A scientific framework for the study of anomalous phenomena.
The Institute of Ghost Science applies disciplined, evidence-based methods to reports of activity often attributed to ghosts — neither assuming nor dismissing paranormal explanations.
Three guiding principles.
Rigor
We apply the same standards of evidence to anomalous phenomena that any serious scientific inquiry demands. Compelling accounts must withstand scrutiny before they enter our dataset. Evidence that can be explained through ordinary means, however intriguing, is excluded.
Neutrality
We neither assume that paranormal explanations are correct nor dismiss them in advance. Our starting position is genuine uncertainty. The goal is to follow the evidence, not to confirm a prior belief — in either direction.
Standardization
One of the field's biggest weaknesses is the absence of shared terminology, shared methods, and shared standards for evaluating evidence. We are working to establish those standards so that investigations can be compared, replicated, and built upon.
Recent writing.
Personal Reasons Why
The founder recounts a childhood in a "haunted" house and the singular event that solidified a lifelong commitment to scientific inquiry into anomalous phenomena.
Read moreFirst Steps
An outline of the Institute's initial methodology: eliminating refutable evidence and identifying the patterns and conditions under which anomalous phenomena occur.
Read moreComing Soon
A preview of the Institute's planned research initiatives: a standardized glossary, a catalog of anomalous phenomena, and aggregated datasets for pattern analysis.
Read more