PARANORMAL RESEARCH SOCIETY TO RE-INVENT UNIV-CON, ITS NATIONAL PARANORMAL CONFERENCE
State College, Pa. - The Penn State Paranormal Research Society (PRS) has come along way since organizing in 2001. And so has UNIV-CON, a nationally renowned paranormal conference that, in 2007, saw attendance reach well over 1,200 people.
What started out as a small college program has evolved in to a grand scale event, dubbed by many in the paranormal community as one of the largest paranormal conferences of its kind.
Some of the people we're bringing in this year are really extraordinary
And it has a lot of history.
Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson of "Ghost Hunters" fame frequented the conference well before their TV series took off. Before passing, both George Lutz of "The Amityville Horror" and Roman Catholic exorcist Father James Lebar gave one of their last public lectures at UNIV-CON (Lutz in 2003, Lebar in 2007, respectively). UNIV-CON was the first conference to successfully assemble many of the paranormal pioneers of the 21st century under one roof for panel discussions, both in 2006 and 2007. And of course, the PRS finally got its due by holding the world premiere of "Paranormal State" in 2007.
UNIV-CON has worked hard to become a staple in the paranormal community by offering diverse and groundbreaking workshops, as well as discovering "new blood" in the community. In short, UNIV-CON has consistently pushed the bar and grown to new heights year after year.
And now, after establishing a successful formula, UNIV-CON will re-invent itself by moving in a brand new direction.
"People want a change," said PRS/UNIV-CON founder Ryan Buell. "And so do we."
UNIV-CON will be moving away from the convention-feel that it developed over the past few years, moving more towards research and education. However, Buell says that there will still be entertainment found at the conference. UNIV-CON is also teaming up with an historical and internationally renowned scientific research center for an undisclosed project.
"Some of the people we're bringing in this year are really extraordinary," said 2008 conference manager Topher Young. "This year's conference is all about change and a new direction."
For the first time ever, UNIV-CON will abandon its usual October placement for mid-September (September 11 - 14th, to be exact). Returning attendees will also find new venue space for the growing conference, which will now be held at the award-winning Penn Stater hotel. This will be the first time the conference will not be held on-campus.
"We ran out of room," said Sergey Poberezhny, who managed the conference for the past three years. "It's a good problem to have."
The full, official website for 2008's UNIV-CON is expected to go live sometime this month. Until then, PRS and UNIV-CON will unveil very little about its lineup and plans.
"UNIV-CON is my brainchild," said Buell. "For the past six years, we've made little progress in the direction that we truly wanted to take. I feel that the time is now to move in that direction. I feel like we are ready."
UNIV-CON: The National Paranormal Conference will be held September 11 - 14th, 2008 at University Park, Pa. Please visit www.univcon.org for more information.
What started out as a small college program has evolved in to a grand scale event, dubbed by many in the paranormal community as one of the largest paranormal conferences of its kind.
Some of the people we're bringing in this year are really extraordinary
And it has a lot of history.
Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson of "Ghost Hunters" fame frequented the conference well before their TV series took off. Before passing, both George Lutz of "The Amityville Horror" and Roman Catholic exorcist Father James Lebar gave one of their last public lectures at UNIV-CON (Lutz in 2003, Lebar in 2007, respectively). UNIV-CON was the first conference to successfully assemble many of the paranormal pioneers of the 21st century under one roof for panel discussions, both in 2006 and 2007. And of course, the PRS finally got its due by holding the world premiere of "Paranormal State" in 2007.
UNIV-CON has worked hard to become a staple in the paranormal community by offering diverse and groundbreaking workshops, as well as discovering "new blood" in the community. In short, UNIV-CON has consistently pushed the bar and grown to new heights year after year.
And now, after establishing a successful formula, UNIV-CON will re-invent itself by moving in a brand new direction.
"People want a change," said PRS/UNIV-CON founder Ryan Buell. "And so do we."
UNIV-CON will be moving away from the convention-feel that it developed over the past few years, moving more towards research and education. However, Buell says that there will still be entertainment found at the conference. UNIV-CON is also teaming up with an historical and internationally renowned scientific research center for an undisclosed project.
"Some of the people we're bringing in this year are really extraordinary," said 2008 conference manager Topher Young. "This year's conference is all about change and a new direction."
For the first time ever, UNIV-CON will abandon its usual October placement for mid-September (September 11 - 14th, to be exact). Returning attendees will also find new venue space for the growing conference, which will now be held at the award-winning Penn Stater hotel. This will be the first time the conference will not be held on-campus.
"We ran out of room," said Sergey Poberezhny, who managed the conference for the past three years. "It's a good problem to have."
The full, official website for 2008's UNIV-CON is expected to go live sometime this month. Until then, PRS and UNIV-CON will unveil very little about its lineup and plans.
"UNIV-CON is my brainchild," said Buell. "For the past six years, we've made little progress in the direction that we truly wanted to take. I feel that the time is now to move in that direction. I feel like we are ready."
UNIV-CON: The National Paranormal Conference will be held September 11 - 14th, 2008 at University Park, Pa. Please visit www.univcon.org for more information.
Thank you for your last post.I have been looking for an event like this for five years.I have pretty much been going at everything by myself because not too many people in my area believe in the paranormal.Most of which just sweep it under the rug and don't speak about it.I cannot wait to attend this years conference! Maybe I will find another local "Closet Investigator".
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I am so happy to hear this news, and the anticipation of what is in store is killing me. Yet, I shall be patient and wait for the news as it comes!
And now the dates are set, I am so planning my trip right away!
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Hello Ryan-I have been waiting about 3 months to contact you. My name is Donnya.Over the last several years, I've
experienced a few things within the physical,spiritual and "paranormal" world. I put paranormal in quotes because I have seen and (somewhat) understand exactly what those realms are,and how they co-exist.
I have a strong sense that I would be a helping stone in what you are accomplishing.
I know how this sounds to some people-but I know what it means to you.I have abilities that confuse and scare me(no direction or instruction)Spirits, yes I believe I have visually seen a war in my house among them.(approx 6 years ago). I know that the candle light allows easier passages of certain entities. I have snuffed a candle with mind concentration. I have healed my daughter a few times with this same energy.Someone tried to heal my back pain with her knowledge of Riki?Guess what-she was trying to pull energy from me(remember she had been trained for several years in this)and conclusion---I Received her pain.(She had fallen 2 days prior to this, unknowing to me until I told her where the pain was starting to radiate from my own body.(rt shoulder)She almost hit the floor, face white, whole nine.I guess it didn't go as expected.
Which brings me to my question.
As i said-I am aware of certain abilities that I have. I have also stepped away from using them or acknowledging them(besides the childlike spirit that is in my house now-she?likes music-my kids toys-and has even played songs for me).I can handle that just fine.Myself and my family are no danger with this one.Do you have the need and time for training of someone like me? I would have a lot of tech.things to learn,like certain prayers and the understanding of it as a science. I've turned my back to it for a while, but I think it's time to step up.I do understand and see what I see for a reason. I feel I need to do something with it,and I hope we can assist each other. I am weakened compared to a few years ago,but I know I just have to start opening up again. Allowing myself. I really don't want to without direction.And you seem to be the man to go to for this.
Well please respond so we could discuss this further or even just with some words of advice(you are the expert after all)!Thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks for all the work you do to bring this world into a truer reality.
Donnya Taylor
Middletown,P.A.
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Sorry guys! Now you know all about me!! I thought the comments got edited or reviewed before they went out to the whole world (: Whoops!
Donnya
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Hi Ryan
Can't wait till the Conference..its going to be GREAT! I have a good feeling this will be the Para-Event of the year!
Bright Blessings, see ya soon!
~Amanda
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Ok major confusion here. On this site it gives a Sept date for the conference but then when I click on the link it takes me to 2007 information. Ive checked back a number of times and its still the same unless Im doing something wrong. Im looking for updated 2008 information/forms/speakers, etc so I can attend this year with my team, any help is appreciated!
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They haven't updated the website yet.. should be some time this month (March)... FYI I already made my reservations at the Penn Stater Hotel.. not a lot of rooms left from what they told me, if you haven't made them and want to stay there I would book it soon...
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Thanks Nikki for the info! Ill keep checking back for updates.
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The old 2007 info is still on the website as of today.... Hope the new info goes up soon!
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