Dave Wood, PSI Chairman
As Chairman, Dave Wood is responsible for the overall running of Paranormal Site Investigators. This includes facilitating the work of the Fieldwork Team, Journal Editorial Board, Education Committee and Research & Ethics Panel. Dave also oversees the running of the charity and fundraising.
Short Biography
Dave was born on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, in 1981 and spent much of his early life in Swindon, Wiltshire, before graduating from the University of Plymouth, where he was a President of the Students' Union, in 2004. Dave works as a teacher in the charity sector and has also served as an elected Borough Councillor since 2006.
Psychical Research
Dave began investigating anomalous phenomena at the age of 20 in Devon. In 2004 he moved to Wiltshire and co-founded PSI with Nicky Sewell. In 2005 he joined the Executive of national research charity the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena (ASSAP). He has been the Chairman of ASSAP since 2006.
Dave co-edits the Journal of Investigative Psychical Research and Anomaly: the Journal of Research into the Paranormal, both lay journals developing peer review systems.
Dave is a member of the Society for Psychical Research, was accepted as a Student Affiliate of the Parapsychological Association and the Institute for Learning.
Research Articles
Dave's long-term project uncovering the only known scientific evidence explaining the orb phenomena is under review by the academic, peer-reviewed Journal of the Society for Psychical Research.
Dave has written a number of desk research articles and experiment reports for both the PSI Journal and the ASSAP Journal. Dave has also written for the Ghost Club.
Dave has written a large number of small articles for the PSI Newsletter and for ASSAP News.
Lecturing and Teaching
Dave has been jointly responsible for delivering Investigator Training for PSI and for the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous phenomena for the last few years.
Dave jointly delivers courses on the psychology of anomalous experiences at a Further Education College, and is responsible for running education events for A-Level groups.
Dave has co-spoke on the topics of photograpic anomalies, census of hauntings and other topics. Audiences have included the Ghost Club and local UFO and photographic societies.
Popular Authorship and Journalism
Dave co-wrote Haunted Swindon: A Census of Hauntings in 2008 with Nicky Sewell. Dave has also contributed to other popular books such as 21st Century Ghosts, the South Shields Poltergeist and Discovering Ghosts. Dave is currently contributing to a Fortean Times book on how to investigate the paranormal. Dave's work has been featured in several other books.
Since 2008 Dave has penned a monthly column in the popular Paranormal Magazine. Dave's column 'Investigation' focusses on good practice in fieldwork.
Dave also maintained a regular series of articles on the BBC website from 2004 until 2007, when he handed over to PSI consultant Ken Taylor.
Media Work
Dave's various media works include interviews on the Discovery Channel, BBC1, ITV1, and Channel 4. Dave's work has also been featured in the local and national press and radio.