21 September 2007

Professor Richard Wiseman to give Drever Lecture 2007

Professor Richard Wiseman, one of the UK’s leading psychologists, will lead an investigation into the paranormal and why people believe in such phenomena as ghosts when he gives the 2007 Drever Lecture at the University of Dundee next month.

In his lecture, titled "Investigating the paranormal: A skeptical perspective" Professor Wiseman will examine the reasons why a large proportion of the public believe in the existence of paranormal phenomena, such as ghosts, extrasensory perception, and talking to the dead.

The Drever Lecture, which is hosted by the University’s School of Psychology, will take place at 6 pm on Tuesday October 2nd, at the University’s new teaching block on Hawkhill.

Professor Wiseman has for the past fifteen years investigated why people hold such beliefs and whether such phenomena actually exist. In his talk he will outline some of his investigations into psychics, telepathy, and other alleged miracles, and also consider the implication of this work for the public understanding of psychology.

Prof Wiseman holds Britain’s only chair in the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire.

He has published over forty papers in academic journals, and gained an international reputation for research into unusual areas of psychology, including deception, luck and the paranormal.

A passionate advocate for science, Prof Wiseman frequently appears on the media, gives public talks and performances about his work, and has written "The Luck Factor", a best selling book exploring the lives and minds of lucky and unlucky people.

For more information on Professor Richard Wiseman see www.richardwiseman.com

The Drever Lecture in Psychology is an occasional event to honour outstanding psychologists and to promote understanding of psychology in the wider community. The lectures commemorate James Drever, 1910-1991, first Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee.

From 1944 to 1966, and like his father before him, James Drever was Professor of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh. He left Edinburgh in 1966 to become Master of Queen’s College, Dundee. He was Principal of Dundee from 1967 to 1978.

The Drever Lectures are possible because of the extraordinary generosity of the Drever family and the Board of Trustees of the Drever Fund.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk