“But I’m not pooh-poohing the claims from people who do believe,” the psychology lecturer at Charles Sturt University’s Albury-Wodonga campus said yesterday.

Dr Wilson is inviting both believers and sceptics to a forum where they can learn about the para normal and the psychology of belief.

If they wish, they can tell of seeing a ghost or having some other weird, inexplicable experience.

Dr Wilson, a former actress who has taught psychology in London and Tasmania, is setting up a research unit into the subject, complementing her usual work lecturing to students in health, environment and education courses.

“My area of expertise is in the psychology of belief, what we call anomalistic psychology,” she said.

“I am looking for reasons why some people believe in weird and wonderful things.

“I don’t believe in ghosts myself, but that’s only because I haven’t had experience of them yet.”

Dr Wilson is examining why certain people are possibly more susceptible to believing in ghosts, and whether people who believe in alien abductions are perhaps having delusions.

“I want to know why are we scared of s?ances and ouija boards, or so-called haunted houses,” she said.

Dr Wilson, who began lecturing in Albury last year, hopes to visit two reputed haunted places.

She is fascinated with the stories surrounding the former Beechworth asylum and Monte Cristo homestead at Junee.

“I’m looking at things as a social scientist,” she said.

CSU and the Australian Skeptics Association are backing Dr Wilson’s research.

A guest speaker at the March 29 forum will be Richard Saunders, from Channel Seven’s program, The One: Australia’s search for the most gifted psychic.

“I am very keen to get residents involved in taking part in some of the studies and maybe hear their stories and experiences,” Dr Wilson said.

“It should be a fun night.”

The March 29 forum will start at 6pm at the CD Blake theatre at Thurgoona.