International recognition for Professor ‘paying it forward’ for parapsychology

Creating a first-class support culture to advance our understanding of human experiences that lie outside ‘the norm’ is one academic’s mantra.

Professor Chris Roe is a psychologist by training with a passion for parapsychology (the study of anomalous experiences) and has worked in the University of Northampton’s (UON) Psychology team since 1995. He says: “I started here before ‘University of Northampton’ existed as such, back when we were called Nene College.

“Within a year he had developed and secured approval for a final year module in parapsychology. One of my initial objectives was to provide an undergraduate module for students that provided balanced evidence-based information about anomalous experiences which might appeal to students while helping them cultivate their critical thinking skills.

“To the best of my knowledge, it is the longest continuously offered parapsychology module offered as part of a UK university degree. Fast forward nearly 30 years, and it’s going strong, as one of the University’s more popular elective undergraduate modules and, just as importantly, part of a cultural shift in the Psychology team to deliver quality parapsychological workstreams.”

Important because parapsychology has a controversial status in mainstream science, leading to challenges with obtaining funding for research and to train graduate students. As Chris continues: “Existing prejudices are understandable because popular perceptions of the parapsychologist come from what we see in the media, namely people ‘investigating’ supposedly haunted houses, who are less interested in understanding phenomena than looking scared and thrilling audiences.

“But serious parapsychologists have trained to the same rigorous academic and methodological standards as other mainstream scientists. As scientists, we aim to help ordinary people understand something that’s happened to them that mainstream science struggles with. We reassure people they aren’t ‘crazy’ or especially credulous because they have experienced these phenomena, since they are much more common than is generally recognised and are a natural part of the spectrum of healthy human experience. We can direct people to more credible sources of information about their experiences than they will find on the internet or in the media.”

Chris has supervised 16 PhD students to successful completion and currently supervises 13 more, who are researching topics including the implications of anomalous experiences for bereavement counselling, capitalising on the therapeutic benefits of near-death experiences and exploring how altered states of consciousness produced by psychedelics, floatation tanks or sensory habituation can influence the way in which we can acquire information in a manner that seems to transcend time and space.

Chris continues: “What makes me proud about the psychology PhD mentoring that I have been involved in at Northampton, is that it has enabled us to create an enduring culture of learning support and researcher development that is internationally recognised. Some of my former PhD students have remained at UON as academics in their own right, and are supervising their own PhD students with interests in parapsychology.

“We share a common vision of the PhD process as an opportunity to enable our students to realise their potential as researchers, academics, mentors and as members of the wider community. Their work is designed to positively impact people and society, using their knowledge and skill sets for public benefit. The ripple effects of this are huge.”

In recognition of Chris’ tireless championing of PhD students, he has recently received an award from the Parapsychological Association, Inc. (PA), the international professional organisation of scientists and scholars engaged in the study of ‘psi’ (or ‘psychic’) experiences. Earlier this month, Chris was announced as the recipient of the PA’s 2022 Outstanding Mentor Award, the first person from the UK to receive this award

He comments: “I feel very honoured to be recognised this way, but I see it as an award that’s not only for me. I’m a figurehead for all the parapsychology supervision work that takes place at UON. The award reflects the enthusiastic way in which colleagues who have benefited from support in their own PhD journeys are so keen to ‘pay it forward’ to the next generation of scholars. In this way, the community we have created at UON can continue to go from strength to strength.”