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Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Organization focusing on scientific skepticism

Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Organization focusing on scientific skepticism

FieldValue
nameCommittee for Skeptical Inquiry
abbreviationCSI
formerlyCommittee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
formation
logoCSI logo new.png
typeNonprofit organization (1976–2015)
Program of the Center for Inquiry (2015–present)
purposeSkeptical inquiry
leader_titleExecutive director
leader_nameStephen Hupp
headquartersAmherst, New York, United States
region_servedWorldwide
website

Program of the Center for Inquiry (2015–present)

The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), formerly known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), is a program within the U.S. non-profit organization Center for Inquiry (CFI), which seeks to "promote scientific inquiry, critical investigation, and the use of reason in examining controversial and extraordinary claims." Paul Kurtz proposed the establishment of CSICOP in 1976 as an independent non-profit organization (before merging with CFI as one of its programs in 2015), to counter what he regarded as an uncritical acceptance of, and support for, paranormal claims by both the media and society in general. Its philosophical position is one of scientific skepticism. CSI's fellows have included notable scientists, Nobel laureates, philosophers, psychologists, educators, and authors. It is headquartered in Amherst, New York.

History

Banquet at the 1983 CSICOP Conference in [[Buffalo, New York

The committee was officially launched on April 30, 1976, and was co-chaired by Paul Kurtz and Marcello Truzzi. In the early 1970s, scientific skeptics were concerned that interest in the paranormal was on the rise in the United States, part of a growing tide of irrationalism. In 1975, Kurtz, a secular humanist, initiated a statement, "Objections to Astrology", which was co-written with Bart Bok and Lawrence E. Jerome, and endorsed by 186 scientists, including 19 Nobel laureates. The statement was published in the American Humanist Association (AHA)'s newsletter The Humanist, of which Kurtz was then editor. According to Kurtz, the statement was sent to every newspaper in the United States and Canada. It received a positive reaction, which encouraged Kurtz to invite skeptical researchers to a 1976 conference with the aim of establishing a new organization to critically examine a wide range of paranormal claims. Attendees included Martin Gardner, Ray Hyman, James Randi, and Marcello Truzzi, all members of the Resources for the Scientific Evaluation of the Paranormal (RSEP), a fledgling group with objectives similar to those CSI would subsequently adopt.

RSEP disbanded and its members, along with Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, B.F. Skinner, and Philip J. Klass, then joined Kurtz, Randi, Gardner, and Hyman to formally found the Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). Kurtz, Randi, Gardner, and Hyman took seats on the executive board. CSICOP was officially launched at a specially convened conference of the AHA on April 30 and May 1, 1976.

According to the published correspondence between Gardner and Truzzi, disagreements over what CSICOP should show how volatile the beginnings of the organization were. Truzzi accused CSICOP of "act[ing] more like lawyers" taking on a position of dismissal before evaluating the claims, saying that CSICOP took a "debunking stance". Gardner, on the other hand, "opposed 'believers' in the paranormal becoming CSICOP members", which Truzzi supported. Gardner felt that Truzzi "conferred too much respectability to nonsense".

CSICOP was funded in part with donations and sales of their magazine, Skeptical Inquirer.

Mission statement

The formal mission statement, approved in 2006 and still current, states:The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry promotes science and scientific inquiry, critical thinking, science education, and the use of reason in examining important issues. It encourages the critical investigation of controversial or extraordinary claims from a responsible, scientific point of view and disseminates factual information about the results of such inquiries to the scientific community, the media, and the public.A shorter version of the mission statement appears in every issue: "... promotes scientific inquiry, critical investigation, and the use of reason in examining controversial and extraordinary claims." A previous mission statement referred to "investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims", but the 2006 change recognized and ratified a wider purview for CSI and its magazine, Skeptical Inquirer, that includes "new science related issues at the intersection of science and public concerns, while not ignoring [their] core topics". A history of the first two decades is available in The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal published in 1998 by S.I. editor Kendrick Frazier. In 2018, Frazier reemphasized the importance of the committee's work by saying that "[w]e need independent, evidence-based, science-based critical investigation and inquiry now more than perhaps at any other time in our history."

Name

Paul Kurtz was inspired by the 1949 Belgian organization Comité Para, whose full name was Comité Belge pour l'Investigation Scientifique des Phénomènes Réputés Paranormaux ("Belgian Committee for Scientific Investigation of Purported Paranormal Phenomena"). In 1976, the proposed name was "Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal and Other Phenomena" which was shortened to "Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal". The initial acronym, "CSICP" was difficult to pronounce and so was changed to "CSICOP". According to James Alcock, it was never intended to be "Psi Cop", a nickname that some of the group's detractors adopted.

In November 2006, CSICOP further shortened its name to "Committee for Skeptical Inquiry" (CSI), pronounced C-S-I. The reasons for the change were to create a name that was shorter, more "media-friendly", to remove "paranormal" from the name, and to reflect more accurately the actual scope of the organization with its broader focus on critical thinking, science, and rationality in general, and because "it includes the root words of our magazine's title, the Skeptical Inquirer".

Activities

In order to carry out its mission, the committee "maintains a network of people interested in critically examining paranormal, fringe science, and other claims, and in contributing to consumer education; prepares bibliographies of published materials that carefully examine such claims;encourages research by objective and impartial inquiry in areas where it is needed; convenes conferences and meetings; publishes articles that examine claims of the paranormal; does not reject claims on a priori grounds, antecedent to inquiry, but examines them objectively and carefully".

Standard

An axiom often repeated among CSI members is the quote "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence", which Carl Sagan made famous and adapted from an earlier quote by Marcello Truzzi: "An extraordinary claim requires extraordinary proof". (Truzzi in turn traced the idea back through the principle of Laplace to the philosopher David Hume.){{cite web |access-date = 2007-05-01 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070428163349/http://www.skepticalinvestigations.org/anomalistics/practices.htm |archive-date = 2007-04-28 |url-status = dead

According to CSI member Martin Gardner, CSI regularly puts into practice H. L. Mencken's maxim "one horse-laugh is worth a thousand syllogisms."

Publications

CSI publishes the magazine Skeptical Inquirer, which was founded by Truzzi, under the name The Zetetic. The journal was under Truzzi's editorship for the first year, until August 1977. The magazine was retitled to Skeptical Inquirer with Kendrick Frazier, former editor of Science News, serving as its editor. In June 2023, Stephen Hupp was named as the magazine's editor. Hupp replaced Stuart Vyse, who was the interim editor in November 2022 following the passing of Kendrick Frazier. In 1987, Cecil Adams of The Straight Dope called Skeptical Inquirer "one of the nation's leading antifruitcake journals".{{cite web | access-date = 2007-05-01 | archive-date = July 20, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080720120609/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_344.html | url-status = live

CSI conducts and publishes investigations into Bigfoot and UFO sightings, psychics, astrologers, alternative medicine, religious cults, and paranormal or pseudoscientific claims.

Conferences

CSI staff at CSICon Halloween party, 2016

Main article: CSICon

CSICOP has held dozens of conferences between 1983 and 2005, two of them in Europe, and all six World Skeptics Congresses so far were sponsored by it. Since 2011, the conference is known as CSICon. Two conventions have been held in conjunction with its sister and parent organizations, CSH and CFI, in 2013 and 2015. The conferences bring together some of the most prominent figures in scientific research, science communication, and skeptical activism, to exchange information on all topics of common concern and to strengthen the movement and community of skeptics.

CSI has also supported local grassroot efforts, such as SkeptiCamp community-organized conferences.

Response to mass media

Many CSI activities are oriented toward the media. As CSI's former executive director Lee Nisbet wrote in the 25th-anniversary issue of the group's journal, Skeptical Inquirer:

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080117014321/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_6_25/ai_79794375 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2008-01-17 | access-date = 2006-06-22

As a media watchdog, CSI has "mobilized thousands of scientists, academics and responsible communicators" to criticize what it regards as "media's most blatant excesses". Criticism has focused on factual TV programming or newspaper articles offering support for paranormal claims, and programs such as The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which its members believe portray skeptics and science in a bad light and help to promote belief in the paranormal. CSI's website currently lists the email addresses of over ninety U.S. media organizations and encourages visitors to "directly influence" the media by contacting "the networks, the TV shows, and the editors responsible for the way [they portray] the world."

CSI was quoted to consider pseudoscience topics to include yogic flying, therapeutic touch, astrology, fire walking, voodoo, magical thinking, Uri Geller, alternative medicine, channeling, psychic hotlines and detectives, near-death experiences, unidentified flying objects (UFOs), the Bermuda Triangle, homeopathy, faith healing, and reincarnation. CSI changes its focus with the changing popularity and prominence of what it considers to be pseudoscientific and paranormal beliefs. For example, as promoters of intelligent design increased their efforts to include it in school curricula in recent years, CSI stepped up its attention to the subject, creating an "Intelligent Design Watch" website publishing numerous articles on evolution and intelligent design in Skeptical Inquirer and on the Internet.

CSI Chief Investigator

In September 2022, Kenny Biddle was announced as CSI's Chief Investigator. He is a CSI Fellow and writes a column for Skeptical Inquirer called "A Closer Look" (2018–present), which focuses on his use of scientific skepticism to investigate paranormal claims, including ghost photography and video, ghost hunting equipment, UFOs and psychic ability. Biddle credits his previous careers as an auto mechanic, helicopter mechanic, and X-ray technician for building his skills in attention to detail, problem-solving, testing, and critical thinking. He also has co-written articles with Joe Nickell about ghost and miraculous photography. Biddle was a speaker at CSICon in 2019 and 2022.

Health and safety

CSI is concerned with paranormal or pseudoscientific claims that may endanger people's health or safety, such as the use of alternative medicine in place of science-based healthcare. Investigations by CSI and others, including consumer watchdog groups, law enforcement, and government regulatory agencies, have shown that the sale of alternative medicines, paranormal paraphernalia, or pseudoscience-based products can be enormously profitable. CSI says this profitability has provided various pro-paranormal groups large resources for advertising, lobbying efforts, and other forms of advocacy, to the detriment of public health and safety.

Organization

Umbrella organization

The Center for Inquiry is the transnational non-profit umbrella organization comprising CSI, the Council for Secular Humanism, the Center for Inquiry – On Campus (national youth group) and the Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health. These organizations share headquarters and some staff, and each has their own list of fellows and their distinct mandates. CSI generally addresses questions of religion only in cases in which testable scientific assertions have been made (such as weeping statues or faith healing).

Independent Investigation Group

The Center for Inquiry West, located in Hollywood, California Executive Director Jim Underdown founded the Independent Investigations Group (IIG), a volunteer-based organization in January 2000. The IIG investigates fringe science, paranormal, and extraordinary claims from a rational, scientific viewpoint and disseminates factual information about such inquiries to the public. IIG has offered a $50,000 prize "to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event", to which 7 people applied from 2009 to 2012.

36 Wendy PB Picture.jpg|IIG testing Power Balance bracelet in progress, October 28, 2010 25 Wendy PB Picture.jpg|Dominique Dawes & IIG's James Underdown discussing test protocols, October 28, 2010

Awards

In Praise of Reason Award

"The In Praise of Reason Award is given in recognition of distinguished contributions in the use of critical inquiry, scientific evidence, and reason in evaluating claims to knowledge." This is the highest award presented by CSI and is often presented at the CSIcon conferences.

YearPersonNotes
1982Martin GardnerAwarded in Atlanta, Georgia, "In honor of his heroic efforts in defense of reason and the dignity of the skeptical attitude."
1984Sidney Hooktitle=Scientific Facts and Fictions: On the Trail Of Paranormal Beliefs at CSICOP '84journal=The Skeptical Inquirerdate=1985volume=9issue=3page=197}}
1985Antony FlewAwarded in London by Paul Kurtz, "[I]n recognition of his long-standing contributions to the use of methods of critical inquiry, scientific evidence, and reason in evaluating claims to knowledge and solving social problems."
1986Stephen Jay Gouldtitle=CSICOP Awardsjournal=The Skeptical Inquirerdate=1986volume=11issue=1page=14}}
1987Carl Saganlast1=Shorefirst1=Lys Anntitle=Controversies in Science and Fringe Science: From Animals and SETI to Quackery and SHCjournal=The Skeptical Inquirerdate=1987volume=12issue=1pages=12–13}}
1988Douglas Hofstadterlast1=Shorefirst1=Lys Anntitle=New Light on the New Age CSICOP's Chicago conference was the first to critically evaluate the New Age movement.journal=The Skeptical Inquirerdate=1988volume=13issue=3pages=226–235}}
1990Cornelis de Jagerlast1=Kurtzfirst1=Paultitle=Skepticism in Europe: Brussels Conference Tackles Diverse Issuesjournal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=1991volume=15issue=2page=218}}
1990Gerard Piellast1=Shorefirst1=Lys Anntitle=Skepticism in the Light of Scientific Literacyjournal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=1990volume=15issue=1page=8}}
1991Donald Johansontitle=CSICOP's 1991 Awardsjournal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=1991volume=16issue=1page=16}}
1992Richard Dawkinstitle=CSICOP's 1992 Awardsjournal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=1993volume=17issue=3page=236}}
1994Elizabeth Loftuslast1=Karrfirst1=Barryauthor-link=Barry Karrtitle=Five Honored with CSICOP Awardsjournal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=1994volume=18issue=5pages=461–462}} "For her research in memory and eyewitness testimony."
1996Leon Ledermanlast1=Flynnfirst1=Tomauthor-link=Tom Flynn (author)title=World Skeptics Congress Draws Over 1200 Participantsurl=http://www.csicop.org/sb/show/world_skeptics_congress_draws_over_1200_participantswebsite=Skeptical Inquirerdate=September 1996publisher=CSICOPaccess-date=19 August 2016archive-date=August 28, 2016archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828191841/http://www.csicop.org/sb/show/world_skeptics_congress_draws_over_1200_participantsurl-status=live}}
2000Lin Zixinlast1=Kurtzfirst1=Paultitle=Worlds Skeptics Congressjournal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=2001volume=25issue=2pages=34}}
2001Kendrick Frazierlast1=Radfordfirst1=Benauthor-link=Ben Radfordtitle=Science and Religion: The Conferencejournal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=2002volume=26issue=2page=15}}
2002Marvin MinskyAwarded at the Fourth World Skeptics Conference (June 2002) in Burbank, California.
2003Ray HymanPresented at the Albuquerque conference by friend James Alcock. "Ray Hyman, from whom I-and I am sure all of us-continue to learn so much."
2004James Alcocklast1=Gaeddertfirst1=Johntitle=Science and Ethics Conference Brings Together Minds from Canada, Europe, and the U.S.journal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=2004volume=28issue=5pages=5–6}}
2009James Randititle=Randi, Krauss, Kurtz Honored with Major Awardsurl=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/randi_krauss_kurtz_honored_with_major_awardswebsite=Skeptical Inquirerpublisher=CSICOPaccess-date=19 August 2016archive-date=August 26, 2016archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826113746/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/randi_krauss_kurtz_honored_with_major_awardsurl-status=live}}
2011Bill NyePresented at CSIcon New Orleans conference. Eugenie Scott stated "If you think Bill is popular among skeptics, you should attend a science teacher conference where he is speaking" it is standing room only. She continues by saying that no one has more fun as Nye when he is "demonstrating, principles of science."

Candle Awards

Founded at the 1996 World Skeptics Congress in Buffalo, New York, the Council for Media Integrity gives these awards that were named in inspiration by Carl Sagan's book, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. The council is made up of scientists, media and academics, all concerned with the "balanced portrayal of science". The Candle in the Dark Award is presented to those who show "outstanding contributions to the public's understanding of science and scientific principles" and to "reward sound science television programming". The Snuffed Candle Award is awarded to those "for encouraging credulity, presenting pseudoscience as genuine, and contributing to the public's lack of understanding of the methods of scientific inquiry." The council urges TV "producers to label documentary-type shows depicting the paranormal as either entertainment or fiction". The council also provides the media with contact information of experts who would be willing and able to answer questions and be interviewed for paranormal topics.

YearPersonMedia
1997Bill Nye and Dan Aykroydtitle=Nye, Aykroyd Receive Council's First Awardsjournal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=1997volume=21issue=3page=12}}
1998Scientific American Frontiers and Art BellHosted by Alan Alda, SAFs episode "Beyond Science" was singled out by the Council for Media Integrity for its examination of the paranormal. Art Bell was recognized by the council for "perpetuating conspiracy myths... and mystery mongering". When Bell learned of the award he replied "A mind should not be so open that the brains fall out, however it should not be so closed that whatever gray matter which does reside may not be reached. On behalf of those with the smallest remaining open aperture, I accept with honor."
2003Edgar Sanchez reporter for the Sacramento Bee and Larry KingAwarded at the Albuquerque, New Mexico Conference. Sanchez received the Candle in the Dark award for his column "Scam Alert" where he has written about Nigerian scams, car-mileage fraud and phony police detectives. King received the Snuffed Candle award for "encouraging credulity, presenting pseudoscience as genuine".

Robert P. Balles Prize

Nickell Balles Prize.jpg|Frazier awards author Joe Nickell the Balles Prize for his book The Science of Ghosts – 2013. Julia Belluz receives CSI Balles Award for 2016 from Paul Fidalgo.jpg|Julia Belluz receives 2016 Balles Award from Paul Fidalgo. Tim Callahan Balles Award CSICon.webm|Tim Callahan receives 2018 Balles Award. Paul Fidalgo introduces 2019 Balles Award Winner.webm|Paul Fidalgo from Center For Inquiry introduces 2019 Balles Award Winner A Deal with the Devil. CSI awards the Robert P. Balles Annual Prize in Critical Thinking annually. The $2,500 award is given to the "creator of the published work that best exemplifies healthy skepticism, logical analysis, or empirical science". Robert P. Balles, "a practicing Christian", established this permanent endowment fund through a Memorial Fund. Center for Inquiry's "established criteria for the prize include use of the most parsimonious theory to fit data or to explain apparently preternatural phenomena."

YearPersonMediaNotes
2005Andrew Skolnick, Ray Hyman and Joe NickellThe Girl with X-ray EyesShared the first award for their 2005 reports on CSICOP's testing of Natasha Demkina, a girl who claimed to have X-ray eyes.
2006Ben GoldacreFor his column in The Guardian U.K. newspaper, Bad ScienceColumns include "Dyslexia 'cure' fails to pass the tests", "Bring me a God helmet, and bring it now", "Kick the habit with wacky wave energy", "Brain Gym exercises do pupils no favors" and "Magnetic attraction? Shhhh. It's a secret"
2007Natalie AngierThe Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science"S}he thoughtfully explores what it means to think scientifically and the benefits of extending the scientific ethos to all areas of human life."
2008[Leonard MlodinowThe Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules our Lives
2009Michael SpecterDenialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives
2010Steven NovellaBody of work including The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast, Science-Based Medicine, Neurologica, Skepticial Inquirer column The Science of Medicine and the "tireless travel and lecture schedule on behalf of skepticism"title=CSI Awards Balles Prizeurl=http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/csi_awards_balles_prizewebsite=Skeptical Inquirerdate=June 13, 2011publisher=CSICOPaccess-date=19 August 2016archive-date=September 17, 2016archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917141343/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/csi_awards_balles_prizeurl-status=live}} According to Barry Karr "You may be the hardest worker in all of skepticism".
2011Richard WisemanParanormality: Why We See What Isn't There"Wiseman is not simply interested in looking at a claim... He is interested in showing us how easy it is for us to be deceived and how easily we can be fooled and fool others."
2012Steven Salzberg and Joe NickellSalzberg's column for Forbes magazine, Fighting Pseudoscience and Nickell's book The Science of Ghosts – Searching for Spirits of the Deadtitle=Skeptic Authors Steven Salzberg and Joe Nickell to Receive Balles Prize in Critical Thinkingurl=http://www.csicop.org/news/show/skeptic_authors_steven_salzberg_and_joe_nickell_to_receive_balles_prizewebsite=Skeptical Inquirerdate=June 14, 2013publisher=CSICOPaccess-date=28 December 2020archive-date=September 7, 2016archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907205355/http://www.csicop.org/news/show/skeptic_authors_steven_salzberg_and_joe_nickell_to_receive_balles_prizeurl-status=live}}
2013Paul OffitDo You Believe in Magic? The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicinelast1=Fidalgofirst1=Paultitle=CSI Announces Paul Offit As Winner of the 2013 Balles Prizeurl=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/csi_announces_paul_offit_as_winner_of_the_2013_balles_prizewebsite=Skeptical Inquirerpublisher=CSICOPaccess-date=18 August 2016archive-date=September 17, 2016archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917073325/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/csi_announces_paul_offit_as_winner_of_the_2013_balles_prizeurl-status=live}}
2014Joseph Schwarcz and to the creators, producers, and writers of Cosmos: A Spacetime OdysseyIs That a Fact? and Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey"Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey opened the eyes of a new generation to humanity's triumphs, its mistakes, and its astounding potential to reach unimagined heights.... Is That a Fact? unflinchingly takes on all manner of popular misinformation."
2015Julia BelluzVox.com"We need more people in the media doing what Julia Belluz does... "
2016Maria KonnikovaThe Confidence Gametitle=Maria Konnikova Wins Critical Thinking Prize from CSI for "The Confidence Game"url=http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/maria_konnikova_wins_critical_thinking_prize_from_csi_for_the_confidence_gawebsite=CSICOP.ORGdate=May 18, 2017publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiryaccess-date=19 May 2017archive-date=May 23, 2017archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523052929/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/maria_konnikova_wins_critical_thinking_prize_from_csi_for_the_confidence_gaurl-status=live}}
2017Donald Prothero, Tim CallahanUFOs, Chemtrails, and AliensThis book "not only refute(s) false claims and misguided beliefs ... but more importantly they also arm readers with the tools they will need to fairly evaluate any extraordinary claim they come across"
2018Blake Ellis, Melanie HickenA Deal With The Deviltitle=CNN Reporters Awarded Balles Critical Thinking Prize for A Deal with the Devilurl=https://skepticalinquirer.org/2019/09/cnn-reporters-awarded-balles-critical-thinking-prize-for-a-deal-with-the-devilwebsite=CSICOP.ORGdate=September 5, 2019publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiryaccess-date=27 September 2019archive-date=September 27, 2019archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927182055/https://skepticalinquirer.org/2019/09/cnn-reporters-awarded-balles-critical-thinking-prize-for-a-deal-with-the-devil/url-status=live}}
2019Susan GerbicThe Psychic Stingerlast=Fidalgofirst=Pauldate=April 2022title=Timothy Caulfield, Susan Gerbic Awarded Balles Prizes for Critical Thinkingurl=https://skepticalinquirer.org/2022/02/timothy-caulfield-susan-gerbic-awarded-balles-prizes-for-critical-thinking/url-status=livejournal=Skeptical Inquirervolume=46issue=2archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919142024/https://skepticalinquirer.org/2022/02/timothy-caulfield-susan-gerbic-awarded-balles-prizes-for-critical-thinking/archive-date=19 September 2022}}
2020Timothy CaulfieldA Booster Shot for Science"Caulfield's clear, accessible, and hopeful advocacy of science and evidence were invaluable for a public desperate to navigate their way through the infodemic during the pandemic."
2023Kendrick Frazierposthumously awarded to longtime Skeptical Inquirer editor"The presentation began with a lovely tribute video, showcasing Frazier’s forty-five year history with CSI and Skeptical Inquirer magazine. Free Inquiry editor Paul Fidalgo then took the stage, offering a moving and funny tribute to the man who had been at the helm of Skeptical Inquirer longer than Fidalgo himself has been alive. In all that time, Fidalgo noted, Frazier’s enthusiasm for the work and passion for science and skepticism never waned."

Responsibility in Journalism Award

CSICOP seeking to acknowledge and encourage "fair and balanced reporting of paranormal claims" established the Responsibility in Journalism Award in 1984. Frazier stated that "There are many responsible reporters who want to do a good job in covering these kinds of controversial, exotic topics." Beginning in 1991, CSI began awarding in two categories, "print" and "broadcast".

YearPersonMediaNotes
1984Leon Jaroff and Davyd YostJaroff as managing editor of Discover magazine established the "Skeptical Eye" column. Yost of the Columbus, Ohio Citizen Journal specifically for a story about a poltergeist.Frazier said of Yost "In the mold of careful, responsible journalism... [he made] a special effort to get outside expert opinion". Philip Klass stated that Jaroff has "political courage" for his column that offers "useful perspectives... of claims of the paranormal".
1986Boyce Rensberger and Ward LucasRensberger, science reporter for The Washington Post and Lucas "anchor and investigative reporter KUSA-TV Channel 9 Denver"Presented at the University of Colorado, Boulder, "In recognition of contributions to fair and balanced reporting of paranormal claims".
1987Lee Dembart, Ed Busch, and Michael WilleseeDembart from Los Angeles Times, Willesee, Australian journalist and Busch, Texas radio talk-show hostPresented at Pasadena CSICOP award banquet.
1988C. Eugene Emery Jr. and Milton RosenbergEmery is a science and medical reporter for the Providence Journal and a contributor to SI. Rosenberg is the host of Extension 720 a program on WGN-Radio in Chicagotitle=Articles of Notejournal=The Skeptical Inquirerdate=1988volume=13issue=4page=425}}
1990Stephen DoigScience Editor for the Miami HeraldAwarded at the Washington, D.C., conference, March 30-April 1.
1991Keay DavidsonScience editor for the San Francisco Examiner with co-writer Janet L. Hopson, who were both recognized for their work into the investigation of the claims of Koko the talking ape.Print Category – Awarded at the 15th Anniversary of CSICOP in Berkeley, California
1991Mark CurtisReporter for WEAR-TV Channel 3, Pensacola, FloridaInvestigation into the Gulf Breeze UFO incident exposing trick photography. Awarded at the 15th Anniversary of CSICOP in Berkeley, California
1992Andrew SkolnickAssociate editor of Medical News & Perspectives for the Journal of the American Medical AssociationPresented at the CSICOP Dallas, Texas Convention
1992Henry GordonColumnist, magician and authorPresented at the CSICOP Dallas, Texas Convention
1994Jack SmithColumnist with the Los Angeles TimesAwarded at the CSI Seattle Conference June 23–26
1996Phillip Adams, Piero Angela and Pierre BertonPresented at the First World Congress in Buffalo, New York, the 20th Anniversary of CSICOP.

Frontiers of Science and Technology Award

YearPersonMediaNotes
1986Paul MacCreadyAeroVironmentPresented at the University of Colorado, Boulder "In recognition of his innovative and creative contributions to technology and his outstanding defense of critical thinking".
1987Murray Gell-MannPresented at Pasadena CSICOP award banquet.

Public Education in Science Award

In recognition of distinguished contributions to the testing of scientific principles and to the public understanding of science.

YearPersonNotes
1990Richard BerendzenPresented at Pasadena CSICOP award banquet.
1991Eugenie ScottAwarded at the 15th Anniversary of CSICOP in Berkeley, California
1992Sergei KapitzaPresented at the CSICOP Dallas, Texas Convention
1994John MaddoxAwarded at the CSI Seattle Conference June 23–26
1996Dean EdellPresented at the First World Congress in Buffalo, New York, the 20th Anniversary of CSICOP.
2000Richard WisemanPresented at the Third World Congress held in Sydney, Australia.

Distinguished Skeptic Award

YearPersonNotes
1990Henri BrochAwarded for "his pioneer work with Minitel and making scientific critiques of the paranormal available to a wider audience in France. Presented at the Brussels 1990 CSICOP conference.
1991Susan BlackmoreAwarded at the 15th Anniversary of CSICOP in Berkeley, California
1992Evry SchatzmanPresented at the CSICOP Dallas, Texas Convention
1994Philip KlassAwarded at the CSI Seattle Conference June 23–26
1996James RandiPresented at the First World Congress in Buffalo, New York, the 20th Anniversary of CSICOP.
1998Amardeo Sarmalast1=Frazierfirst1=Kendricktitle=Science and Reason, Foibles and Fallacies, and Doomsdaysjournal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=1998volume=22issue=6page=6}}
2000Barry Williams, Joe NickellPresented at the Third World Congress held in Sydney, Australia. Williams was recognized for his "yeoman service to organized skepticism".
2001Harlan Ellisonlast1=Frazierfirst1=Kendricklast2=Radfordfirst2=Bentitle=Fourth World Skeptics Conference in Burbank a Lively Foment of Ideasjournal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=2002volume=26issue=5page=5}}
2002Marcia Angell
2003Jan Harold Brunvandlast1=Frazierfirst1=Kendrickauthor-link=Kendrick Fraziertitle=From Internet Scams to Urban Legends, Planet (hoa)X to the Bible Code: CSICOP Albuquerque Conference Has Fun Exposing Hoaxes, Myths and Maniasjournal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=2004volume=28issue=2pages=7}}

Founder Award

Presented to founder and chairman of CSICOP, Paul Kurtz "In recognition of your wisdom, courage, and foresight in establishing and leading the world's first public education organization devoted to distinguishing science from pseudoscience". Award was given April 26, 1986 at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

The Martin Gardner Lifetime Achievement Award

Awarded to author and entertainer Steve Allen at the First World Skeptic Congress held in Buffalo, New York, in 1996. Allen was recognized for his lifetime achievement "in cultivating the public appreciation of critical thinking and science".

Lifetime Achievement Award

Presented to Eugenie Scott by Ronald Lindsay at the CFI Summit in Tacoma, Washington, in 2013 calling her a "Champion of Evolution Education".

The Isaac Asimov Award

Established to acknowledge the contributions to humanity and science by Isaac Asimov. This award is given to those who has "shown outstanding commitment and ability in communicating the achievements, methods, and issues of science to the public".

YearPersonNotes
1994Carl SaganJanet Asimov, when informed that Carl Sagan would be the first recipient of the Isaac Asimov Award, said "There is no one better qualified... than his good friend and colleague Carl Sagan. Isaac was particularly fond of Carl. He was also in awe of Carl's genius, and proud that he was so adept at communicating science to the public... thank you for remembering my beloved husband in this way."
1995Stephen Jay Gouldtitle=CSICOP Award Winnersjournal=Skeptical Inquirerdate=1996volume=20issue=5page=7}}

The Pantheon of Skeptics

In April 2011, the executive council of CSI created The Pantheon of Skeptics, a special roster honoring deceased fellows of the Committee who have made the most outstanding contributions to the causes of science and skepticism. This roster is part of an ongoing effort to provide a sense of history about the modern skeptical movement.

PersonNotes
George O. Abell
Steve Allen
Jerry Andrus
Isaac Asimov
Robert A. Baker
T. X. Barber
Barry Beyerstein
Bart J. Bok
Milbourne Christopher
Francis H. Crick
L. Sprague de Camp
Martin Gardner
Stephen Jay Gould
D. O. Hebb
Sidney Hook
Leon Jaroff
Philip J. Klass
Paul Kurtz
Paul MacCready
John Maddox
William V. Mayer
Walter McCrone
Ernest Nagel
H. Narasimhaiah
W. V. Quine
Carl Sagan
Wallace Sampson
Glenn T. Seaborg
B. F. Skinner
Victor Stenger
Stephen Toulmin

CSI fellows

According to the Jan/Feb 2021 Skeptical Inquirer the role of a CSI fellow is to "promote scientific inquiry, critical investigation, and the use of reason in examining controversial and extraordinary claims. Fellows are elected for their distinguished contributions to science and skepticsim as well as their ability to provide practical advice and expertise on various issues and projects deemed important to the work of the Committee. Election as a fellow is based upon the following criteria, approved by the CSI Executive Council:

    1. Outstanding contribution to a scientific discipline, preferably, though not restricted to, a field related to the skeptical movement
    1. Outstanding contribution to the communication of science and/or critical thinking or
    1. Outstanding contribution to the skeptical movement. Fellows of CSI serve as ambassadors of science and skepticism and may be consulted on issues related to their area of expertise by the media or by the Committee. They may be asked to support statements issued by CSI and contribute commentary or articles to CSI outlets. ... Election to the position of fellow is a lifetime appointment. However, if in the opinion of the CSI Executive Council an individual's behavior or scholarship renders that person unable to continue to qualify for the position of fellow under the criteria listed or to effectively fulfill the role of ambassador or science and skepticism, CSI may choose to remove them from the list of fellows."

Current CSI fellows

This is a list of current CSI fellows; an asterisk denotes the person is also a member of the CSI Executive Council.

  • James Alcock*
  • Marcia Angell
  • Kimball Atwood IV
  • Banachek
  • Stephen Barrett
  • Robert Bartholomew
  • Jann Johnson Bellamy
  • Kenny Biddle
  • Susan Blackmore
  • Sandra Blakeslee
  • Alejandro Borgo
  • Mark Boslough
  • Glenn Branch
  • Henri Broch
  • Jan Harold Brunvand
  • Sean B. Carroll
  • Thomas R. Casten
  • Timothy Caulfield
  • Clark R. Chapman
  • K.C. Cole
  • John Cook
  • Jerry Coyne
  • Manfred Cuntz
  • Richard Dawkins
  • Geoffrey Dean
  • Daniel Dennett
  • Ann Druyan
  • Sanal Edamaruku
  • Taner Edis
  • Edzard Ernst
  • Kenneth Feder
  • Krista Federspiel
  • Kevin Folta
  • Barbara Forrest
  • Craig A. Foster
  • Andrew Fraknoi
  • Chris French
  • Julia Galef
  • Luigi Garlaschelli
  • Maryanne Garry
  • Susan Gerbic
  • Thomas Gilovich
  • David Gorski
  • Natalie Grams
  • David Robert Grimes
  • Wendy M. Grossman
  • Susan Haack
  • Raymond E. Hall
  • Alan W. Harris
  • Michael Heap
  • David Helfand
  • Terence Hines
  • Douglas Hofstadter
  • Gerald Holton
  • Stephen Hupp
  • Deborah Hyde
  • Ray Hyman*
  • Stuart D. Jordan
  • Barry Karr
  • Ed Krupp
  • Stephen Law
  • Nathan H. Lents
  • Stephan Lewandowsky
  • Jere H. Lipps
  • Elizabeth Loftus
  • William M. London
  • Leighann Lord
  • Daniel Loxton
  • Michael E. Mann
  • David Marks
  • Michael Marshall
  • Lee McIntyre
  • Mario Mendez-Acosta
  • Tim Mendham
  • Kenneth R. Miller
  • David Morrison
  • Richard A. Muller
  • Meera Nanda
  • Jan Willem Nienhuys
  • Lee Nisbet
  • Matthew C. Nisbet
  • Steven Novella
  • Bill Nye
  • James Oberg
  • Paul Offit
  • Naomi Oreskes
  • Loren Pankratz
  • Natália Pasternak Taschner
  • John Allen Paulos
  • Clifford A. Pickover
  • Massimo Pigliucci
  • Steven Pinker
  • Massimo Polidoro
  • James L. Powell
  • Anthony Pratkanis
  • Donald Prothero
  • Benjamin Radford
  • Amardeo Sarma*
  • Richard Saunders
  • Joe Schwarcz
  • Eugenie Scott*
  • Seth Shostak
  • Gale M. Sinatra
  • Simon Singh
  • Dick Smith
  • Keith E. Stanovich
  • Karen Stollznow
  • Jill Tarter
  • Carol Tavris
  • Dave Thomas
  • Nick Tiller
  • Leonard Tramiel
  • Melanie Trecek-King
  • Neil deGrasse Tyson
  • James Underdown
  • Joseph Uscinski
  • Bertha Vazquez
  • Indre Viskontas
  • Marilyn vos Savant
  • Stuart Vyse*
  • Steven Weinberg
  • Mick West
  • Richard Wiseman
  • Benjamin Wolozin
  • Lin Zixin

Former CSI fellows

This is a list of former CSI fellows not included in the Pantheon of Skeptics.

  • Edoardo Amaldi
  • Irving Biederman
  • Brand Blanshard
  • Vern Bullough
  • Bette Chambers
  • Daniel Cohen
  • John R. Cole
  • Frederick Crews
  • Cornelis de Jager
  • Eric Dingwall
  • Mark Edward
  • Paul Edwards
  • Christopher Evans
  • Charles M. Fair
  • Antony Flew
  • Kendrick Frazier
  • Yves Galifret
  • Henry Gordon
  • Saul Green
  • Harriet Hall
  • C. E. M. Hansel
  • Albert Hibbs
  • Lawrence Jerome
  • Sergei Kapitsa
  • Larry Kusche
  • Scott O. Lilienfeld
  • Marvin Minsky
  • Dorothy Nelkin
  • Joe Nickell
  • Jay Pasachoff
  • Graham Reed
  • Milton J. Rosenberg
  • Evry Schatzman
  • Thomas Sebeok
  • Elie A. Shneour
  • Robert Steiner
  • Marcello Truzzi
  • E. O. Wilson
  • Marvin Zelen
  • Lin Zixin

Controversy and criticism

CSI's activities have garnered criticism from individuals or groups which have been the focus of the organization's attention. Television celebrity and claimed psychic Uri Geller was formerly in open dispute with the organization, filing a number of unsuccessful lawsuits against them.

Some criticism has also come from within the scientific community, and at times from within CSI itself. Marcello Truzzi, one of CSICOP's co-founders, left the organization after only a short time, arguing that many of those involved "tend to block honest inquiry, in my opinion. Most of them are not agnostic toward claims of the paranormal; they are out to knock them. [...] When an experiment of the paranormal meets their requirements, then they move the goal posts." Truzzi coined the term pseudoskeptic to describe critics in whom he detected such an attitude.

Mars effect, 1975

An early controversy concerned the so-called Mars effect: French statistician Michel Gauquelin's claim that champion athletes are more likely to be born when the planet Mars is in certain positions in the sky. In late 1975, prior to the formal launch of CSICOP, astronomer Dennis Rawlins, along with Paul Kurtz, George Abell and Marvin Zelen (all subsequent members of CSICOP) began investigating the claim. Rawlins, a founding member of CSICOP at its launch in May 1976, resigned in early 1980 claiming that other CSICOP researchers had used incorrect statistics, faulty science, and outright falsification in an attempt to debunk Gauquelin's claims. In an article for the pro-paranormal magazine Fate, he wrote: "I am still skeptical of the occult beliefs CSICOP was created to debunk. But I have changed my mind about the integrity of some of those who make a career of opposing occultism."{{cite web | access-date = 2006-06-21 | archive-date = June 15, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060615224537/http://www.discord.org/~lippard/rawlins-starbaby.txt | url-status = live | access-date = 2010-12-03 | archive-date = July 21, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721044611/http://www.discord.org/~lippard/klass-crybaby.txt | url-status = live

Church of Scientology, 1977

In 1977, an FBI raid on the offices of the Church of Scientology uncovered a project to discredit CSICOP so that it and its publications would cease criticism of Dianetics and Scientology. This included forging a CIA memo and sending it to media sources, including The New York Times, to spread rumors that CSICOP was a front group for the CIA. A letter from CSICOP founder Paul Kurtz was forged to discredit him in the eyes of parapsychology researchers.

Natasha Demkina, 2004

In 2004, CSICOP was accused of scientific misconduct over its involvement in the Discovery Channel's test of the "girl with X-ray eyes", Natasha Demkina. In a self-published commentary, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Brian Josephson criticized the test and evaluation methods and argued that the results should have been deemed "inconclusive" rather than judged in the negative. Josephson, the director of the University of Cambridge's Mind–Matter Unification Project, questioned the researchers' motives, saying: "On the face of it, it looks as if there was some kind of plot to discredit the teenage claimed psychic by setting up the conditions to make it likely that they could pass her off as a failure." Ray Hyman, one of the three researchers who designed and conducted the test, published a response to this and other criticisms. CSI's Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health also published a detailed response to these and other objections, saying that the choice of critical level was appropriate, because her claims were unlikely to be true: I decided against setting the critical level at seven because this would require Natasha to be 100% accurate in our test. We wanted to give her some leeway. More important, setting the critical value at seven would make it difficult to detect a true effect. On the other hand, I did not want to set the critical value at four because this would be treating the hypothesis that she could see into people's bodies as if it were highly plausible. The compromise was to set the value at five.

General criticism and reply

On a more general level, proponents of parapsychology have accused CSI of pseudoskepticism, and an overly dogmatic and arrogant approach based on a priori convictions. A 1992 article in The Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, an organ for the Parapsychological Association, suggests that CSI's aggressive style of skepticism could discourage scientific research into the paranormal. Astronomer Carl Sagan wrote on this in 1995:{{cite book | author-link = Carl Sagan | url-access = registration

Have I ever heard a skeptic wax superior and contemptuous? Certainly. I've even sometimes heard, to my retrospective dismay, that unpleasant tone in my own voice. There are human imperfections on both sides of this issue. Even when it's applied sensitively, scientific skepticism may come across as arrogant, dogmatic, heartless, and dismissive of the feelings and deeply held beliefs of others ... CSICOP *is* imperfect. In certain cases [criticism of CSICOP] is to some degree justified. But from my point of view CSICOP serves an important social function – as a well-known organization to which media can apply when they wish to hear the other side of the story, especially when some amazing claim of pseudoscience is judged newsworthy ... CSICOP represents a counterbalance, although not yet nearly a loud enough voice, to the pseudoscience gullibility that seems second nature to so much of the media.

Footnotes

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • {{Cite book | editor-last = Kurtz | editor-first = Paul | editor-link = Paul Kurtz
  • {{Cite book |author-link=James Randi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904200903/http://www.randi.org/encyclopedia/ |archive-date=2014-09-04

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