Reasons for this research

During the past 200 years the successful development of materialist, reductionist science has led to tremendous improvements in our knowledge of ourselves and our place in the universe. The machine age has brought untold benefits to humanity. It has also given us the key that unlocks the gates to both heaven and hell. We have more freedom, more opportunities and more choices. We also have more wars, more social and environmental tragedies. How we make our choices is important. Our actions, right here and now, affect the lives of future generations to come. We all bear an enormous responsibility to make the right choices.

Increasingly however, more and more people are becoming dissatisfied with mainstream science. They are turning away from the limitations of a cold, objective, reductionist science. A more holistic, person centred approach to their health and well-being is being sought. Yet there is little or no causal, scientific proof that any such alternative or complimentary therapies and practices really work. A serious gap is developing between science and society. This is a gap that has to be bridged.

The scientific methods that led to the tremendous technological advances of the machine age in which we live, have also resulted in great improvements in our knowledge of living organisms. There is much, however, about the mysteries of life that as yet we do not fully understand; of chaos and flow; of pattern and unity; of process and transformation. Several scientists even claim to have evidence that the stuff of life differs from dead inorganic matter - that plants and animals (including ourselves) are capable of transmuting one chemical element into another. From a conventional point of view this is, to all practical intents and purposes, totally impossible. This is extreme fringe science - a place where new revolutions may be lurking, but where few respectable scientists dare publicly to go. Are living organisms truly capable of alchemy - of catalysing nuclear fusion reactions? The easy answer is - almost - certainly not. No one has published conclusive evidence in the scientific literature. However, no one has conclusively proven that they do not. Our choice to conduct further research depends on the consequences of choosing not to find out.

The scientist David Bohm realised that a new, dynamic, holistic approach is required to develop a living understanding of the strange, invisible realms of quantum physics. Such a method was discovered, by Henri Bortoft, to be that developed by the great German poet, dramatist and scientist, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe some 200 years ago. Goethe made apparent the invisible 'ideas' that lie behind the phenomena of the living, organic world, by means of meticulous observation of their visible 'footprints'.

The, not-for-profit, Professor L.W.J. Holleman Trust was created to further the work and ideas of Professor Wim Holleman relating to the biological transmutation of chemical elements. A multidisciplinary, international research team has come together wishing to further his work - not only experimentally, but also in the development of appropriate scientific approaches and ways of thinking.

There are many schools of scientific thought relating to the nature of life. Closely related to these are the many, seemingly contradictory, views on the means by which we are able to acquire knowledge. The aim of this web-site is to explore some of the alternative/complimentary scientific/philosophical ideas, such as those based on Goethean principles that were argued for by Holleman, enabling bridges of understanding to be built. Material science and technology is just as important now as it ever has been - without it we are just superstitious animals. To be of use, science has to reflect our needs. To be truly human we need the courage to be able make choices, based on the solid foundations of a science that is acceptable, accessible and understood. Only then, I believe, will be able to freely embrace life - aware of ourselves, our responsibilities, and of the universe in which we live.