Psychologist, Author and Science Promoter

Facinated by stories of ghosts and hauntings growing up, Cal's educational path led him through performing arts to psychology. Eventually, finding specialism and global recognition through radio and TV for parapsychology and his public engagement on critical thinking and sceptical activism. He has become a regular face for shows such as 'Britain's X Files' on SkyHistory, and the BBC's 'Uncanny' with Danny Robins as regular contributor to #TeamSceptic. He is also a regular contributor to BBC radio, podcasts, documentaries, and featured throughout the Christmas Special and series 2 as the sceptic on the series 'Paranormal Caputured' for PickTV.

Cal is both a Fellow and Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). He holds postgraduate degrees in psychology, social science research methods and education, from the University of Northampton, Sheffield Hallam University and Manchester Metropolitan University, with further training in domestic abuse support and diagnosis in clinical psychology. He has a long time association with the University of Northampton, and is based there a an associate professor of psychology, delivering classes and conducting research on parapsychology, death and bereavement, positive psychology, human sexual behaviour, police misconduct, and research methods. In this role, he has surprised a number of doctoral students on typically on themes of parapsychology.

He was officially appointed Professor of Parapsychology and Public Understanding of Human Science in 2025 by the California Institute for Human Science, where he co-directs parapsychology education alongside Dr Jeffrey Mishlove. At the institute, he delivers a variety of classes on parapsychology and supervises doctoral research projects.

He is member of organisations such as the Society for Psychical Research (sitting on its Council and Chair of the Survival Research Committee), a Professional Member of the Parapsychological Association, a Hope Studies Research Affiliate (University of Alberta), and of co-lead of the ‘Exceptional Experiences and Consciousness Studies’ (EECS) at the University of Northampton. Cal is also on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Forever Family Foundation, and for the Windbridge Research Center. He has received numerous grants and awards for his work and research including the Eileen J. Garrett Scholarship (Parapsychology Foundation, 2009), the Alex Tanous Scholarship Award (Alex Tanous Foundation for Scientific Research, numerous), the Gertrude R. Schmeidler Award (Parapsychological Association, 2014). In 2018, he was recognised for Excellence in Skeptical Activism and became shortlisted for the Ockham’s Razor Award for such work (The Skeptic Magazine and QEDcon, 2018). And in February 2020, he received the University of Northampton’s PURE DiamondAward for ‘Public/Industry Engagement’ for his contributions to media, outreach and science communication, and then for Excellence in Doctoral Supervision in 2023.

Cal’s main research has focused around bereavement and recovery, interlinked with applied positive psychology. This has involved numerous extensive interviews with the bereaved to further understand the process of loss and coping, and sense of presence experiences and related phenomena within that context. He has also been noted for his work on altered states of consciousness, having spent a lot of time in the past few years working with floatation tanks and sensory deprivation. Throughout his time in research, he has travelled the world promoting science, and the scientific method, as well as encouraging a sceptical approach to claims of exceptional human experiences.

Cal is the author of various research papers and book chapters, and has also authored and co-edited several books. Please visit his amazon author page or click the books below:

Callum has appeared on UK and USA radio and TV shows as a representative for psychology, parapsychology and sceptical inquiry in science. Please do get in touch if you have any questions about media work.