ASSAP-Seriously Investigated Conference

April 1st 2017 was the day of ASSAP's Seriously Investigated Conference held at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol. The format for the day was as follows:-

What are we afraid of? What do ghosthunters see in the dark? What is the best gadget for Ghosthunting? Historically such questions would be answered using interviews or surveys. While the information gathered is of interest, modern technology allows us new insights into Ghosthunting methodology and larger questions around ghostly experiences. Examples of such technology includes Virtual Reality, Eyetracking, data acquisition systems for measuring physiological signals.

Ciaran became known in the United Kingdom following his appearances on Living TV's paranormal television series Most Haunted and Jane Goldman Investigates, where he performs the role of parapsychologist and paranormal investigator. Ciaran is a psychologist specialising in parapsychology and forensic psychology. He is currently employed at Bucks New University. He has held a research associate position at the University of Toulouse II - Le Mirail and also an online tutor position at Derby University

Andy is one of the world’s leading researcher into unexplained mysteries and cover-ups and is the author of many books, including the acclaimed The Truth Agenda and Conspiracies: The Facts - The Theories - The Evidence, both available in several global editions. Andy is founder of Changing Times, which holds events on mysteries and truth issues, and is also the co-MC for the annual Glastonbury Symposium truth conference. Andy extensively writes and lectures in Britain and around the world, and has made numerous media appearances. UK TV spots have included Channel 4’s Richard and Judy, BBC 2's Esther, ITV's GMTV, BBC 1’s The One Show and Sky 1’s Pineapple Dance Studios, while Andy has also featured in programmes in many other countries.

Paul Hobday & Chris Howley Live interview and Q&A about the making of Ghost Chasers

Paul Hobday and Chris Howley are the paranormal investigators in the latest ghost hunting television series to hit our screens – Ghost Chasers (available now on Insight, Sky 564 or online at www.insight.tv). Ghost Chasers takes a fresh approach to the genre, being the first ghost hunting show to not use nightvision and provides a much more balanced and sceptical approach to televised investigations. Paul and Chris have both been investigating and researching the paranormal together for many years as part of Team IMPACT and are the resident paranormal investigators at Woodchester Mansion in Gloucestershire. They have worked on a number of paranormal television shows prior to Ghost Chasers and will be discussing what goes on behind the scenes and how these shows are made. Paul and Chris are both members of ASSAP and are NRPI registered. Find out more about Paul and Chris at www.paulhobday.com and www.chrishowley.com

Steve Parsons is an Investigator and Researcher of Ghosts, Hauntings and related human experiences. Author of two books and numerous published articles on ghosts, ghost hunting and related subjects, cited or referenced in many more. A regular speaker at conferences and conventions throughout the UK, Ireland and the USA.

Kevin has been researching the paranormal since a very young age. Then, in 2010, he started getting involved more heavily in practical investigation as he felt that the research within the field didn't seem to be pushing forward. He realised that a lot of methods were stagnant or going in the wrong direction and, as a result, has been working alongside various groups and investigators to help improve the research and investigations being undertaken. In 2013 he founded the website and blog ParaRationalise.org which now works to further individuals’ understanding of the paranormal. Kevin is a member of ASSAP and is enlisted on the NRPI, as well as being a member of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR). Kevin actively promotes an ethical and scientific approach to investigation and has a passion for pushing research forward.

Angela and Joanne are both level headed Civil Servants and are founders of the "Eerie-Encounters" Paranormal Group. Their talk today describes some of the phenomena witnessed over the years at Chingle Hall.

Trystan Swale is a contemporary folklorist, and between 2004 and 2009 was an active member of two paranormal investigation teams in southern England. From his experiences with these organisations he developed his own rationalist approach to investigating anomalous phenomena. This has led him headlong into scrutinising claims of ghosts, unidentified flying objects, poltergeists, winged humanoids and out of place animals. Since 2005 he has contributed to publications including ‘The Big Cats in Britain Year Book’ and ‘Haunted Swindon’. In 2009 Trystan created the popular Righteous Indignation podcast to explore claims of the paranormal from a critical perspective. Trystan has also spoken at a range of events including 2011′s Seriously Strange conference, Cheltenham and Swindon paranormal festivals, Edinburgh Free Fringe, numerous Skeptics in the Pub meetings and QED Conference 2011.

Chris Howley has been investigating the ghosts of Woodchester Mansion since September 2004 and has been involved with looking after the mansion since 2006 when he took on the role of Paranormal Supervisor. Chris has been a highly respected paranormal investigator for many years and has appeared on a number of TV shows, including Ghost Hunters International, Great British Ghosts, The One Show and has just taken part in a new paranormal series called Ghost Chasers due to air in the UK on March 3rd. Chris is a member of the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena (ASSAP) and was one of the first in the UK to be listed on the National Register of Professional Investigators (NRPI). He is well known by many for his long term involvement with and study of Woodchester Mansion, having spent literally hundreds of nights there over the last 12 years.

This is the video of my talk kindly filmed by Paul Hobday.

CJ Romer will be talking about 'When Ghost hunting Goes Wrong - how not to investigate with practical examples from 'my own career of mayhem and catastrophe'. CJ is a long term psychical researcher and is currently Company Director of the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena.

Some pictures from the day:-