BICS was founded in June 2020 by aerospace entrepreneur Robert T. Bigelow to support research into both the survival of human consciousness after physical death and, based on data from such studies, the nature of the afterlife. Robert Bigelow is the founder of Bigelow Aerospace. For decades he has also supported serious investigations into consciousness and manifestations of unusual phenomena that are not yet understood by science.
Despite intriguing evidence, the number of research groups and funding devoted to investigating the survival of human consciousness beyond death is shockingly small in the Western world. Even though all 7.8 billion humans on planet Earth will eventually die, very little high quality research is being conducted on perhaps the most important and fundamental question facing our species.
There are almost no significant conferences or symposia on this question which could appeal to scientists, academics and others with advanced training. This is partly because such research is not taken seriously by the current scientific paradigm. It is probably time to end this close-minded approach. We at BICS believe that the only way to do so is to appeal to qualified professionals who have the power to create change.
The purpose of BICS is to raise awareness among the public and within the scientific community of the importance and relevance of such an investigation. BICS hopes to provide a public service by drawing increasing attention to, and encouraging research into, this fundamental and timeless topic. We are seeking hard evidence âbeyond a reasonable doubtâ that takes us beyond religion or philosophy and provides a body of knowledge to be brought widely into the public arena that could be unifying in its impact on human awareness and culture.
Purpose of BICS Essay Competition
The purpose of the BICS essay awards is to raise the public awareness for the Survival of Human Consciousness topic and to stimulate research. The goal of the essay contest is to award contestants for writing papers that summarize the best evidence available for the survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death.
BICS intention is to provide a public service by:
Creating and implementing the essay contest
Publishing responsible information to the widest audience possible and, if all goes well, proceed to a possible second contest
BICS envisions the essays focus to be on scientific evidence as well as objective and subjective supported documentation as gathered
From special cases, including older cases, from very credible witnesses
From photographic or electronic data
From all available literature
From highly validated and authenticated human experiences
From other relevant sources
BICS has assembled a competent board of directors with deep experience in the topic to provide advice on the strategic direction and priorities of the Institute. The board of directors are: acclaimed journalist and author Leslie Kean, forensic neurologist Christopher C. Green MD PhD, theoretical physicist Harold Puthoff PhD, Brian Weiss MD who has lectured worldwide on survival of consciousness and associated topics, Rice University Professor of Philosophy and Religious Thought Jeffrey Kripal PhD, University of California Irvine Professor of Statistics Jessica Utts PhD, Anomalies Researcher and BICS Founder Robert T. Bigelow and Molecular Biologist and Anomalies Researcher Colm A. Kelleher PhD.
Overwhelming response to BICS life after death contest
After two weeks, Las Vegas space entrepreneur Robert Bigelowâs new venture, the Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies (BICS), has seen an overwhelming response of applications to enter a global essay contest.
Thank you for the link @LucasOliveira ! IMO, these essays should be required reading for all who choose to debate Consciousness and Rebirth on this forum.
What I found thought provoking was that every one of the next-life/ rebirth/ psychic phenomena described in the Suttas written in India 2500 years ago is also to be found in this essay - being described by people in a culture far removed in time and space. ⌠including a photograph of a âfine materialâ body!
Too often, we come to an intellectual understanding of âAh! thereâs no Self!â and make no further effort, almost as if that intellectual understanding is by itself enough to ensure no further rebirth.
IMO, seeing similar kinds of phenomena of an afterlife being described by people from so many different cultures completely unrelated in time and space should by itself be enough of a goad to practice the Buddhaâs guaranteed teaching (MN60) (at a minimum ).
Buddhaâs guaranteed teaching is a compromise Buddha made to convert those who are agnostic at least thatâs how I understand it, with that Buddha effectively said that whether rebirth exists or not doesnât matter but a safer way is to act if it exists for we would be safe if it indeeds is true and even if itâs false we would still be praised by the community due to lack of greed, hate and delusion
The 2023 Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies Grants Program
Up to $1 Million in Grants
The 2023 BICS grant program, âThe Challenge,â will fund research into contact and communication with post-mortem or discarnate consciousness (also known as âthe Afterlife,â or the âOther Sideâ) leading to the reception of higher order information of value to humankind (âwisdom acquisitionâ) with the allocation of a grand total of up to$1 million in grants.
So I looked into this a little, itâs basically funded by a 78 year old billionaire. $1 million isnât much for a billionaire, at an average 3% interest they make $2.5 million a month.
Iâm guessing this person is nearing end of life and is anxious about it, thus prompting this grant.
I donât know how legitimate this thing is though, as this billionaire is into a bunch of weird topics like skinwalker ranch, so I would take whatever this project produces with a grain of salt.
