The DHARMA Initiative (Department of Heuristics and Research on Material Applications) is the fictional research organisation featured in the American show "LOST".
Founded in the early 1970's as an attempt to "save the world as we know it", the Initiative was founded by Gerald and Karen DeGroot, two doctoral graduates from the
University of Michigan, and funded by Alvar Hanso. Their goal was to solve the fundamental principals of the "Valenzetti Equation", an equation that could apparently predict the
end of the world, through various apocalyptic events (
nuclear warfare,
overpopulation, etc). The core values of this equation are 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42, and the DI (Dharma Initiative) scientists were working on changing these values so that, apparently, "the one true way" could be found.
The Dharma Initiative worked on a mysterious island located somewhere in the Pacific, though it is now known to be able to move through time/space. The DI found the island by means of their "Lamp-Post" station located in Los Angeles.
Notable heads of the Initiative include Horace Goodspeed, a hippy-like character, and Pierre Chang who features in the several orientation films. Dr Chang assumes several aliases, such as Mark Wickmund and Marvin Candle, when filming these instructional videos, but it is unclear why.
Using several bunkers and research compounds, the DI performed many experiments in
electromagnetism,
zoology, medicine, etc (even Time itself, deep beneath the island in the Orchid Station). It is unknown at the moment if any of the mysterious phenomena seen on the island (whispers, smoke monster,
hallucinations, etc) are a product of the DI's experiments, or have always been a part of the island, though it is known that the polar bears were being experimented on in the Hydra Station.
The Initiative maintained contact with the real world via the Flame Station, and could leave at will by submarine.
The DI had an uneasy truce with the indigenous people of the island, "The Hostiles" as they were known, though occasional skirmishes broke out. However, the DI were eventually wiped out by the "Hostiles" following the "purge", and they subsequently took over operation of most of the stations and living quarters.
The Dharma Initiative are still pretty much a mystery, but Season 5 of Lost has filled in much of their back story.
