"No barrier stands between the material world of science and the sensibilities of the hunter and the poet." - E.O. Wilson
Hi there,
In 1998, the biologist E.O. Wilson published Consilience - a passionate argument that the fragmentation of knowledge into isolated disciplines was one of the great intellectual disasters of the modern era. Physics didn't talk to biology. Biology didn't talk to psychology. Psychology didn't talk to philosophy. And in their separation, each became smaller, more brittle, and less able to grapple with the genuinely hard problems. He said: the most important questions don't respect departmental boundaries and the answers won't either. He was largely ignored. The silos deepened.
Psychedelics may be the subject that finally proves him right - and also the one most damaged by ignoring him. A psilocybin trial that measures symptom reduction but ignores the role of ritual, myth, and meaning is missing something essential. A neuroscience paper that maps the default mode network but has nothing to say about the philosophical implications of ego dissolution is describing the shadow of the thing, not the thing itself. Indigenous knowledge systems that have worked with these medicines for centuries hold insights that no RCT can generate - and yet they're almost entirely absent from the research literature. The frameworks we're using aren't big enough for what we're studying.
Which is why what's happening at the University of Exeter is so needed. The newly launched Exeter Psychedelic Interdisciplinary Centre (EPIC) is a deliberate attempt to build something wider - bringing together neuroscience, philosophy, anthropology, clinical research, and ecology under one roof, with researchers who have actually worked across those boundaries rather than just paying lip service to them.
On Monday 11th May at 7pm BST, the team - including Professor Celia Morgan, Dr. Leor Roseman, Dr. Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes, Dr. Andy Letcher, and Dr. Simon Ruffell - are hosting a free public panel event to introduce the centre and the questions they're asking. It's free. Register here.
At the bottom of this email you will also find:
- Information on one of the first university-level psychedelic education programs designed for non-clinicians at OSU (online)
- Last chance for a 10% discount to Breaking Convention Summit next Saturday
- Tickets to ICPR - Europe's premier conference for psychedelic research
MORE UPCOMING EVENTS
As always, you can find all our upcoming events and retreats on our events page.
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FROM OUR PARTNERS
Introducing the online Certificate in Interdisciplinary Psychedelic Studies (CIPS) from Ohio State University. This is a rigorous, accessible, and holistic introduction to the field of psychedelic studies and one of the first university-level psychedelic education programs designed for non-clinicians and championed by Alan Davis who will be running a talk de-mystifying DMT with us next month.
The self-paced format of the program makes university-level psychedelic education accessible nationwide for individuals unable to commit to multiweek, in-person intensive programs. The nearly 20-hour program, which costs just $250, requires completion of all five comprehensive units from biology, to the history and ethics, to the therapeutic applications of psychedelics.
Program registration fees support the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education's ongoing research and education programs.
Join us for a one day psychedelic conference in London featuring world-leading experts and speakers next Saturday 16th May 2026 in London and online. Whether you're curious about the headlines, interested in the science, or simply want to understand what all the fuss is about - this is a day designed for you.
Talks include:
- Debate: Should Scientists be activists?
- Psychedelics in Times of War
- The Psychedelic Self: Science & Philosophy
- Psychedelics and Creativity
- Women and Psychedelics
- Living and Dying
+ more to be announced
We have a 10% discount for our community: use code PSYCHSOC10 at checkout.
The premier psychedelic research conference in Europe
Want to get in on the hottest conversations in psychedelics? ICPR is where science, practice, and policy meet. This is where you'll find intellectual rigour, cutting-edge evidence, and meaningful discussions on the real-world applications of psychedelics. With a strong focus on quality and integrity, ICPR is not about hype; it's about knowledge, impact, and the future of the field.
Join our community of members!
We fund our work in community-building and psychedelic education primarily through our membership program.
By becoming a member of The Psychedelic Society community, you get access to exclusive members-only events, a discount on events, and support the development of this alternative cultural space. Membership starts from just £5/month!
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