with important implications around how we deal with death anxiety, grief, mental health & finding purpose.
Recent DOPS Events:
- November 10, 2021, Bruce Greyson: “The One Mind— ‘Mind Blowing’ Discoveries on the Nature of Life, Death & Consciousness” with host Christopher Naughton
Bruce Greyson was interviewed on November 10th for this series
Video on Demand After Each Session
7:00-8:30 EST
25.00 per session in this series
Access the Archive Here
Christopher Naughton (host) is a former trial lawyer, producer/host of the Emmy®-award winning American Public Television (APT) program The American Law Journal, host of the NPR affiliate and Unity online New World Radio show and the author of the upcoming book America’s Next Great Awakening: A New American Revolution in Consciousness.
- November 5th-7th, 2021, Bruce Greyson presented for the Scientific & Medical Network Webinar: Beyond the Brain 2021-Further Reaches of Consciousness Research
SATURDAY NOVEMBER, 6th, 2:30-3:30 pm (UK Time)
“After: What Do Near-Death Experiences Mean for the Next Life – and for This Life? “
Presenters and Chairs:
Dr. Bruce Greyson, Prof Etzel Cardeña, Dr. Natalie Dyer, Dr. Peter Fenwick, Graham Hancock, Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell, David Lorimer, Dr. David Luke, Bruce Parry, Dr. Athena Potari, Dr. Oliver Robinson, Dr. Penny Sartori, Prof Marilyn Schlitz, Dr. Rupert Sheldrake, Prof Jessica Utts, Prof Caroline Watt
Register: Scroll to the bottom of the “Beyond the Brain” webpage to register for this online event
- November 3, 2021, Jim Tucker: “The One Mind— ‘Mind Blowing’ Discoveries on the Nature of Life, Death & Consciousness”.
Christopher Naughton is the host of this series
Jim Tucker was interviewed on November 3rd for this series
Online Live Zoom Session. Video on Demand After Each Session
25.00 per session in this series
Access the archive of the event Here
Christopher Naughton (host) is a former trial lawyer, producer/host of the Emmy®-award winning American Public Television (APT) program The American Law Journal, host of the NPR affiliate and Unity online New World Radio show and the author of the upcoming book America’s Next Great Awakening: A New American Revolution in Consciousness.
- October 27th, 2021, Jim Tucker presented: The Science Behind Reincarnation, to the UVA Alumni Club.
Alumni, friends, and families joined the UVA Clubs program for an enlightening conversation with the Director of the Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS), Dr. Jim B. Tucker, who gave a closer look at his work investigating more than 2,500 cases from around the world of children who report memories of previous lives. His work provides persuasive evidence that some children do, in fact, possess memories of previous lives. In his talk, Dr. Tucker addressed how this phenomenon affects our understanding of human consciousness.
Can Mind exist separate from Brain? Is there life after death?
These are the questions driving the research at DOPS, where researchers study the nature of consciousness in life and after death, testing the boundaries of prevailing science and shaping future scientific breakthroughs.
- October 20th, 2021, Online Edition–LGW’s Spirit and Science World Forum Dr. Jim Tucker discussed his research into children who have memories of a past life and participated in “LIFE AND DEATH IN DIALOGUE” with other colleagues and presenters at this conference.
With the fraternal participation of renowned religious representatives, researchers, and scientists, the LGW Spirit and Science World Forum addressed fundamental aspects of life and profound questions such as: What happens after death? How can we explain memories of previous lives? This event originated in Brazil, but with an English option.
- September 24th, 2021 Ed Kelly, Bruce Greyson, Jim Tucker, Emily Kelly et al: Scientific and Medical Network Presented:
Consciousness Unbound: Liberating the Mind from the Tyranny of Materialism
In this online event, contributing authors from the SurSem Project convened to remotely to discuss concepts outlined in the newest SurSem collaborative book project:
Consciousness Unbound-Liberating Mind from the Tyranny of Materialism-edited by Edward F. Kelly and Paul MarshallWhat if consciousness is fundamental and even primary?
Join some of the leading researchers in the sciences and humanities for a series of round table discussions to launch the landmark volume Consciousness Unbound: Liberating Mind from the Tyranny of Materialism, initiated under the auspices of Esalen Institute’s Center for Theory & Research and University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies.
- September 9th, 8:00 am Grand Rounds-UVA School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics-Dr. Jim Tucker.
Dr. Jim Tucker presented”Children Who Report Memories of Previous Lives”, to the UVA School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. The audience was Medical Students, Medical Residents, and Department of Pediatrics Faculty members.
- September 9th-12th, 2021, Nancy McLaughlin-Walter: International Remote Viewing Conference, Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY.
“Research into Altered-State Consciousness via Electroencephalography”
Nancy McLaughlin-Walter presented the combined work of Dr. Ross Dunseath with The Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia. Through the Discovery Mind Mirror program conducted at the Monroe Institute, two-channel electroencephalography data was collected during subjects’ altered states of consciousness during remote viewing targeting and out-of-body attempts. The data from three separate program times with over 100 trials on more than 50 subjects have been cleaned and analyzed. A summary of the data analysis results was presented along with anecdotal information regarding some of the exceptional subjects.
- September 1-5th, 2021 IANDS 2021 Conference, (Online Event)
-September 4th, 2:00-2:40, Bruce Greyson delivered the IANDS Keynote Address: “From Research to Relevance”
-September 4th, 1:00-1:50, Kim Penberthy presented: “After Death Communications: Relevance, Impact, and Strategies to Engage”
-September 4th, 3:00-3:50, Marieta Pehlivanova presented: “Support After an NDE: Types, Benefits, and Barriers
Dr. Bruce Greyson presented at the 2021 Chautauqua Institution
Dr. Greyson’s latest book, After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond, is the culmination of nearly half a century of Dr. Greyson’s scientific research.
- June 17th, 2021, Virginia Festival of the Book-Shelf Life Series
Free Virtual Event,: “After-Dr. Bruce Greyson on Near-Death Experiences”. Facebook live: Virginia Festival of the Book.
“After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond”
This was Spiritual Awakenings International first online conference. Renown experts and fascinating experiencers from around the world presented for this online event.
- June 9th, 2021: Vail Symposium Zoom Webinar, “Crossing the Threshold: The Continuity of Consciousness From This Life To The Next”
Presenting for the Vail Symposium, Dr. Greyson discussed issues and challenges in his research of NDEs.
- April 30th, 2021: IANDS Spring Symposium, Live Online Event:
Dr. Bruce Greyson: Keynote Speaker IANDS Spring Symposium, “Providing Care for Those Touched by Near-Death and Related Experiences: Ethical Best Practices”
Marieta Pehlivanova, PhD: Ethical Best Practice Recommendations for Responding to Near-Death & Related Experiencers.
- April 23, 2021, IONS Online Event. Dr. Bruce Greyson: What Do Near-Death Experiences Suggest About Life, Death, and Beyond?
Co-produced by the Institute of Noetic Sciences and the Scientific and Medical Network
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are profound experiences that frequently occur on the threshold of death. They include phenomena that are difficult if not impossible to reconcile with a materialistic view of the mind, such as enhanced thinking and perceptions while the brain is severely impaired, accurate perceptions from outside the physical body, and encounters with deceased persons not known to have died. Dr. Bruce Greyson has been studying NDEs for almost half a century. In this presentation, he shares some of his most important findings on the nature of life and death, illustrating his research data with captivating examples.
- March 6th, 2021, Webinar 1:00-3:00 EST.
Dr. Bruce Greyson will be launching his book: After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond.
Past DOPS Events and Presentations:
Past Events 2020:
- June, 13th, 2020, Webinar 4:30-6:00 EST. Dr. Bruce Greyson presented for the Seattle IANDS Anniversary Celebration.
Bruce Greyson is author of After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal About Life and Beyond (scheduled for release March, 2021), and the co-editor of The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences (2009) and The Near-Death Experience: Problems, Prospects, Perspectives (1984),
- April 18, 2020, Princeton, New Jersey: Dr. Jim Tucker was to present a review of his research into children who remember previous lives at the International Consciousness Research Laboratories (ICRL) MEET-UP.
This event will be rescheduled. It was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information please contact: International Consciousness Research Laboratories (ICRL)
- This event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 1 – 4, 2020, Porto, Portugal: Kim Penberthy PhD, was to present at the 13th BIAL FOUNDATION Symposium: “Behind and Beyond the Brain, The Mystery of Time”. Dr. Penberthy would have been presenting her recently completely research project: “Meditators and Nonmeditators: A Descriptive Analysis Over Time with a Focus on Unusual and Extraordinary Experiences”.
- February 15th, 2020, 12:00 pm est, Dr. Jim Tucker presented a free online lecture: “The Psychological Aspects of Children’s Past-Life Memories”. Dr. Jim Tucker offered this free, online presentation as part of the AZIRE ParaMOOC lecture series. All of the substantive AZIRE ParaMOOC lectures will be published to the Parapsychology Foundation’s YouTube channel. If you have questions, please contact the ParaMOOC organizer, Nancy Zingrone PhD, at nancy@theazire.org .
- November 15, 2019, Atlanta, GA: Marieta Pehlivanova PhD, presented at the American Center for the Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences, (ACISTE) 2019 Conference.
During the Main Session, Marieta Pehlivanova, PhD presented: ” Support Needs and Outcomes for Near-Death Experiencers”. Her presentation was based on the preliminary data based on her study “Investigation of Therapeutic Outcomes in Near-Death Experiencers, IRB-SBS Protocol #2377”.
- October 22, 2019, Glenmore Country Club, Keswick, VA: Marieta Pehlivanova, Ph.D. gave a talk about near-death experiences at the fall quarterly luncheon of the Charlottesville Newcomers Club.
- October 13-18, 2019, Eretria-Evia island, Greece. Dr. Jim B. Tucker, M.D. presented his research in two related lectures at this conference: EUROPEAN SCHOOL OF THEOSOPHY: REINCARNATION, SCIENCE AND THE ANCIENT WISDOM TRADITION. 1) CHILDREN’S MEMORIES OF PREVIOUS LIVES 2) ΒIRTHMARKS AND PAST-LIFE MEMORIES
- September 20, 2019, Glade Spring Resort, Daniels, WV: Ed Kelly , Ph.D., gave a dinner talk to over a hundred members of Spilman, Thomas & Battle, a multi-state law firm headquartered in Charleston WV, at their biannual retreat.
- September 4, 2019, 6:30-7:30 pm, Crozet, VA: Dr. Jim Tucker presented his research at the Crozet Library-“Remembering Past Lives”. How could a two-year-old in Louisiana remember being a World War II pilot shot down over the Pacific? Or a boy in Oklahoma recall being a Hollywood extra? Dr. Jim Tucker discussed his work studying children’s memories of previous lives, and he gave an overview of this fifty-year world-wide research project begun by Dr. Ian Stevenson at UVA. During his presentation, Dr. Tucker focused on the details of recent American cases.
- August 29, 2019, King of Prussia, PA: Dr. Bruce Greyson-Keynote Speaker, 2019 IANDS Conference 2019 THEME – REVOLUTIONARY EXPERIENCES: The Power of Love and Consciousness Dr. Bruce Greyson presented: “Expanding the Science of Consciousness by Expanding the Consciousness of Scientists”, as the Keynote address.
- July 13, 2019, 10:00 am-3:00 pm, Boston, MA: UVA DOPS Faculty Panel- “Mind Beyond Brain-Emerging Evidence for Life After Life”. The DOPS researchers presented their research in which they are tackling the most important scientific question of all –What is mind and does it survive bodily death?
- March 14th, 2019, 6:00-7:30 pm, Vail, CO. Dr. Jim Tucker presented: “Life Before Life: Extraordinary Cases of Children Who Remember Past Lives”, at the Vail Symposium. This program explored the various features of this worldwide phenomenon., Dr. Tucker described numerous cases from our research collection. Common features in the cases include a child talking about a past life at a very early age; behaviors that appear connected to that life, such as phobias related to the mode of death and sometimes birthmarks or birth defects that correspond to wounds the previous person suffered. The presentation included a review of the research and the details of recent American cases.
- November 10th, 2018, 2:30-3:30 pm, Phoenix, AZ . Mind & Life: International Symposium for Contemplative Research, 2018. Dr. Kim Penberthy participated in a collaborative panel presentation titled: “Off the Cushion and into the Streets: Diversity and Inclusion in Contemplative Science.” Dr. Penberthy co-presented with Martin Davidson of the UVA Darden School of Business, Michael Swanberg of UVA Public Health, and Dallas Ducar of the UVA School of Nursing.
- October 27th, 2018, 10:00-11 am, UVA Alumni Hall, Charlottesville VA. Dr. Jim Tucker presented “Children’s Memories of Previous Lives”. Dr. Tucker presented his research of recent American cases of children who remember previous lives to a group of UVA alumni.
- August 31, 2018, Bellevue, WA, IANDS 2018 Conference: Explore the Extraordinary-The After effects and Gifts of NDEs , August 30th-September 2nd. Dr. Bruce Greyson delivered the keynote presentation for the IANDS 2018 Conference. Dr. Greyson’s talk was titled: “WHY NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES MATTER: CHANGED LIVES AND CHOPPED LIVER”.
- April 12, 2018 Paramount Theater, Charlottesville, VA, Seventh Annual Tom Tom Founders Festival.
UVA DOPS faculty panel with John Cleese
On April 12th 2018, legendary actor, writer and comedian John Cleese, friend and supporter of the research being done at the UVA Division of Perceptual Studies, acted as moderator in a 90 minute discussion of an overview of the scope of the research being done at the UVA Division of Perceptual Studies.
In this panel discussion the UVA Division of Perceptual Studies research faculty convened to present an overview of the research to which they have dedicated their academic careers. The DOPS panel presenters were: director of UVA DOPS, Jim Tucker, MD; Ed Kelly, PhD; Emily Kelly, PhD; Bruce Greyson, MD; and Kim Penberthy, PhD. Click here to see the video of this event.
- April 11th, 2018, Paramount Theater, Charlottesville, VA, Seventh Annual Tom Tom Founders Festival.
John Cleese, generous friend and supporter of our research, did a benefit performance for DOPS!
John Cleese, Paramount Theater, Charlottesville, VA, April 11th, 2018
This was a special appearance by the legendary John Cleese in a solo performance as part of the 7th annual Tom Tom Founders Festival, 2018.
The proceeds from the performance benefitted UVA Division of Perceptual Studies research efforts. The faculty and staff here at UVA DOPS are most grateful to all who came out to support us!
All of us here at UVA DOPS extend our heartfelt gratitude to the inimitable Mr. John Cleese for his generous support of the research being done at the UVA Division of Perceptual Studies!
Kim Penberthy, Bruce Greyson, Jim Tucker, and Ed Kelly-UVA Medical Center Hour, Feb. 22, 2017
The DOPS research faculty had the opportunity to present at the UVA School of Medicine Medical Center Hour , February 2017, to commemorate 50 years of research into the question of post-mortem survival of consciousness.
Click on the photo or here to view the video of the UVA DOPS faculty present their research at the UVA Medical Center Hour-Is there Life after Death? Fifty Years of Research at UVA
To view a curated collection of other lectures by the DOPS research faculty, please see our UVA Division of Perceptual Studies YouTube Channel.
- November 30, 2017 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Radio Interview NPR-The State of Things – North Carolina Public radio, WUNC. Dr. Bruce Greyson discussed his research into Near Death Experiences on the The State of Things – North Carolina Public radio, WUNC. WUNC is North Carolina’s premiere public radio talk show and is broadcasted on 17 stations across the state. This program is heard by more than 410,000 listeners each week. Click here to the link to the Podcast of this informative recent interview.
- November 12, 2017, 2:35 pm, London, England. 6th British Congress on Medicine and Spirituality, Dr. Jim Tucker presented his research on “Birthmarks and Children’s Memories of Past Lives”.
- August 19, 2017, 10:00 am, Richmond VA. Central Virginia IONS Community, Dr. Jim Tucker presented his research on “Children Who Report Past-life Memories”.
- July 22, 2017, 9:30 am, Oakland, CA. Institute of Noetic Sciences 17th Biennial Conference: The Science of What Connects Us. Dr. Jim Tucker and Dr. Arnaud Delorme presented their research, “What happens to “me” after my body dies?”.
- June 26th, 2017, 7:00-8:30 pm, Sherwood, MD, “Sherwood Seminar”. Members of the DOPS Faculty presented their research on post mortem survival of consciousness.
- June 15, 2017, 12:00 pm, Roanoke, VA. Grand Rounds, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Dr. Jim Tucker presented his research on “Children Who Report Memories of Previous Lives”.
- June 16, 2017, 9:00 am, New Haven CT, Yale University, 36th Annual Conference of the Society for Scientific Exploration. Dr. Edward Kelly presented on the topic of “Science and Postmortem Survival”.
- June 9, 2017, 6:30 – 7:45 pm, Durham, NC. The Academy for Spiritual and Consciousness Studies 42nd Annual East Coast Conference, “Aspects of Consciousness”. Dr. Bruce Greyson presented a talk titled “The Science and Spirit of Near Death Experiences”.
- May 21, 2017, 3:00 pm, Miami, FL. International Academy of Consciousness 2nd International Congress on Consciousness, Dr. Jim Tucker presented his research on “Children’s Reports of Past-life Memories”.
- March 22-23, 2017, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC. Beyond Being : Frontiers in Consciousness Research-Science, Spirituality and Wellness Keynote Speaker: Author and near-death experiencer Jeff Olsen. Panelists: Ulnike Wiesthaus, PhD, and UVA DOPS researchers Jim Tucker, MD and Bruce Greyson, MD
- February 22, 2017, 12:30-1:30 pm, Medical Center Hour, Pinn Hall Auditorium, UVA School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
This special presentation of the research being done at DOPS is free and open to the public. The DOPS faculty who will be presenting their research will be: Jim Tucker, on children who claim to recall past lives; Bruce Greyson, on near-death experiences; Kim Penberthy, on meditation and altered states; and Edward Kelly on implications of this research for the relationship of mind and brain.
- January 21, 2017, Richmond VA. Central VA IONS Community Group, Meeting and 21st Anniversary event featured a talk by Edward F. Kelly, Ph.D. Program Title: Parapsychology in Context – Towards a Personal Reconciliation of Science and Spirit. The IONS 21st Anniversary Program will feature a talk by Edward F. Kelly, Ph.D., author of numerous scholarly works such as Irreducible Mind and Beyond Physicalism and Professor of Research at the UVA Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) in Charlottesville, VA.
- January 10, 2017, 4:00-5:00 pm, Psychiatry Grand Rounds, Leonard Sandridge Auditorium in McKim Hall, UVA School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA. “Does the Mind Exist Without the Brain? 50 Years of Research at the Division of Perceptual Studies” For this special Grand Rounds, the DOPS researchers presented their work to medical residents, faculty and staff in the department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences within the UVA School of Medicine. Dr. Jim Tucker presented on children who claim to recall past lives, Dr. Bruce Greyson presented on near-death experiences, and Dr. Kim Penberthy presented on meditation and altered states.
- September 17th, 2016 Boston, MA. Special Public Lecture Event presented by UVA DOPS Researchers and Tracy Coen at the Museum of Science, Boston, MA.
Do We Survive Death? A Look at the Evidence: UVA Division of Perceptual Studies faculty presented their research into the nature of human consciousness. For this special event, they offered insights into their investigations of near-death experiences, psi phenomena, and children who remember previous lives. Visit our Division of Perceptual Studies YouTube Channel to view the videos.
- March 17, 2016, Charlottesville, VA. Virginia Festival of the Book- UVA DOPS Researchers presented at the 22nd annual Virginia Festival of the Book. Topic of discussion: Body and Soul: Reconciling Science and Spirituality
Authors Bernard Beitman (Connecting with Coincidence), Michael Grosso (The Man who Could Fly), and Edward Kelly (Beyond Physicalism) discussed their provocative scholarly books exploring unusual phenomena and applying theories from psychological, religious, and scientific perspectives. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Bruce Greyson.
- March 5th, 2016, New York, NY, 6:00-7:30. Dr. Jim Tucker appeared with author Sharon Guskin at The Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17th Street, New York, NY 10011. Can consciousness continue after the brain stops working? Author Sharon Guskin’s striking debut novel The Forgetting Time is inspired by the real-life work of Jim Tucker of the Division of Perceptual Studies at UVA. Dr. Tucker joined Ms. Guskin for a conversation about the probability of past lives and reincarnation. This event was sold out.
- September 11-13, 2015, Tucson, AZ, Final Transition Conference-Science, Death, and Consciousness. Dr. Jim Tucker presented his research on small children who remember previous lives.
- September 3-6, 2015, San Antonio, TX. International Association for Near-death Studies, 2015 Conference. Dr. Bruce Greyson was a keynote speaker at this conference. His presentation was titled, “The Past Present, and Future of Near-Death Studies”. This presentation was a summary of Dr. Greyson’s perceptions of the past, present, and future prospects for near-death research.
- December 8-9, 2014, Dr. Jim Tucker travelled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to present his research into young children who report memories of previous lives at the Sociedade de Estudos Espiritualistas .
- November 8th-9th, 2014, Dr. Jim Tucker presented his research in Durham, NC at the Forever Family Foundation’s 8th annual conference: The Science of Survival of Consciousness.
- September 12-14th, 2014, Dr. Jim Tucker presented his research into cases of the reincarnation type at the Matter & Psyche Symposium, Joshua Tree, CA. Dr. Tucker gave a presentation as well as appeared on several discussion panels during the 3 day symposium.
- July 28th, 2014, 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Dr. Jim Tucker was interviewed on the radio program Virginia Insight hosted by Tom Graham on WMRA, a public radio station in Harrisonburg, VA. The interviews is archived and can be accessed via search on this link Virginia Insight
- March 14th, 2014, 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm, New York Open Center, New York, NY. Dr. Jim Tucker offered an evening lecture and book signing. Return to Life: Reincarnation Research New Paradigms in Understanding Life, Death, and the Nature of Consciousness .
- March 15th, 2014, at 4:00 pm, The Powerhouse Arena, Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Jim Tucker gave a presentation and was available for book signing. Author Sharon Guskin also appeared on the program.
- February 16, 2014, at 3:00 pm, Barnes & Noble Bookseller in Greensboro, NC, Dr. Jim Tucker will presented his new book, Return to Life at this book signing event.
- January 16, 2014, at 6:00 pm, Barnes & Noble Bookseller in Charlottesville, VA, Dr. Jim Tucker presented his new book, Return to Life at this book signing event.
- December 15th, 2013 at 2:00 p.m., Jim B. Tucker M.D. appeared at The Quest Bookshop , 619 West Main Street, Charlottesville, VA to discuss his new book Return to Life . This event was free and open to the public.
- June 12th, 2013 at 10:00 a.m., Charlottesville, VA The Rutherford Institute Summer Speaker Series, Guest Speaker: Dr. Jim Tucker, Bonner-Lowry Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, Division of Perceptual Studies, University of Virginia. Dr. Tucker presented the research being done at DOPS regarding cases of the reincarnation type: LIFE BEFORE LIFE: CHILDREN’S REPORTS OF PAST-LIFE MEMORIES. For the past 6 consecutive years, Dr. Tucker has offered similar presentations regarding the cases of the reincarnation type to The Rutherford Institute Summer Speaker Series.
- March 22nd, 2012, Virginia Festival of the Book event at the Jefferson Madison Regional Library, Dr. Bruce Greyson moderated a discussion of the Near Death Experience of Eben Alexander III, MD, author of Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife
- February 18-19, 2012, Ligmincha Institute, Serenity Ridge Retreat Center in Nelson County, VA, New Dialogues Between Buddhism and Science This was a one and a half day conference with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and academic presenters associated with the University of Virginia, New York University, University of Texas Medical Center. Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche also participated actively in the dialogue, as well and led group meditation practice at various points in the program.
Ed Kelly PhD, of DOPS, opened the discussion with a presentation titled “Framing the Dialogue”. His presentation focused on the history of modern scientific research on meditation.
During this weekend event, researchers presented their work on the impact of contemplative meditation practice on behavior and the mind, as well as examined new areas of research to be explored between scientists and contemplatives.
- December 16-18, 2011, Dr. Bruce Greyson travelled to Dharamsala, India to present at the conference, ” Cosmology and Consciousness: A Dialog Between Buddhist Scholars and Scientists on Mind and Matter“. Dr. Greyson’s talk was titled, “Is Consciousness Produced by the Brain?” Click here to learn more about the conference and to view photos of Dr. Greyson presenting the DOPS research to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the monks of Dharamsala.
- September 2-4, 2011, Dr. Bruce Greyson was one of the key-note speakers at the 2011 International Association of Near Death Studies. The Conference theme was Lives Changed Forever: Aftereffects of Near Death Experiences, Perspectives from Experiencers, Science, and Spirituality
- February 25-27, 2011, Chopra Foundation’s Second International Symposium: Sages and Scientisits-The Merging of a New Future Dr. Jim Tucker presented research being conducted at the Division of Personality Studies regarding the investigation of cases in which children claim to remember previous lives. He will present new cases as well as cases he has written about in his book Life Before Life: A Scientific Investigation of Children’s Memories of Previous Lives .
- December 8th, 2010, 5:00-7:00, Live Teleseminar, Sponsored by the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). Dr. Jim Tucker was the speaker on the teleseminar “Life Before Life” which is also the title of his book Life Before Life: A Scientific Investigation of Children’s Memories of Previous Lives . The host of the program is Marylyn Mandala Schlitz, Ph.D.
In the interview, Dr. Tucker challenged the notion that consciousness is only the result of a functioning brain. He suggests that consciousness can be considered separately from the brain, which provides a basis for claims of reincarnation. He also discusses objections to reincarnation: the few persons who actually claim to remember a past life, the fragility of memories, the population explosion, the mind-body problem, fraud, and others. This was a live teleseminar.
- October 2nd, 2010, Serenity Ridge Retreat Center in Nelson County, VA, New Directions in the Dialogue between Buddhism and Science This was a one-day workshop with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, founder and spiritual director of the Ligmincha Institute and the DOPS researchers. There was a guided meditations led by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche in addition to presentations by the DOPS researchers.
Topics covered by the DOPS researchers included:
-Cases of the reincarnation type-Dr. Jim Tucker
-Post-mortem survival-Dr. Emily Williams Kelly
-Near-death experiences-Dr. Bruce Greyson
-Psychic powers or “siddhis”-Dr. Edward Kelly
-Impressions of a Westerner teaching neuroscience to Buddhist monks- Dr. David Presti visiting Neuroscientist from the University of California at Berkeley
A book titled Mind Beyond Brain was created from this collaborative event and published in October of 2018. In Mind Beyond Brain, neuroscientist David E. Presti, together with the distinguished researchers at the UVA Division of Perceptual Studies, engage in the exploration of how evidence for phenomena—such as near-death experiences, apparent memories of past lives, apparitions, experiences associated with death, and other psi or paranormal phenomena, including telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition—can influence the Buddhism-science conversation. Presti describes the extensive but frequently unacknowledged history of scientific investigation into these phenomena, demonstrating its relevance to questions about consciousness and reality. These new perspectives offer significant challenges to dominant explanatory paradigms and raise the prospect that we may be poised for truly revolutionary developments in the scientific investigation of mind. Mind Beyond Brain represents the next level in the science and Buddhism dialogue.