Origins & Early Life

Susan Jane Blackmore (born 29 July 1951) is a British writer, lecturer, sceptic, broadcaster, and a visiting professor at the University of Plymouth. Her fields of research include memetics, parapsychology, consciousness, and she is best known for her book The Meme Machine. She has written or contributed to over 40 books and 60 scholarly articles and is a contributor to The Guardian newspaper. In 1973, Susan Blackmore graduated from St Hilda's College, Oxford, with a BA (Hons) degree in psychology and physiology.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She received an MSc in environmental psychology in 1974 from the University of Surrey. In 1980, she earned a PhD in parapsychology from the same university; her doctoral thesis was titled "Extrasensory Perception as a Cognitive Process." In the 1980s, Blackmore conducted psychokinesis experiments to see if her baby daughter, Emily, could influence a random number generator. The experiments were mentioned in the book to accompany the TV series Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Powers. Blackmore taught at the University of the West of England in Bristol until 2001.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After spending time in research on parapsychology and the paranormal, her attitude towards the field...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abanindranath Tagore — Contemporary (Died in 1951) (1951): Pioneering figure of the Bengal School, modernizing Indian art against Western influence.
• Alvin E. Roth — Contemporary (Born in 1951) (1951): Pioneering economist known for game theory and market design solutions.
• Anatoly Karpov — Contemporary (Born in 1951) (1951): Legendary Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion.
• Alexis de Tocqueville — Shared historical date (07-29 · Born) (1805): French philosopher known for analyzing Western democracy and social trends.
• Arnold Ehret — Shared historical date (07-29 · Born) (1866): German naturopath known for the Mucusless Diet Healing System and vitalist theories.
• André Gide — Historical peer (Died in 1951) (1951): Pioneering French author, Nobel laureate known for exploring selfhood and transgression.
• Anjelica Huston — Historical peer (Born in 1951) (1951): Esteemed American actress known for eccentric roles and multiple industry awards.
• Abebe Bikila — Historical peer (Died in 1973) (1973): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• Adrien Brody — Historical peer (Born in 1973) (1973): Acclaimed American actor known for intense, emotionally charged character portrayals.
• Adria Petty — Historical peer (Born in 1974) (1974): American director, editor, and artist known for music video work with Beyoncé.
• 1951 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1951
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