The Fear Factor: Exploring the Paranormal

Vortexes, parallel universes, UFOs, ghosts, ESP and psychic phenomena…Are paranormal experiences a result of the supernatural or a symptom of psychology and fear? Professor Richard Wiseman will recreate a Victorian séance and audience members will be invited to join a paranormal investigation group to uncover the truth behind the supernatural world.

The Science Museum’s Dana Centre is to recreate a Victorian séance on Thursday 23 September in a bid to see if science can unlock the secrets of the psychic world.

The event will be led by one of the UK’s leading psychologists, Professor Richard Wiseman, who has instigated numerous investigations into psychics, séances and the paranormal.

Members of the public can attend the recreation of a Victorian séance in a darkened room, where they will be asked to contact ‘spirits’. The event will be preceded by an introduction about the Victorian fascination with death and the deceased.

The séance is part of a unique one-off event, The Fear Factor: Exploring the Paranormal, being held at the Dana Centre, the UK’s hottest venue for adults to discuss contemporary science.

The Fear Factor will also allow visitors to meet one of the UK’s leading paranormal investigation groups, as well as panellists who will explain our innermost fears and phobias.

Are paranormal experiences a result of the supernatural or a symptom of psychology and fear? How does the body respond to fear? What is a phobia? These are some of the topics which will be explored at The Fear Factor at the Dana Centre.

The Fear Factor is a joint event organized by the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science), EDAB (European Dana Alliance for the Brain) and the Science Museum.

VICTORIAN SÉANCE with Professor Richard Wiseman
d.studio: 19.00-19.30, 19.45-20.15, 20.30-21.00, 21.15-21.45
Hallucination, hoax or genuine phenomenon? Professor Richard Wiseman, an eminent psychologist who began his career as an award-winning professional magician and was one of the youngest members of The Magic Circle, will hold a Victorian séance for one night only. He will reveal the exploits of famous 19th century mediums, the scientists who investigated their abilities and the magicians who tried to debunk them.

PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION
d.cafe, All evening (object handling) 19.00-19.30, 20.00-20.30, 21.00-21.30 (Talks)
Throughout the evening there will also be the chance to talk to members of the UK’s leading paranormal investigations group as they recount their experiences of the supernatural. Audiences can see demonstrations and handle ghost-detecting equipment including electromagnetic detectors and infrared readers.

FEARS, PHOBIAS AND HALLUCINATIONS
d.study: 19.45 – 20.15
Shivers, cold sweats or a chill down the spine. Join Professor John Gruzelier from the Department of Cognitive Neuroscience and Behaviour, Imperial College, who will lead a discussion on consciousness, psychic experiences and the paranormal, and shed some light on why some people are more susceptible to hypnosis than others

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