UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Just in time for Halloween, Matt Swayne, journalist and adjunct faculty member in the College of Communications, will give the Research Unplugged talk this week titled “Haunted Universities: Ghost Lore from America’s campus ” at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 30 at Schlow Centre Region Library.
The Research Unplugged series, now in its 11th year, brings together Penn State researchers and the State College community for lively public discussions.
This week, Swayne, author of the books America's Haunted Universities: Ghosts that Roam Hallowed Halls and Haunted Rock & Roll: Ghostly Tales of Musical Legends, will introduce attendees to the supernatural side of campus life and will explain the myths and meanings of these creepy tales from the Ivory Tower.
Swayne, a science writer in the Research Communications office, has worked as a reporter and as a music reviewer for several newspapers and online outlets, such as CentreDaily.com and Music.com. He is a contributor to Omni Reboot, writing a column called “Anti-Matter” which looks at fringe science and the paranormal and has also worked on writing projects with Paranormal State's Eilfie Music. Balancing skepticism with an open mind, Swayne brings his journalistic chops to the subject of ghost lore to collect and tell stories about the paranormal.
Research Unplugged events are open to the public, free of charge. A question and answer session is part of the program.
The Research Unplugged series is made possible with the support of Penn State and Schlow Centre Region Library. For additional information, contact series coordinator Melissa Beattie Moss at 814-865-2614 or mbmoss@psu.edu.