Media Alert

Notice Only. Not for Posting or Publication

To: News media/bloggers covering Cornell psychologist Daryl Bem's psi study,

published December 2010 in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Re: Leading parapsychology scientists at the Institute of Noetic Sciences available for comment

Dear Editor,

Can we glimpse the future? Is there any truth to people's belief inpremonitions? Such provocative questions have largely been ignored by mainstream scientists, many of whom argue that claims of precognition can be completely explained away as superstitions or delusions. But a small group of parapsychology scientists openly researching such phenomena have been tackling these questions head on for decades, presenting plenty of evidence that psychic ability - or psi - is a real phenomenon. The handful of mainstream scientists who have conducted psi research, most concerned for their careers, dare not reveal it to the public. Until now.

Dr. Daryl Bem, a prominent social psychologist from Cornell University, is creating some buzz with his recent study on psychic ability. Dr. Bem is a distinguished advisor to the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

In his recent paper, ‘Feeling the Future: Experimental Evidence for Anomalous Retroactive Influences on Cognition and Affect’ Dr. Bem, known for his work in genetics and author of hundreds of text-books, offers statistically significant evidence for precognition in eight of nine experiments conducted over the course of seven years. In these studies, Dr. Bem explores “time-reversing,” in which the cause-and-effect sequence in standard psychological experiments is reversed. In his recent paper, Bem reports:

Three distinctions between this study and the many others presenting similar findings have created considerable buzz among the scientific community:

1.The major goal of Bem's research was to design precognition experiments to be as simple and transparent as possible, allowing others easily to replicate his results.

2.The study is published in a mainstream science journal: The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

3.Dr. Bem is affiliated with an Ivy League university.

Skeptics are refuting the study as lacking repeatability. One admires the simplicity of his methods that make replication possible. And parapsychology researchers are praising the spotlight, hoping it will help bridge the divide that has kept their work on the fringe. Two scientists referenced by Dr. Bem in his paper tackle questions about premonition, precognition, and psi at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS): Dr. Dean Radin, senior scientist, and Dr. Marilyn Schlitz, CEO. Both Dr. Radin and Dr. Schlitz have shared their expertise and research studies with members of the print, broadcast, and digital media. Along with IONS research director Dr. Cassandra Vieten, they welcome your inquiries about Dr. Bem's recent study.
From its inception nearly 40 years ago, IONS has explored the fundamental nature of consciousness, investigating how it interacts with the physical world. Its research into extended human capacities investigates the physical and psychophysiological basis of interconnectedness; noetic states of consciousness including non-dual awareness, intuition, and presentiment; the effects of intention and attention on the physical world, including inanimate and living organisms; and human capacities that appear to extend beyond the conventional boundaries of space and time. Most of this work is conducted in IONS' laboratory.

Latest Buzz on Bem

Dr. Bem to appear on the Cobert Report, Thursday, January 26

IONS Journal Club: January 25, the Institute of Noetic Sciences hosts an exclusive and intimate discussion among Dr. Bem, Dr. Radin, and IONS Circle Club members (those donating $240/year or more) who sign up for the call. For more information go to: Recording available post event, for media only.

IONS Teleseminar: January 19, New York Times science writer Jonathan Schooner on rethinking the scientific method. Available to supporting members at $10/month level and above. For more information, go to: Recording available to public post-event.

Media Kit

IONS has developed a media kit with a variety of resources to support your reporting of Dr. Bem's study:

  • Dr. Dean Radin's interview with Dr. Daryl Bem discussing Bem's "Feeling the Future" study - audio link
  • Backgrounder on IONS' psi research: Mining the Mainstream for Signs of Psi
  • Current media coverage of Dr. Bem's study
  • Editorial by IONS president Dr. Marilyn Schlitz
  • Editorial by IONS research director Dr. Cassandra Vieten
  • Comments by IONS Scientists about the Bem study, rebuttals to skeptics reactions
  • Bios of IONS scientists Drs. Radin, Schlitz, Vieten
  • List of links to psi research video, audio, and print resources on Noetic.Org

We welcome your inquires and requests for information and interviews.
Media contact
Heidi Fuller
Communications and Community Manager

707-779-8215 office
415-302-1130 cell
Twitter: NoeticIONS
Facebook.com/NoeticSciences