Project Stargate Presented by Kristen Smith

Overview Remote Viewing defined Remote Viewing defined What prompted government research What prompted government research Timeline of Project Stargate Timeline of Project Stargate Looking back Looking back

Remote Viewing “The alleged psychic ability to perceive places, persons and actions that are not within the range of the senses.” “The alleged psychic ability to perceive places, persons and actions that are not within the range of the senses.” Harold Puthoff – first person to use term and one of the first researchers for the government in 1970 Harold Puthoff – first person to use term and one of the first researchers for the government in 1970

Terms Remote Viewing – seeing distant objects or locations that you do not have any prior knowledge about Remote Viewing – seeing distant objects or locations that you do not have any prior knowledge about Telepathy – includes a receiver who reads the mind of a sender Telepathy – includes a receiver who reads the mind of a sender Precognition – foreseeing future events Precognition – foreseeing future events Psychokinesis – ability to create physical effects with your mind alone Psychokinesis – ability to create physical effects with your mind alone

History of Remote Viewing 1882 Society for Psychical Research created by Henry Sidgwick 1882 Society for Psychical Research created by Henry Sidgwick Focus on the study of parapsychology Focus on the study of parapsychology Search for paranormal phenomena like ESP Search for paranormal phenomena like ESP

What prompted Government Research? Paranoia during the Cold War Paranoia during the Cold War Rumors that the Soviet Union had increased funding for psychic research Rumors that the Soviet Union had increased funding for psychic research Fear of what successes in remote viewing research could do Fear of what successes in remote viewing research could do

Components of Project Stargate Examine the world competition and assess other psychic warfare projects Examine the world competition and assess other psychic warfare projects Provide remote viewers to any government agency that requests them Provide remote viewers to any government agency that requests them Continue research to advance, improve, and perfect remote viewing Continue research to advance, improve, and perfect remote viewing

Timeline 1972 CIA funds $50,000 to Stanford Research Institute (SRI) 1972 CIA funds $50,000 to Stanford Research Institute (SRI) 1976 CIA terminates funding 1976 CIA terminates funding 1977 Project “Grill Flame” 1977 Project “Grill Flame” –Army intelligence begins funding 1983 Project “Inscom Center Lane” 1983 Project “Inscom Center Lane” –SRI combines efforts with Army

Timeline (cont.) 1984 National Research Council gives program poor evaluation 1984 National Research Council gives program poor evaluation 1985 Project “Sunstreak” 1985 Project “Sunstreak” –Funding from Defense Intelligence Agency’s Scientific and Technical Intelligence Directorate 1991 Project Stargate 1991 Project Stargate 1995 All funding and research ends 1995 All funding and research ends

Problems Lack of replication and repetition Lack of replication and repetition Insufficient testing Insufficient testing Lenient test conditions Lenient test conditions Sporadic results Sporadic results 65% accuracy meant remote viewing potential 65% accuracy meant remote viewing potential

1972 SRI Research Led by Russell Targ and Harold Puthoff Led by Russell Targ and Harold Puthoff Use of remote viewers for “psychic warfare” Use of remote viewers for “psychic warfare” Latitude/Longitude tests Latitude/Longitude tests –Ingo Swann and Pat Price

1984 NRC Evaluation National Research Council gave poor evaluation National Research Council gave poor evaluation Evidence was inadequate to prove anything about remote viewing Evidence was inadequate to prove anything about remote viewing Government did not give up research because hope for success still strong Government did not give up research because hope for success still strong

1991 Project Stargate Provide new experiments and find new techniques to prove existence of remote viewing Provide new experiments and find new techniques to prove existence of remote viewing CIA again questions benefits of program CIA again questions benefits of program

American Institutes for Research (AIR) Evaluated Project Stargate on: Evaluated Project Stargate on: –Research Program –Operational application in intelligence gathering Headed by Dr. Jessica Utts and Dr. Raymond Hyman Headed by Dr. Jessica Utts and Dr. Raymond Hyman

Evaluation Existed a statistically significant anomaly, but evidence does not prove that paranormal ability was involved Existed a statistically significant anomaly, but evidence does not prove that paranormal ability was involved No proof that remote viewing would be useful in intelligence gathering No proof that remote viewing would be useful in intelligence gathering

Looking Back 25 years of research and $20 million 25 years of research and $20 million ESP and remote viewing should be seen as bogus and false ESP and remote viewing should be seen as bogus and false Funded for the wrong reasons for too long, too much money, and poor protocols by people who didn’t know what they were doing Funded for the wrong reasons for too long, too much money, and poor protocols by people who didn’t know what they were doing

Sources The American Institues for Research. “An Evaluation of Remote Viewing Research and Applications.” Ed. Michael D. Mumford, Andrew M. Rose, and David S. Goslin. 29 Sept Parascope 7 Mar The American Institues for Research. “An Evaluation of Remote Viewing Research and Applications.” Ed. Michael D. Mumford, Andrew M. Rose, and David S. Goslin. 29 Sept Parascope 7 Mar Hyman, Ray. “The Evidence for Psychic Functioning: Claims vs. Reality.” CSICOP Skeptical Inquirer Magazine. March/April Hyman, Ray. “The Evidence for Psychic Functioning: Claims vs. Reality.” CSICOP Skeptical Inquirer Magazine. March/April Randi, James. “Witchcraft in Washington, Dammit Zammit, Dennis Lee Again, Australian Common Sense, and Twisting Forks for Fun &Profit…” James Randi Educational Foundation 23 Nov Feb Randi, James. “Witchcraft in Washington, Dammit Zammit, Dennis Lee Again, Australian Common Sense, and Twisting Forks for Fun &Profit…” James Randi Educational Foundation 23 Nov Feb 2006.

More Sources “Remote viewing.” Skeptic’s Dictionary. Ed. Robert Todd Carroll. 13 Feb Mar “Remote viewing.” Skeptic’s Dictionary. Ed. Robert Todd Carroll. 13 Feb Mar “Remote Viewing.” SRI International Mar 2006 “Remote Viewing.” SRI International Mar 2006 Targ, Russell and Harold E. Puthoff. Mind-Reach: Scientists Look at Psychic Ability. New York: Delacorte Press, Targ, Russell and Harold E. Puthoff. Mind-Reach: Scientists Look at Psychic Ability. New York: Delacorte Press, 1977.

Summary Defined Remote Viewing Defined Remote Viewing Explained why the government funded research Explained why the government funded research Timeline of Project Stargate and its goals Timeline of Project Stargate and its goals What we’ve learned What we’ve learned

Questions?