UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics

09/04/2026

Tickets are on sale now!

Join Michael Pollan and renowned neuroscientist Christof Koch for a converation on the intersection of consciousness and psychedelics, co-presented with Cal Performances: Music | Dance | Theater.

Together, they’ll explore:
—What makes consciousness challenging to study
—How psychedelics research can deepen our understanding of consciousness
—What different disciplines and worldviews can teach us about subjective experience

📍 Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, CA
📅 Tuesday, October 13, 2026
⏰ 7:30 PM

Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation.

🎟️ Get your tickets now!

08/26/2026

Ferriss - UC Berkeley Psychedelic Journalism fellow Michelle Lhooq recently had a story featured in The New Yorker. Our fellows report with complete editorial independence from the BCSP, with external news outlets selecting, fact-checking, and publishing their work. The fellowship is granted to journalists reporting in-depth stories on the science, policy, business, and culture of psychedelics.

How the conservative activist Bryan Hubbard, with help from Rick Perry and Joe Rogan, persuaded Trump and the G.O.P. to embrace ibogaine, a psychedelic drug derived from an African shrub.

08/11/2026

Tickets on sale now! A not-to-be-missed convo between Michael Pollan and Christof Koch about the intersection of consciousness and psychedelics. October 13th at Zellerbach Hall, in Berkeley, co-presented with Cal Performances.

If you have already registered for our States of Consciousness conference, you will soon receive a code via email for discounted tickets to this event.

Author Michael Pollan returns for a discussion on the most intriguing questions at the intersection of psychedelics and consciousness.

08/04/2026

In the lush mountains south of Medellín, Colombia, 10 combat sports fighters - boxers, wrestlers, and MMA champions living with TBI and PTSD - took part in a first-of-its-kind study to see if ayahuasca could help their recovery.

Journalist Mattha Busby spent nine days living alongside the fighters inside the maloca, following their ceremonies, and has kept in touch with them post-retreat.

This reporting was supported by The Ferriss – UC Berkeley Psychedelic Journalism Fellowship which offers grants to journalists reporting in-depth stories on the science, policy, business and culture of psychedelics.

Read Mattha Busby's full feature in Men's Health Magazine (link in comments below).

📸 Photos by: Edinson Arroyo

08/03/2026

We're really excited for this event with Michael Pollan and Christof Koch, in partnership with Cal Performances, on October 13th. Tickets go on sale August 11th to the general public - mark your calendars!

Author Michael Pollan returns for a discussion on the most intriguing questions at the intersection of psychedelics and consciousness.

07/31/2026

Why did BCSP researchers design a research study on the aging brain?

Studies in animal models show that a single dose of psilocybin triggers rapid, lasting neuroplasticity—increasing synaptic density and promoting new dendritic spine growth in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

We can’t examine living human brain tissue under a microscope, so our scientists are using advanced MRI to measure proxies of these changes in brain structure in older adults.

Curious to learn more? Visit https://psychedelics.berkeley.edu/can-psilocybin-promote-successful-aging/

07/23/2026

States of Consciousness (October 14-15, 2026) is a two-day multidisciplinary conference at UC Berkeley exploring uncertainty and the evolving questions in the study of consciousness – through the lens of psychedelics.

Bringing together researchers and practitioners across such fields as neuroscience, philosophy, journalism, ethics, and Indigenous studies, the conference will examine how different disciplines and knowledge systems approach questions of mind, consciousness and psychedelics.

Early bird registration for States of Consciousness is open now. Secure your spot by August 6, 2026 to save $50. https://psychedelics.berkeley.edu/soc-conference/

07/09/2026

📢 Exciting news for documentary storytellers!

🎥 The Mycoskie - UC Berkeley Psychedelic Documentary Fellowship is now accepting applications.

This fellowship empowers a new generation of filmmakers who are diving deep into the world of psychedelics, sharing untold stories that shed light on the science, policy, business and culture of this new era.

The Mycoskie - UC Berkeley Psychedelic Documentary Fellowship offers two distinct types of grants:
1. Feature-Length Documentaries (more than 40 minutes): Up to 3 filmmakers will be awarded up to $20,000 each.
2. Short-Form Documentaries (less than 40 minutes): Up to 5 filmmakers will be awarded up to $10,000 each.

🗓️ Deadline: October 5, 2026

👉 Head to the link in our bio 🔗 or visit fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu/mycoskie to submit your application.

06/19/2026

37% of U.S. voters say that psychedelics are safe to use…in a supervised setting.

Over a third of them think psychedelics are addictive.

We take a look at the stigma and perceptions of safety surrounding psychedelics in the latest UC Berkeley Psychedelics Survey.

To learn more, read all five of Tyrone’s takeaways at https://bit.ly/42NC6O8

06/16/2026

In what cases do U.S. voters think psychedelics are most useful? Who do they think should have access to them?

These are some of the questions in our latest UC Berkeley Psychedelics Survey. Research scientist Tyrone Sgambati breaks down the numbers.

📊 To learn more, read his takeaways and watch our webinar about the findings on https://bit.ly/4dF2VZK