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This is a list of people and organizations that promote or practice scientific skepticism. In general they favor science and are opposed to what they call pseudoscience and quackery. They are generally skeptical of parapsychology and the paranormal.
[edit] Prominent skeptics
- Isaac Asimov, biochemist, author. Wrote or edited over 500 popular science, other nonfiction, and science fiction books, including the Foundation series. Founding member of CSICOP (now CSI). [1]
- Banachek, mentalist. Participant in Project Alpha.
- Stephen Barrett, psychiatrist. Cofounder of the National Council Against Health Fraud, critic of alternative medicine. Founder of the Quackwatch website.[1]
- Barry Beyerstein, psychologist. Founding member of CSICOP (now CSI).
- Susan Blackmore, parapsychologist. Author, lecturer, and broadcaster.
- Robert Todd Carroll, philosopher. Author of The Skeptic's Dictionary book and website.
- Debashis Chatterjee, Joint Secretary of Science and Rationalists' Association of India. An expert in exposing miracle, astrologers and spiritual frauds.
- Milbourne Christopher, magician. Founding member of CSICOP (now CSI).
- Derek Colanduno and Robynn McCarthy, co-hosts of the podcast Skepticality: The Official Podcast of Skeptic Magazine.
- Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist and author known for promoting the gene-centric view (in his book The Selfish Gene), coining of the term meme, and atheist activism.[1]
- Daniel Dennett, philosopher. Author of Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life and Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon.
- Ann Druyan, popular science author and current head of the Planetary Society. Widow of the astronomer Carl Sagan.
- Kendrick Frazier, Editor of the Skeptical Inquirer.[1]
- Martin Gardner, author, recreational mathematician. Writer of the long-running 'Mathematical Games' column in Scientific American, and a longstanding columnist for the Skeptical Inquirer. Founding member of CSICOP (now CSI).[1]
- Prabir Ghosh, founder and general secretary of the Science and Rationalists' Association of India. An expert in exposing miracle, astrologers and spiritual frauds.
- Ben Goldacre, physician, journalist. Author of the "Bad Science" column in The Guardian (UK newspaper).
- Sven Ove Hansson, philosopher. Founding Chairperson of the Swedish Skeptics (Vetenskap och Folkbildning) and Editor of the organisation's journal Folkvett.
- Douglas Hofstadter, physicist, artificial intelligence researcher. Author of Pulitzer Prize-winning book Gödel, Escher, Bach: The Eternal Golden Braid and Scientific American column "Metamagical Themas".
- Harry Houdini, magician. Critic of Modern Spiritualism who exposed fraudulent psychics and mediums and publicized their methods.[1]
- Ray Hyman, psychologist, critic of parapsychology. Longstanding contributor to the Skeptical Inquirer. Founding member of CSICOP (now CSI).[1]
- Jamie Hyneman, creator of MythBusters TV show.
- Penn Jillette magician, half of Penn & Teller duo. Creator and host of the television series Bullshit!
- Brendan Kilmartin, author. Founder of the site The Supernatural World .
- Philip J. Klass, aerospace journalist. Known for his investigations of UFOs. Longstanding contributor to the Skeptical Inquirer. Founding member of CSICOP (now CSI).[1]
- Paul Kurtz, philosopher, author. Founder of CSICOP (now CSI), Publisher of the Skeptical Inquirer.[1]
- Pat Linse, illustrator. Cofounder of the Skeptics Society, Copublisher and Art Director of Skeptic magazine. Creator of Junior Skeptic magazine.
- Daniel Loxton, illustrator, writer. Editor of Junior Skeptic magazine (bound into Skeptic magazine).
- Joe Nickell, investigator of the paranormal, author. Columnist for the Skeptical Inquirer.[1]
- Steven Novella, neurologist. Founder of the New England Skeptical Society and host of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast.
- James Oberg, aerospace journalist. Critic of UFOs and claims of a moon landing hoax.
- Robert L. Park, physicist. Author of Voodoo Science.
- Trey Parker, writer, director. Creator of South Park TV show.
- Philip Plait, astronomer, author. Founder of the Bad Astronomy website.
- Basava Premanand publisher of the Indian Skeptic magazine and chairman of the Indian CSICOP.
- Benjamin Radford, Managing Editor of the Skeptical Inquirer.
- James Randi, magician. Founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation. Notable for offering a million dollar cash reward for verifiable demonstration under laboratory conditions of any paranormal ability or event. Conceived and directed Project Alpha. Founding member of CSICOP (now CSI).[1]
- Carl Sagan, astronomer, popular science author, and media personality. Advocate for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) and founder of the Planetary Society (now headed by his widow, popular science writer Ann Druyan). Known for the television series Cosmos and the book The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. Founding member of CSICOP (now CSI).[1]
- Adam Savage, creator of MythBusters TV show.
- Eugenie Scott, anthropologist. Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), critic of creationism and intelligent design.
- Robert Sheaffer, author. UFO investigator, columnist for the Skeptical Inquirer.
- Michael Shermer, historian, popular science author, founder of the Skeptics Society. Copublisher and Editor of Skeptic magazine. Also current writer for the Scientific American column "Skeptic".[1]
- Matt Stone, writer, director. Creator of South Park TV show.
- Julia Sweeney, actress, comedian. Author and performer of Letting Go of God.
- Teller, magician, half of Penn & Teller duo. Creator and host of the television series Bullshit!
- Marcello Truzzi, sociologist. First Editor of the Skeptical Inquirer. Critic of organized skepticism. Founding member of CSICOP (now CSI).
- Richard Wiseman, psychologist. Author of Quirkology.
[edit] Skeptic organizations
- Alberta Skeptics
- Skeptic Eye (The UK's #1 skeptic site)
- ARP – Sociedad para el Avance del Pensamiento Crítico
- Argentina Skeptics
- Asociación Racional Escéptica de Venezuela
- Association for Rational Thought
- Association for Skeptical Enquiry (UK)
- Association for the Rational Investigation of the Paranormal
- Association of Independent Danish Skeptics
- Association Francaise pour l'Informacion Scientifique
- Australian Skeptics
- BadPsychics (UK's most popular sceptical group exposing psychics)
- Baton Rouge Proponents of Rational Inquiry and Scientific Methods
- Bay Area Skeptics
- Bihar Buddhiwadi Samaj
- Biuletyn Sceptyczny
- British Columbia Skeptics
- Carolina Skeptics
- Central Iowa Skeptics
- Central New York Skeptics
- Center for Inquiry
- Český klub skeptiků Sisyfos (Czech Skeptics Club Sisyfos)
- CICAP (Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Affermazioni sul Paranormale) (Italy)
- Círculo Escéptico
- China Association for Science and Technology
- Chinese Skeptics Circle
- Comité Belge pour l'Investigation Scientifique des Phénomènes Réputés Paranormaux (France)
- Comite de Investigaciones de lo Paranormal lo Seudocientifico y lo irracional
- Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Affermazioni sul Paranormale
- Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal) (CSICOP) (New York)
- Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association (India)
- Dravidar Kazhagam
- Drinking Skeptically
- East Bay Skeptics Society
- European Council of Skeptical Organisations
- Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (India)
- Föreningen Vetenskap och Folkbildning (Sweden)
- Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften (Germany)
- Gesellschaft für Anomalistik (Germany)
- Great Lakes Skeptics
- Hong Kong Skeptics
- Houston Association for Scientific Thinking
- Hungarian Skeptic Society (Hungary)
- Independent Investigations Group
- Indiana Skeptics
- Indian Skeptics
- Indian Rationalist Association
- Iniciativa para la Promoción del Pensamiento Crítico
- Irish Skeptics Society
- Institute for African Ecology and Philosophy
- Inquiring Skeptics of Upper New York
- Israel Skeptics Society
- James Randi Educational Foundation (Florida)
- Japan Anti-Pseudoscience Activities Network
- Japan Skeptics
- Kansas City Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
- Kazakhastan Commission for Investigation of Anomalous Phenomena
- Kentucky Association of Science Educators and Skeptics
- Korea PseudoScience Awareness
- Manitoba Skeptics
- Maharashtra Superstition Irradication Committee
- Mexican Association for Skeptical Research
- Midwest Committee for Rational Inquiry
- Minnesota Skeptics
- Montana Rationalists and Skeptics Network
- New Mexicans for Science & Reason
- National Capital Area Skeptics
- New England Skeptical Society
- New York Area Skeptics
- New York City Skeptics
- New Zealand Skeptics
- North Texas Skeptics
- Observatoire Zététique
- Opção Racional
- Oregonians for Rationality
- Paranormal Investigating Committee of Pittsburgh
- Phoenix Skeptics
- Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking
- Prociencia
- Purdue Skeptics Society (West Lafayette, Indiana)
- Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land
- Rationalists of East Tennessee
- Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (RDFRS) (United Kingdom and United States)
- Sacramento Organization for Rational Thinking
- Sacramento Skeptics Society
- San Diego Association for Rational Inquiry
- Skepsis (Norway)
- Sceptical Investigations
- Sceptiques du Quebec
- Science and Rationalists' Association of India
- Skeptical Inquirers of New England
- Skeptics Canada (Formerly Ontario Skeptics)
- Sociedade Brasileira de Céticos e Racionalistas
- Sociedade da Terra Redonda
- South Shore Skeptics
- St. Kloud ESP Teaching Investigation Committee
- SOCRATES
- Sri Lanka Rationalist Association
- Stichting Skepsis
- Studiekring voor Kritische Evaluatie van Pseudo-wetenschap en het Paranormale
- Tampa Bay Skeptics
- Tucson Skeptical Society (TUSKS)
- The Association for Skeptical Enquiry
- The Finnish Association of Skeptics
- The National Council Against Health Fraud (Peabody, Massachusetts)
- The Skeptics Society (California)
- The Society for Sensible Explanations
- UK-Skeptics
- Union Rationaliste
- West Virginians for Science and Reason
- Western New York Paranormal
- Western New York Skeptics
- Zetetics Laboratory of the University of Nice
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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