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Dr. Kelly’s keynote address will focus on creativity and how it fits naturally into the larger theoretical picture regarding the study of psi in an academic context. The presentation will center around the award-winning trilogy of books co-authored by Dr. Kelly, which places psi research in a historical and philosophical context and reviews in detail empirical data from a wealth of sources. This trilogy received the 2021 Parapsychology Book Award and demands a radical revision regarding the place of consciousness in the overall scheme of nature.
Following the Bial Symposium, Dr. Kelly will receive the esteemed Myers Memorial Medal. This award is widely considered one of the highest honors in the academic study of psi phenomena. Dr. Kelly will be receiving the ninth medal of its kind, with the first awarded to DOPS founder Dr. Ian Stevenson in 1995. Along with the awards ceremony, Dr. Kelly will deliver a talk focused on where he thinks the field is headed and encouraging upcoming students of the subject to come aboard.
“I’m humbled and honored to receive the Myers Memorial Medal and to be recognized by SPR,” said Dr. Kelly. “We have made great strides since the society’s founding in 1882, and I am optimistic about what lies ahead for psychical research.”
About the Bial Foundation Symposium
With its 14th “Beyond and Behind the Brain” Symposium, the BIAL Foundation will seek to address the concept of human creativity, specifically how it works and how it can be enhanced. The event invites prominent neuroscientists, psychologists, philosophers, and artists and engages them in a profoundly interdisciplinary dialogue over a rich program extending over three days.
About the Myers Memorial Medal
The Myers Memorial Medal was introduced in 1995 both to honor the memory of the Society of Psychical Research (SPR) co-founder Frederic Myers (1843-1901) and to acknowledge significant contributions by current researchers. It is awarded on an irregular basis, with nominations considered by the Society’s President in consultation with the vice presidents.
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About the Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS)
Established in 1967 under the leadership of Dr. Ian Stevenson, the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine (DOPS) is a dynamic and prolific research group dedicated to exploring phenomena that challenge conventional scientific paradigms concerning human consciousness. The most productive university-based group in the world pursuing this direction, DOPS has generated hundreds of peer-reviewed research papers and dozens of books.
At the core of DOPS’s research mission lies the commitment to rigorous evaluation of empirical evidence surrounding exceptional human experiences and capacities. DOPS extends its focus beyond fundamental empirical research and encompasses an exploration of the profound implications of such research for scientific theory, as well as for individuals and society at large. The dissemination of this valuable information is a priority for DOPS, reaching not only scientific and medical communities but also the wider public.
By actively sharing insights and findings, DOPS strives to contribute meaningfully to the understanding of consciousness, bridging the gap between scientific inquiry and public awareness.
Learn more at https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies
