The Australian Skeptics is a non-profit organisation based in Australia which investigates paranormal and pseudoscientific claims using scientific methodologies. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Paranormal is an Umbrella term used to describe unusual Phenomena or experiences that lack an obvious Scientific explanation Pseudoscience is defined as a body of knowledge methodology belief or practice that is claimed to be Scientific or made to appear scientific but does not adhere to the Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding
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History
The Australian Skeptics were founded in Victoria in 1980, after a visit to Australia by James Randi, who encouraged its establishment based upon the American organisation Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) James Randi (born August 7 1928 (stage name The Amazing Randi) is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of Paranormal The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry ( CSI) formerly known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ( CSICOP) is a [1] It grew from a Melbourne-based organisation to a national one over the following years. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 As of 2007 it has some 2100 members from all Australian states and territories. Each state and territory has its own branch, and most have their own newsletters.
The Skeptic
The journal of the Australian Skeptics is called The Skeptic and has been published since 1981. The first issue, edited by the first President of the Australian Skeptics, Mark Plummer, appeared in January 1981. Three issues appeared in 1981 and it has appeared quarterly since 1982. The Skeptic is used extensively by the media in Australia seeking an alternative view on many of the issues examined by the Australian Skeptics. Since 1987, The Skeptic has been published by Australian Skeptics Inc, in New South Wales. Since 1990, it has been edited by Barry Williams. [2]
All back issues of The Skeptic are free to download from the Australian Skeptics web site.
The (Skeptic) TANK Vodcast
The TANK Vodcast, produced by Richard Saunders of Australian Skeptics and Mystery Investigators, is Australia's only skeptical podcast and vodcast. The show is hosted by Richard Saunders and Stefan Sojka, who also present interviews and investigations. The TANK Vodcast reporters include Jayson Cooke, Karen Stollznow, Kylie Sturgess and Michael Wolloghan. Previous guests have included James Randi, Eugenie C Scott, Phil Plait, Rebecca Watson, Tim Minchin and Alison Smith from SAPS. James Randi (born August 7 1928 (stage name The Amazing Randi) is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of Paranormal Eugenie Carol Scott (born October 24 1945) is an American physical anthropologist who has been the executive director of the National Dr Philip Plait (aka The Bad Astronomer) is an Astronomer and Skeptic who runs the Website BadAstronomy The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a weekly one-hour Podcast hosted by Steven Novella, MD and a panel of " skeptical rogues " [3]
Debate
In June 2005, members of the creationist group Answers in Genesis – Australia debated a team from the Australian Skeptics online on Margo Kingston's web diary section of the Sydney Morning Herald website. Answers in Genesis ( AiG) is a Non-profit Christian Apologetics ministry with a particular focus on Young Earth creationism and Margo Kingston (born 1959 is an Australian journalist author and commentator The Sydney Morning Herald ( SMH) is a daily Broadsheet Newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia [4]
Awards and prizes
Australian Skeptics is offering $100,000 (Australian) for proof of psychic or paranormal powers. $20,000 of it goes to the person who nominates the successful claimant (which may be the same person).
Annually, the Australian Skeptics award several prizes including an essay prize for young writers, a $10,000 cash prize for challenging paranormal beliefs and advancing scientific thinking, Skeptic of the Year, and the Bent Spoon Award. The Bent Spoon Award is given to "to the perpetrator of the most preposterous piece of paranormal or pseudo-scientific piffle" - only Australian individuals and groups are eligible for these awards. The Bent Spoon Award is an award given by Australian Skeptics, "presented to the perpetrator of the most preposterous piece of Paranormal or Pseudoscientific [5] [6] [7]
No Answers in Genesis
No Answers in Genesis is a website affiliated with the Australian Skeptics organisation that provides information to defend the theory of evolution, and, more specifically, counter young Earth creationist arguments put forward by Answers in Genesis. A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages eVolution is the third Album by eLDee, it was due to be released in 2008 Young Earth creationism (YEC is the religious belief that Heaven, Earth, and Life on Earth were created by a direct act of God dating Answers in Genesis ( AiG) is a Non-profit Christian Apologetics ministry with a particular focus on Young Earth creationism and It was founded by Australian atheist and skeptic John Stear, a retired civil servant. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Atheism In ordinary usage skepticism or scepticism ( Greek 'σκέπτομαι' skeptomai, to look about to consider see also spelling differences The website contains links, essays and other postings that rebut creationist arguments against evolution. Stear states that the site is meant for educational purposes as well as to illustrate the problems with Young Earth Creationism. The site also contains simple introductions to evolutionary concepts. [8]
Prominent members of the Australian Skeptics
- Phillip Adams A. Phillip Andrew Hedley Adams AO (born 12 July 1939 is an Australian broadcaster, Film producer, Writer, humanist, O.
- Peter Bowditch
- Professor Colin Groves
- Dr Donald Laycock (dec)
- Dr Steve Roberts aka 'Dr. Colin Groves is Professor of Biological Anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. Dr Donald Laycock was an Australian linguist and anthropologist Bob'
- Dick Smith
- Richard Saunders (Chief Spoon Bender)
- John Stear
- Karen Stollznow (Associate Editor)
- David Vernon
- Barry Williams (Editor)
References
- ^ The Skeptic, Volume 1, Issue 1, 1981
- ^ Brief History of the Skeptic Accessed 13 April 2008
- ^ Tank Vodcast
- ^ Sydney Morning Herald debate
- ^ The Science Show, ABC
- ^ News from The Australian
- ^ 6 Minutes
- ^ No Answers in Genesis Official Site