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A pioneer researcher in the field of near-death studies will be in Tucson for three days of workshops and seminars this month.

Tucson's Near-Death Experience/Paranormal Discussion group will sponsor the presentations by Virginia-based researcher and author P.M.H. Atwater as part of a conference titled, "The Near Death Experience."

"Near-death experiences change your life," conference organizer Linda Reed said. "You realize the oneness that we are. We're all connected, and there's an ability to act as one for the benefit of everyone."

"You don't have to have an NDE (near-death experience) to have that," she said. "It's kind of like walking on a fence post. You can get off on the fear-based negative side, or you can get off on the love side of it."

Reed said Atwater, who has authored several books and journal articles about near-death experiences, is considered a "guru" in the field.

The April 25-27 conference will feature Atwater and Gary E. Schwartz, who is a professor of psychology, medicine, neurology, psychiatry and surgery at the University of Arizona and director of its Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health.

Schwartz is the author of "The Afterlife Experiments," "The G.O.D. Experiments" and "The Truth About Medium," and is the co-author of "The Living Energy Universe."

Ticket prices range from $40 to $90, depending on how many seminars attendees wish to attend and whether they purchase tickets in advance.

The near-death group, which typically has between 20 and 40 attendees, has been meeting for at least 25 years, Reed said.

"When the group first started they received death threats," Reed said.

"Today, hospitals, medical institutions require their staff to have classes and be educated on how to deal with people who have had NDEs. It's the norm.

"P.M.H. will talk about the latest research and how it's changed over the years."

Reed, 56, a contractor at IBM, said she's had two near-death experiences. Like others, she describes an overwhelming feeling of love and happiness.

"It's a life-changing event," she said. "I became a seeker and started asking myself really important questions like, why did I survive? Who am I? What is my purpose?"

Sue Dayton, a local group member in her 60s, said she's had three near-death experiences and doesn't fear dying.

Hearing about near-death experiences would be helpful to people who haven't had them, she said.

"It's amazing how many people go to church but don't believe we are going on. But we do go on," Dayton said. "There is no such thing as death. We transform into spirit, like a puff of light and love and go on into the light."

Dayton said she also believes that souls come back until they "get it right." Such topics are common fodder for the group, she said.

Among subjects to be discussed at the conference are children and near-death experiences; the aftereffects of near-death states; and science and death.