Bigelow Institute — Survival of Consciousness
The Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies (BICS), founded in 2020 by Robert T. Bigelow, funds research on survival of consciousness after death. This section includes (1) the 3 award-winning essays from the 2021 contest — Mishlove, van Lommel, Ruickbie — and (2) the foundational letter of the 2023 Challenge program, which directs mediums to ask the "Other Side" questions about human spiritual evolution since 1857: technology has grown exponentially (Moore's Law) while spirituality stagnated; 100M+ war deaths; has the Other Side failed to advance humanity?
2021 Essay Contest
Question: "What is the best available evidence for the survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death?" 1st prize: Mishlove ($500k), 2nd: van Lommel ($350k), 3rd: Ruickbie ($150k).
Beyond the Brain: The Survival of Human Consciousness After Permanent Bodily Death
1st Prize ($500,000) — Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies Essay Contest. Evidence for survival of consciousness beyond bodily death.
The Continuity of Consciousness: A Concept Based on Scientific Research on Near-Death Experiences During Cardiac Arrest
2nd Prize ($350,000) — Bigelow Institute Essay Contest. NDE research during cardiac arrest supports continuity of consciousness.
The Ghost in the Time Machine
3rd Prize ($150,000) — Bigelow Institute Essay Contest. Evidence for survival of consciousness after death.
Challenge Program 2023
Foundational letter (Feb 2023) to 140 applicants. BICS announces a "paradigm shift": medium teams must query the Afterlife — since The Spirit's Book (Kardec, 1857), has spiritual evolution failed? Are "bad spirits" and aggressive humans winning? Proof beyond reasonable doubt required.