Psychedelics in Society and Culture: Announcing the Inaugural Flourish Fellows and Scholars
The UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics (BCSP) and the Center for Interdisciplinary Critical Inquiry (CICI) have announced the first cohort of the Psychedelics in Society and Culture program—an initiative aimed at expanding psychedelic research and dialogue across the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The program, in collaboration with Harvard University’s Mahindra Humanities Center, is a major scholarly inquiry into the cultural, historical, and societal implications of psychedelics. It is made possible thanks to generous support from Flourish Trust.
The inaugural cohort of UC Berkeley Flourish Scholars and Fellows, whose proposals have been awarded funding from the Psychedelics in Society and Culture Program, begin a diverse range of research projects that encompass the evolution of psychedelic cultural movements, the spiritual dimensions of mysticism, the ecological and cultural effects of psychedelic tourism, the diversity of psychedelic art and literature, the wisdom of psychedelic elders and the role of ancestral practices in healing intergenerational trauma.
The Psychedelics in Society and Culture program explores the roles of psychedelics across diverse histories, cultures, and geographies. A core goal is to recognize, explore, and contextualize contemporary psychedelics within the rich cultural history and Indigenous traditions that have stewarded these substances, acknowledging the debt that contemporary scientific research owes to these practices and knowledge.
“I’m especially pleased by this initiative’s focus on the role of the arts, humanities, and humanistic social sciences, which are crucial for understanding the histories of psychedelics, their invitation for us to sense the world, make meaning, and perhaps even understand “the human” differently,” said Debarati Sanyal, Director of CICI. “The groundbreaking projects supported by this inaugural fellowship cycle explore how psychedelics have produced—and continue to produce—knowledge and inspire critical thought as well as creative expression.”
Flourish Trust — an organization committed to catalyzing the healing and regeneration of humanity and the planet — has generously donated $1 million to support research in the program over three years.
“When Michael Pollan and Brian Muraresku brought us the opportunity to support this research, we were inspired by what we had learned in their respective books, Your Mind on Plants, and The Immortality Key,” said Christiana Musk, Co-founder and Director of Flourish Trust. “Humanity’s relationship with mind-altering plants and fungi is ancient. Just as it’s important to better understand the promise and risks of psychedelics in mental health treatments, it is also important to understand how these compounds may have shaped meaning-making systems throughout time and across cultures and how they might be contributing to that today. These initial grantees offer an inspiring contribution to this nascent field.”
Renowned author Michael Pollan who co-founded the BCSP and is well-known for his book How to Change Your Mind, has long advocated for expanding psychedelic research into the humanities.
“The Psychedelics in Society and Culture Program highlights the immense potential of humanistic studies to deepen our understanding of the roles psychedelics have historically played—and continue to influence—in various societies,” Pollan said. “It is a privilege to welcome the inaugural Flourish Scholars and Fellows, whose pioneering research promises to significantly enhance our knowledge of the intricate dynamics between culture, consciousness, and psychedelics.”
Harvard University’s Mahindra Humanities Center also announced its inaugural cohort of researchers as part of Harvard’s Study in Psychedelics in Society and Culture, funded by the Gracias Family Foundation. Sixteen projects have been awarded grant funding at Harvard in addition to awardees at Berkeley, with both universities supporting cross-campus collaboration and discussion between cohorts to advance and develop their work.
Flourish Scholars are distinguished graduates and undergraduates who focus on smaller-scale, in-depth research-forward projects centered on historical and cultural exploration. Flourish Fellows, comprising faculty, lecturers, and a graduate student, are involved in larger, research-forward projects that include creative and cultural exploration, symposia, and public events.
The full article provides information about all the Flourish Fellows and Scholars