The DHARMA (Department of Heuristics And Research on Material Applications) Initiative is a worldwide scientific research project and a large-scale communal research compound where scientists and free-thinkers from around the globe could pursue studies in meteorology, psychology, parapsychology, mathematics, statistics, zoology, electromagnetism, and Utopian social engineering.

The project began in 1970, created by two doctoral candidates from the University of Michigan, Gerald and Karen DeGroot, and was funded by Alvar Hanso of the Hanso Foundation.

Subprojects of DHARMA Initiative were created, including the Mathematical Forecasting Initiative, Educational Outreach Imperative, Institute for Genomic Advancement, Worldwide Wellness and Prevention Development Program, and the Life-Extension Project.

Its existence has been revealed during the American serial drama television series Lost, but its real history was partly romanced.