View source for Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

{{Short description|Organization focusing on scientific skepticism}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Lead too short|date=March 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                     = Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
| image                    = 
| image_size               = 
| image_border             = 
| alt                      = 
| caption                  = 
| abbreviation             = CSI
| formerly                 = Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal{{r|csinow}}
| formation                = {{start date and age|1976}}
| logo                     = CSI logo new.png
| type                     = [[Nonprofit organization]] (1976–2015)<br /> Program of the [[Center for Inquiry]] (2015–present)
| status                   = 
| purpose                  = [[Skeptical inquiry]]
| leader_title             = Executive director
| leader_name              = [[Barry Karr]]
| headquarters             = [[Amherst, New York]], United States
| location                 = 
| region_served            = Worldwide
| website                  = {{URL|skepticalinquirer.org}}
}}

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."<ref>[https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/sites/063097sites.html UFO True Believers and Skeptics Clash on the Web] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109070723/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/sites/063097sites.html |date=November 9, 2018 }} ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 30, 1997</ref> [[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<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/a_unified_center_for_inquiry_stronger_than_ever/ |title=A Unified Center for Inquiry, Stronger Than Ever |work=CenterForInquiry.net |publisher=Center for Inquiry |date=January 14, 2015 |access-date=October 27, 2016 |archive-date=October 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027124046/http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/a_unified_center_for_inquiry_stronger_than_ever/ |url-status=live }}</ref>), to counter what he regarded as an uncritical acceptance of, and support for, [[paranormal]] claims by both the media and society in general.<ref name="Evans2012">{{cite web |url=http://www.philosophyforlife.org/the-skeptic-movement/ |title=The Skeptic movement |last=Evans |first=Jules |date=October 3, 2012 |website=philosophyforlife.org |publisher=Jules Evans |access-date=May 31, 2017 |quote=The modern Skeptic movement, as an organized force, arguably first appeared in 1976, when the philosopher Paul Kurtz proposed the establishment of a Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) at the American Humanist Association annual convention. CSICOP launched as a committee with founder members including the magicians James Randi and Martin Gardner. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706155320/http://www.philosophyforlife.org/the-skeptic-movement/ |archive-date=July 6, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its philosophical position is one of [[scientific skepticism]]. CSI's fellows have included notable scientists, [[Nobel Prize|Nobel laureates]], [[Philosophy|philosophers]], [[psychologist]]s, educators, and authors.<ref>[[Paul Kurtz|Kurtz, Paul]]. (1996). ''Skepticism and the Paranormal''. In [[Gordon Stein]] (Ed.). ''The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal''. pp. 684–701. Prometheus Books. {{ISBN|1-57392-021-5}}</ref> It is headquartered in [[Amherst, New York]].

== History ==
[[File:CSICOP Banquet.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The 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]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rensberger |first=Boyce |date=1976-05-01 |title=Paranormal Phenomena Facing Scientific Study |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/05/01/archives/paranormal-phenomena-facing-scientific-study.html |access-date=2022-03-20 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> 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.<ref name=aspr92>''The Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research'', Volume 86, No. 1, January 1992</ref>{{full citation needed|date=August 2016}} In 1975, Kurtz, a [[Secular humanism|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'',<ref name=aspr92/> 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.<ref name=Kurtz/> 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.<ref name=aspr92/>

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).<ref name="Evans2012" /> Kurtz, Randi, Gardner, and Hyman took seats on the executive board.<ref name=NYTimes>Higginbotham, Adam (November 7, 2014). [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/magazine/the-unbelievable-skepticism-of-the-amazing-randi.html?_r=0 "The Unbelievable Skepticism of the Amazing Randi"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826075948/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/magazine/the-unbelievable-skepticism-of-the-amazing-randi.html?_r=0 |date=August 26, 2017 }}. ''The New York Times''.</ref> CSICOP was officially launched at a specially convened conference of the AHA on April 30 and May 1, 1976.<ref name=Kurtz>{{cite web| last = Kurtz| first = Paul|date=July 2001|url = http://www.csicop.org/si/2001-07/kurtz.html| title = A Quarter Century of Skeptical Inquiry My Personal Involvement| publisher = Skeptical Inquirer|access-date = 2008-12-01|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080305043319/http://csicop.org/si/2001-07/kurtz.html |archive-date = March 5, 2008}}</ref>

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".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ward |first1=Ray |title=The Martin Gardner Correspondence with Marcello Truzzi |journal=Skeptical Inquirer |date=2017 |volume=41 |issue=6 |pages=57–59 |publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry}}</ref>

CSICOP was funded in part with donations and sales of their magazine, ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]''.<ref name="NYTimes" />

==Mission statement==

The formal mission statement, approved in 2006 and still current, states:<ref name="About CSI">{{cite web|title=About CSI|url=http://www.csicop.org/about/about_csi|website=CSI|publisher=CFI|access-date=30 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112121924/http://www.csicop.org/about/about_csi|archive-date=12 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><blockquote>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.</blockquote>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."<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Frazier|first1=Kendrick|title=It's CSI Now, Not CSICOP|date=December 4, 2006|url=http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/its_csi_now_not_csicop|publisher=CFI|access-date=28 March 2016|archive-date=January 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125114829/https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/its_csi_now_not_csicop/?%2Fspecialarticles%2Fshow%2Fits_csi_now_not_csicop|url-status=live}}</ref> 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".<ref name=":0" /> A history of the first two decades is available in ''The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal'' published in 1998 by S.I. editor [[Kendrick Frazier]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Frazier|first1=Kendrick|author-link=Kendrick Frazier|title=Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP)|url=http://www.csicop.org/about/csicop|website=CSI|publisher=CFI|access-date=28 March 2016|archive-date=August 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818120929/http://www.csicop.org/about/csicop|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About CSI|url=http://www.csicop.org/about/about_csi|website=Skeptical Inquirer|publisher=CSICOP|access-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112121924/http://www.csicop.org/about/about_csi|archive-date=12 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Frazier |first1=Kendrick |author-link=Kendrick Frazier|title=In Troubled Times, This Is What We Do |journal=[[Skeptical Inquirer]] |date=2018 |volume=42 |issue=2 |pages=14–15 |url=https://www.csicop.org/si/show/in_troubled_times_this_is_what_we_do |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180606235847/https://www.csicop.org/si/show/in_troubled_times_this_is_what_we_do |url-status=dead |archive-date=2018-06-06 |access-date=7 June 2018}}</ref>

===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").<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.skeptic.com/downloads/Why-Is-There-a-Skeptical-Movement.pdf |title=Why Is There a Skeptical Movement? |author=[[Daniel Loxton]] |publisher=[[The Skeptics Society]] |page=3 |date=2013 |access-date=1 September 2014 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330130327/https://www.skeptic.com/downloads/Why-Is-There-a-Skeptical-Movement.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.{{sfn|Kurtz|2001a|p=42}}

In November 2006, CSICOP further shortened its name to "Committee for Skeptical Inquiry" (CSI), pronounced C-S-I.{{r|csinow}}<ref name="name_change">[http://www.csicop.org/about/csi.html "CSICOP becomes CSI after thirty years"]. CSI. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815024758/http://www.csicop.org/about/csi.html |date=August 15, 2009 }}</ref> 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''".<ref name="CSI_Now">{{Cite web |url=http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/its_csi_now_not_csicop/ |title=It's CSI now, Not CSICOP |author=[[Kendrick Frazier]] |work=CSI website |publisher=CSI |date=4 December 2006 |access-date=1 September 2014 |archive-date=July 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719010159/http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/its_csi_now_not_csicop/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== 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".<ref>{{cite web |title=About CSI |url=https://www.csicop.org/about/about_csi |website=CSI |publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry |access-date=7 June 2018 |archive-date=June 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180606163053/https://www.csicop.org/about/about_csi |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Standard ===
An axiom often repeated among CSI members is the quote "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/aliens/carlsagan.html|title=Interview With Carl Sagan|publisher=NOVA Online|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403035048/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/aliens/carlsagan.html|url-status=live}}</ref> which Carl Sagan made famous and adapted from an earlier quote by Marcello Truzzi: "An extraordinary claim requires extraordinary proof".<ref>{{Cite journal | author=[[Marcello Truzzi]] | title=On the Extraordinary: An Attempt at Clarification | journal=[[Zetetic Scholar]] | volume=1 | issue=1 | page=11 | year=1978 | url=http://www.tricksterbook.com/truzzi/ZS-Issues-PDFs/ZeteticScholarNo1.pdf | access-date=May 9, 2011 | archive-date=April 11, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411204900/http://www.tricksterbook.com/truzzi/ZS-Issues-PDFs/ZeteticScholarNo1.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> (Truzzi in turn traced the idea back through the [[Pierre-Simon Laplace#Quotations|Principle of Laplace]] to the philosopher [[David Hume]].)<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.skepticalinvestigations.org/anomalistics/practices.htm
 |title       = On Some Unfair Practices towards Claims of the Paranormal
 |access-date  = 2007-05-01
 |author      = Marcello Truzzi
 |publisher   = Skeptical Investigations
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070428163349/http://www.skepticalinvestigations.org/anomalistics/practices.htm
 |archive-date = 2007-04-28
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref>

According to CSI member Martin Gardner, CSI regularly puts into practice [[H. L. Mencken]]'s maxim "one [[horse-laugh]] is worth a thousand [[syllogism]]s."<ref>Quoted in Gardner, Martin (1981). ''Science: Good, Bad, and Bogus'', Prometheus Books, {{ISBN|0-87975-144-4}}, pp. vii, xvi.</ref>

=== Publications ===
[[File:Skeptical Inquirer.jpg|thumb|Logo of the ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'']]
CSI publishes the magazine ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'', which was founded by Truzzi, under the name ''The Zetetic''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kreidler |first=Marc |date=2019-02-04 |title=History of CSICOP |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/history-of-csicop/ |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=Skeptical Inquirer |language=en-US}}</ref> The journal was under Truzzi's editorship for the first year, until August 1977.<ref name=":1" /> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Skeptical Inquirer Magazine Introduces New Editor Stephen Hupp |url=https://centerforinquiry.org/press_releases/skeptical-inquirer-magazine-introduces-new-editor-stephen-hupp/ |website=centerforinquiry.org |date=June 12, 2023 |publisher=Center for Inquiry |access-date=28 June 2023}}</ref> In 1987, [[Cecil Adams]] of [[The Straight Dope]] called ''Skeptical Inquirer'' "one of the nation's leading antifruitcake journals".<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_344.html
| title = Are subliminal messages secretly embedded in advertisements?
| access-date = 2007-05-01
| date = 26 June 1987
| publisher = The Straight Dope
| archive-date = July 20, 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080720120609/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_344.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref> In addition, CSI publishes ''Skeptical Briefs'', a quarterly newsletter for associate members.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.csicop.org/sb/| title = Skeptical Briefs| access-date = 2008-09-01| year = 2008| publisher = Committee for Skeptical Inquiry| archive-date = September 16, 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080916195946/http://www.csicop.org/sb/| url-status = live}}</ref>

CSI conducts and publishes investigations into [[Bigfoot]] and [[unidentified flying object|UFO]] sightings, [[parapsychology|psychics]], [[astrology|astrologers]], [[alternative medicine]], [[cult|religious cult]]s, and paranormal or pseudoscientific claims.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}

=== Conferences ===
[[File:CSICON 2011-Barbara Forrest.JPG|thumb|[[Barbara Forrest]] participating in the "Creation and Evolution" panel at CSICon 2011 in New Orleans]]
[[File:Bill Nye lectures at 2013 CFI Summit.jpg|thumb|[[Bill Nye]] speaking about science education at CSICon 2013 in Tacoma, Washington]]
[[File:CSI Staff Halloween Party 2016.jpg|thumb|CSI Staff at CSICon Halloween Party 2016]]
{{Main|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.<ref>{{Cite web| access-date = 2012-03-21| url = http://skepticamp.org/wiki/Main_Page| title = SkeptiCamp| date = n.d.| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130506090720/http://skepticamp.org/wiki/Main_Page| archive-date = 2013-05-06| url-status = dead}}</ref>

=== 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'':

{{Blockquote|sign=|source=|CSICOP originated in the spring of 1976 to fight mass-media exploitation of supposedly "occult" and "paranormal" phenomena. The strategy was twofold: First, to strengthen the hand of skeptics in the media by providing information that "debunked" paranormal wonders. Second, to serve as a "media watchdog" group that would direct public and media attention to egregious media exploitation of the supposed paranormal wonders. An underlying principle of action was to use the mainline media's thirst for public-attracting controversies to keep our activities in the media, hence the public eye.<ref>
{{cite news
| last = Nisbet
| first = Lee
|date=Nov–Dec 2001
| url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_6_25/ai_79794375
| 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
| title = The Origins and Evolution of CSICOP; Science Is Too Important to Be Left to Scientists
| publisher = Skeptical Inquirer
| access-date = 2006-06-22
}}</ref>}}

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".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stacy |first1=Dennis |title=CSICOP Scare! |url=https://www.anomalist.com/commentaries/csicop.html |publisher=The Anomolist |access-date=14 December 2023}}</ref> 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 (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', which its members believe portray skeptics and science in a bad light and help to promote belief in the paranormal.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} CSI's website currently{{when|date=August 2016}} 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."{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}

=== Following pseudoscientific and paranormal belief trends ===

CSI was quoted to consider [[pseudoscience]] topics to include [[yogic flying]], [[therapeutic touch]], [[astrology]], [[fire walking]], [[Haitian Vodou|voodoo]], [[magical thinking]], [[Uri Geller]], [[alternative medicine]], [[Mediumship|channeling]],  psychic hotlines and detectives, [[near-death experiences]], [[unidentified flying objects]] (UFOs), the [[Bermuda Triangle]], [[homeopathy]], [[faith healing]], and [[reincarnation]].<ref name=CSI_NSF>National Science Foundation [https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind02/c7/c7s5.htm Science and Technology: Public Attitudes and Public Understanding. Science Fiction and Pseudoscience. Relationships Between Science and Pseudoscience. What Is Pseudoscience?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616181809/http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind02/c7/c7s5.htm |date=2016-06-16 }}</ref>
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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csicop.org/intelligentdesignwatch/|title=CSI|work=csicop.org|access-date=2006-07-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060706172737/http://www.csicop.org/intelligentdesignwatch/|archive-date=2006-07-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> publishing numerous articles on evolution and intelligent design in ''Skeptical Inquirer'' and on the Internet.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}

===CSI Chief Investigator===

In September 2022, [[Kenny Biddle]] was announced as CSI's Chief Investigator.  Biddle is a CSI Fellow <ref>{{cite web |last1=Palmer |first1=Rob |title=Meet CSI's Newest Fellow: Kenny Biddle |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/meet-csis-newest-fellow-kenny-biddle/ |website=Skepticalinquirer.org |date=November 25, 2020 |access-date=18 December 2022}}</ref> 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. Biddle also has co-written articles with [[Joe Nickell]] about ghost and miraculous photography.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Palmer |first1=Rob |title=Introducing CSI's Chief Investigator |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/introducing-csis-chief-investigator/ |website=skeptical inquirer.org |date=November 28, 2022 |access-date=17 December 2022}}</ref> 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 organization|consumer watchdog]] groups, law enforcement, and government regulatory agencies,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01446.html |date=September 6, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026222642/https://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01446.html |archive-date=2006-10-26 |title=FDA Asks U.S. Marshals to Seize Dietary Supplements: Products Being Promoted With Drug Claims |publisher=U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] <!-- press release # P06-128 -->}}</ref> 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.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}

==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.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} 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]]). {{citation needed|date=August 2016}}

=== Independent Investigation Group ===

The [[Center for Inquiry]] West, located in Hollywood, California Executive Director [[James Underdown|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iigwest.org/challenge.html |title=IIG Challenge |publisher=Iigwest.org |access-date=2016-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726172822/http://www.iigwest.org/challenge.html |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<gallery class="center" widths="225px" heights="200px">
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]] discuss test protocols Oct 28, 2010
</gallery>

==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.<ref name="Bill Nye PRA">{{cite web|title=Bill Nye Wins In Praise of Reason Award|url=http://www.csicop.org/news/show/bill_nye_wins_in_praise_of_reason_award|website=Skeptical Inquirer|date=January 20, 2012|publisher=CSICOP|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=September 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917133641/http://www.csicop.org/news/show/bill_nye_wins_in_praise_of_reason_award|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Person
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=1|1982
|[[Martin Gardner]]
|Awarded in Atlanta, Georgia, "In honor of his heroic efforts in defense of reason and the dignity of the skeptical attitude."<ref>{{cite journal|title=CSICOP Council in Atlanta: Police Psychics, Local Groups|journal=The Skeptical Inquirer|date=1983|volume=7|issue=3|page=13}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1984
|[[Sidney Hook]]
|Presented at [[Stanford University]], Palo Alto, California, by CSICOP Chairman Paul Kurtz.<ref name="Hook award 1985">{{cite journal|title=Scientific Facts and Fictions: On the Trail Of Paranormal Beliefs at CSICOP '84|journal=The Skeptical Inquirer|date=1985|volume=9|issue=3|page=197}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1985
|[[Antony Flew]]
|Awarded 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."<ref>{{cite journal|title='In Praise of Reason' Award Goes to Antony Flew|journal=The Skeptical Inquirer|date=1985|volume=10|issue=2|pages=102, 104}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1986
|[[Stephen Jay Gould]]
|Presented at the University of Colorado, Boulder "In recognition of his long-standing contributions to the use of the methods of critical inquiry, scientific evidence, and reason in evaluating claims to knowledge and solving social problems".<ref name="1986 Awards">{{cite journal|title=CSICOP Awards|journal=The Skeptical Inquirer|date=1986|volume=11|issue=1|page=14}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1987
|[[Carl Sagan]]
|Pasadena, California CSICOP awards banquet<ref name="Pasadena 1987">{{cite journal|last1=Shore|first1=Lys Ann|title=Controversies in Science and Fringe Science: From Animals and SETI to Quackery and SHC|journal=The Skeptical Inquirer|date=1987|volume=12|issue=1|pages=12–13}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1988
|[[Douglas Hofstadter]]
|Presented at the Chicago CSICOP conference<ref name="Chicago 1988">{{cite journal|last1=Shore|first1=Lys Ann|title=New Light on the New Age CSICOP's Chicago conference was the first to critically evaluate the New Age movement.|journal=The Skeptical Inquirer|date=1988|volume=13|issue=3|pages=226–235}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1990
|[[Cornelis de Jager]]
|Presented at the Brussels 1990 CSICOP conference<ref name="Brussels 1990">{{cite journal|last1=Kurtz|first1=Paul|title=Skepticism in Europe: Brussels Conference Tackles Diverse Issues|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=1991|volume=15|issue=2|page=218}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1990
|[[Gerard Piel]]
|Awarded at the Washington D. C. conference March 30-April 1.<ref name="DC conference 1990">{{cite journal|last1=Shore|first1=Lys Ann|title=Skepticism in the Light of Scientific Literacy|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=1990|volume=15|issue=1|page=8}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1991
|[[Donald Johanson]]
|Awarded at the 15th Anniversary of CSICOP in Berkeley, California.<ref name="1991 Awards">{{cite journal|title=CSICOP's 1991 Awards|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=1991|volume=16|issue=1|page=16}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1992
|[[Richard Dawkins]]
|Presented at the CSICOP Dallas, Texas Convention<ref name="Dallas 1992">{{cite journal|title=CSICOP's 1992 Awards|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=1993|volume=17|issue=3|page=236}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1994
|[[Elizabeth Loftus]]
|Awarded at the CSI Seattle Conference June 23–26<ref name="Seattle 1994">{{cite journal|last1=Karr|first1=Barry|author-link=Barry Karr|title=Five Honored with CSICOP Awards|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=1994|volume=18|issue=5|pages=461–462}}</ref> "For her research in memory and eyewitness testimony."<ref name="Editors note 1994">{{cite journal|last1=Frazier|first1=Kendrick|title=Editor's Note: Three Culture Clashes|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=1995|volume=19|issue=2|page=2}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1996
|[[Leon M. Lederman|Leon Lederman]]
|Awarded at the First World Congress in Amherst, New York, presented by [[Cornelis de Jager]]<ref name="World Congress 1996">{{cite web|last1=Flynn|first1=Tom|author-link=Tom Flynn (author)|title=World Skeptics Congress Draws Over 1200 Participants|url=http://www.csicop.org/sb/show/world_skeptics_congress_draws_over_1200_participants|website=Skeptical Inquirer|date=September 1996|publisher=CSICOP|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=August 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828191841/http://www.csicop.org/sb/show/world_skeptics_congress_draws_over_1200_participants|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="First World Congress 1996"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|2000
|Lin Zixin
|Lin Zixin was awarded in absentia.<ref name="WSC 2000">{{cite journal|last1=Kurtz|first1=Paul|title=Worlds Skeptics Congress|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=2001|volume=25|issue=2|pages=34}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2001
|[[Kendrick Frazier]]
|Awarded at the first Center for Inquiry International Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Frazier "spoke of his feelings... 'I am more a toiler in the editorial fields than an inhabitant of the lofty spires of academia, so that makes me all the more appreciative".<ref name="Radford 2002">{{cite journal|last1=Radford|first1=Ben|author-link=Ben Radford|title=Science and Religion: The Conference|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=2002|volume=26|issue=2|page=15}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2002
|[[Marvin Minsky]]
|Awarded at the Fourth World Skeptics Conference (June 2002) in Burbank, California.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Chancellor's Distinguished Fellows Program, 2005-2006, Selective Bibliography for Marvin Minsky|page=9|date=May 24, 2006|publisher=[[UC Irvine]] Libraries|author=Gelfand, Julia|doi=10.1080/03124077308549397|s2cid=145751890 |journal=Australian Social Work}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2003
|[[Ray Hyman]]
|Presented 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."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Alcock|first1=James|title=In Praise of Ray Hyman|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/in_praise_of_ray_hyman|website=Skeptical Inquirer|date=March 2004 |publisher=CSICOP|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=December 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208124234/https://www.csicop.org/si/show/in_praise_of_ray_hyman|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2004
|[[James Alcock]]
|Presented at the Center for Inquiry – ''Transnational'' Conference in Toronto, Canada. Vern Bullough presented Alcock with the award. Alcock stated that many scientists do not care about pseudoscience as they don't see it as a threat on science, but he reminds the audience that "fundamentalist religious viewpoints" and "alternative medicine" are "very real threats".<ref name="CFI Toronto">{{cite journal|last1=Gaeddert|first1=John|title=Science and Ethics Conference Brings Together Minds from Canada, Europe, and the U.S.|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=2004|volume=28|issue=5|pages=5–6}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2009
|[[James Randi]]
|Presented at the 12th World Congress in Maryland. [[Paul Kurtz]] presented the award saying "Your greatest quality is that you are an educator, a teacher. You have shown that the easiest people to deceive are PhDs, a great insight to all of us. You expose myths and hoaxes.... You stand out in history."<ref name="Randi PRA">{{cite web|title=Randi, Krauss, Kurtz Honored with Major Awards|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/randi_krauss_kurtz_honored_with_major_awards|website=Skeptical Inquirer|publisher=CSICOP|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=August 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826113746/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/randi_krauss_kurtz_honored_with_major_awards|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2011
|[[Bill Nye]]
|Presented 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."<ref name="Bill Nye PRA"/>
|}

===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|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".<ref name="Nisbet 1999"/> The ''Candle in the Dark Award'' is presented to those who show "outstanding contributions to the public's understanding of science and scientific principles"<ref name="Candle awards 1997"/> and to "reward sound science television programming".<ref name="Nisbet 1999">{{cite journal|last1=Nisbet|first1=Matt|title=Candle in the Dark and Snuffed Candle Awards|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=1999|volume=23|issue=2|page=6}}</ref> 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."<ref name="Candle awards 1997"/> 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.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Frazier|first1=Kendrick|author-link=Kendrick Frazier|title=Science Indicators 2000: Belief in the Paranormal or Pseudoscience|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=2001|volume=25|issue=1|page=14}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Person
! Media
|-
|rowspan=1|1997
|[[Bill Nye]] and [[Dan Aykroyd]]
|Nye received the ''Candle in the Dark Award'' for his "lively, creative... endeavor". Aykroyd "was presented in absentia the ''Snuffed Candle Award'' for hosting [[Psi Factor]] and being a "long-time promoter ... of paranormal claims" Following the awards, [[Joe Nickell]] wrote to Aykroyd asking for the research behind the "cases" presented on Psi Factor. Particularly a claim that NASA scientists were "killed while investigating a meteor crash and giant eggs were found and incubated, yielding a flea the size of a hog".<ref name="Candle awards 1997">{{cite journal|title=Nye, Aykroyd Receive Council's First Awards|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=1997|volume=21|issue=3|page=12}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1998
|''[[Scientific American Frontiers]]'' and [[Art Bell]]
|Hosted by [[Alan Alda]], ''SAF''<nowiki/>'s episode "Beyond Science"<ref>{{Scientific American Frontiers|8|2|Beyond Science?}}</ref> 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."<ref name="Nisbet 1999"/> 
|-
|rowspan=1|2003
|Edgar Sanchez reporter for the ''[[Sacramento Bee]]'' and [[Larry King]]
|Awarded at the Albuquerque, New Mexico Conference. Sanchez received the Candle in the Dark award for his column "Scam Alert" where he has written about [[Advance-fee scam|Nigerian scams]], car-mileage fraud and phony police detectives. King received the Snuffed Candle award for "encouraging credulity, presenting pseudoscience as genuine".<ref name="Albuquerque 2003"/>
|}

=== Robert P. Balles Prize ===
<gallery class="center" widths="225px" heights="200px">
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''.
</gallery>
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".<ref name="Sept-Oct Issue">{{cite journal|last1=Fidalgo|first1=Paul|title=CSI's Balles Prize in Critical Thinking Awarded to Julia Belluz of Vox.com|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=2016|volume=40|issue=5|page=6}}</ref> 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."<ref name="Novella Balles"/><ref name="2018 p11">{{cite journal |title=Balles Critical Thinking Prize Awarded to Authors of UFOs, Chemtrails, and Aliens |journal=Skeptical Inquirer |date=2018 |volume=42 |issue=4 |page=11 |publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Person
! Media
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=1|2005
|[[Andrew A. Skolnick|Andrew Skolnick]], [[Ray Hyman]] and [[Joe Nickell]] 
|''The Girl with X-ray Eyes''
|Shared the first award for their 2005 reports on CSICOP's testing of [[Natasha Demkina]], a girl who claimed to have X-ray eyes.<ref>{{cite journal|title=CSICOP announces winners of the first Robert P. Ballez Prize|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|volume=26|issue=3}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2006
|[[Ben Goldacre]]
|For his column in ''[[The Guardian]]'' U.K. newspaper, ''Bad Science''<ref name="Offit Balles"/>
|Columns 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"<ref>{{cite journal|title=CSI's Robert P. Balles Award Goes to 'Guardian 'Bad Science' Columnist Ben Goldacre|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=2007|volume=31|issue=5|page=13}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2007
|[[Natalie Angier]]
|''The 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."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bupp|first1=Nathan|title=CSI's Robert P. Balles Award Goes to New York Times Science Writer Natalie Angier|url=http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/csirsquos_robert_p._balles_award_goes_to_new_york_times_science_writer_nata|website=Skeptical Inquirer|publisher=CSICOP|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917143248/http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/csirsquos_robert_p._balles_award_goes_to_new_york_times_science_writer_nata|archive-date=September 17, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2008
|[[Leonard Mlodinow]]
|''The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules our Lives''<ref>{{cite web|last1=Karr|first1=Barry|author-link=Barry Karr|title=CSI's Balles Prize Goes to Physicist/Author Leonard Mlodinow|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/csis_balles_prize_goes_to_physicist_author_leonard_mlodinow|website=Skeptical Inquirer|publisher=CSICOP|access-date=18 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731194238/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/csis_balles_prize_goes_to_physicist_author_leonard_mlodinow|archive-date=31 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|
|-
|rowspan=1|2009
|[[Michael Specter]]
|''Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives''<ref name="Offit Balles"/>
|
|-
|rowspan=1|2010
|[[Steven Novella]]
|Body 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" 
|"The truly most amazing thing is he does this all on a volunteer basis."<ref name="Novella Balles">{{cite web|title=CSI Awards Balles Prize|url=http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/csi_awards_balles_prize|website=Skeptical Inquirer|date=June 13, 2011 |publisher=CSICOP|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=September 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917141343/http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/csi_awards_balles_prize|url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[Barry Karr]] "You may be the hardest worker in all of skepticism".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lavarnway|first1=Julia|title=CSICon New Orleans 2011 – Where Meeting Awesome Skeptics Is As Easy As Saying 'Hello'|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/csicon_new_orleans_2011_-_where_meeting_awesome_skeptics_is_as_easy_as_sayi|website=Skeptical Inquirer|publisher=CSICOP|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=October 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010184704/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/csicon_new_orleans_2011_-_where_meeting_awesome_skeptics_is_as_easy_as_sayi|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2011
|[[Richard Wiseman]]
|''[[Paranormality (book)|Paranormality: 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."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Karr|first1=Barry|author-link=Barry Karr|title=CSI's Balles Prize Goes to Richard Wiseman for Paranormality|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/csis_balles_prize_goes_to_richard_wiseman_for_paranormality|website=Skeptical Inquirer|publisher=CSICOP|access-date=18 August 2016|archive-date=August 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801012015/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/csis_balles_prize_goes_to_richard_wiseman_for_paranormality|url-status=live}}</ref> 
|-
|rowspan=1|2012
|[[Steven Salzberg]] and [[Joe Nickell]]
|Salzberg's column for ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine, ''Fighting Pseudoscience'' and Nickell's book ''The Science of Ghosts – Searching for Spirits of the Dead'' 
|"Salzberg regularly shines the light of reason on the false or dubious claims ... with a clear and accessible voice, and with a healthy dose of humor." And "Accessibility and humor, along with unmatched rigor and curiosity, are what famed Joe Nickell, ... has been bringing to his work for decades."<ref name = "Tacoma 2013">{{cite web|title=Skeptic Authors Steven Salzberg and Joe Nickell to Receive Balles Prize in Critical Thinking|url=http://www.csicop.org/news/show/skeptic_authors_steven_salzberg_and_joe_nickell_to_receive_balles_prize|website=Skeptical Inquirer|date=June 14, 2013 |publisher=CSICOP|access-date=28 December 2020|archive-date=September 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907205355/http://www.csicop.org/news/show/skeptic_authors_steven_salzberg_and_joe_nickell_to_receive_balles_prize|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2013
|[[Paul Offit]]
|''Do You Believe in Magic? The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine''
|"Offit is a literal lifesaver... educates the public about the dangers of alternative medicine, may save many, many more."<ref name="Offit Balles">{{cite web|last1=Fidalgo|first1=Paul|title=CSI Announces Paul Offit As Winner of the 2013 Balles Prize|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/csi_announces_paul_offit_as_winner_of_the_2013_balles_prize|website=Skeptical Inquirer|publisher=CSICOP|access-date=18 August 2016|archive-date=September 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917073325/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/csi_announces_paul_offit_as_winner_of_the_2013_balles_prize|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2014
|[[Joseph A. Schwarcz|Joseph Schwarcz]] and to the creators, producers, and writers of ''[[Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey]]''
|''Is 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."<ref>{{cite web|title=Cosmos, Joe Schwarcz Win Skeptics' Critical Thinking Prize|url=http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/cosmos_joe_schwarcz_win_skeptics_critical_thinking_prize|website=Skeptical Inquirer|date=July 2, 2015 |publisher=CSICOP|access-date=18 August 2016|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403104503/https://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/cosmos_joe_schwarcz_win_skeptics_critical_thinking_prize|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2015
|[[Julia Belluz]]
|[[Vox (website)|Vox.com]]
|"We need more people in the media doing what Julia Belluz does... "<ref name="Sept-Oct Issue"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|2016
|[[Maria Konnikova]]
|''The Confidence Game''
|"''The Confidence Game'' could not have come at a more crucial time, as the general public is overwhelmed day in and day out by attempts to play on their biases and prejudices[.]"<ref name="Balles_Winner_2016">{{cite web|title=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_ga|website=CSICOP.ORG|date=May 18, 2017 |publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry|access-date=19 May 2017|archive-date=May 23, 2017|archive-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_ga|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2017
|[[Donald Prothero]], [[Tim Callahan (academic)|Tim Callahan]]
|''UFOs, Chemtrails, and Aliens''
|This 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"<ref name="2018 p11"/> 
|-
|rowspan=1|2018
|Blake Ellis, Melanie Hicken
|''A Deal With The Devil''
|"Investigative reporters Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken exposed the complex inner workings of a case of psychic fraud that spanned several decades and bilked over $200,000,000 from the mostly elderly victims."<ref name="Balles_Winner_2018">{{cite web|title=CNN Reporters Awarded Balles Critical Thinking Prize for A Deal with the Devil|url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/2019/09/cnn-reporters-awarded-balles-critical-thinking-prize-for-a-deal-with-the-devil|website=CSICOP.ORG|date=September 5, 2019 |publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry|access-date=27 September 2019|archive-date=September 27, 2019|archive-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}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Fidalgo |first=Paul |date= September 2019 |title=CNN reporters awarded Balles Critical Thinking Prize for A Deal With The Devil|magazine=[[Skeptical Inquirer]] |location=Amherst, NY |publisher=Center for Inquiry}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2019
|[[Susan Gerbic]]
|''The Psychic Stinger''
|"Over the course of dozens of meticulously executed stings, tests, and exposés, Gerbic has uncovered the fraud underlying the claims of several celebrity psychics. She has assembled a team of dedicated volunteers who assist her in planning and research for elaborate and rigorous undercover operations that reveal the tricks employed by psychics and mediums."<ref name=SI2022>{{Cite journal |last=Fidalgo |first=Paul |date=April 2022 |title=Timothy Caulfield, Susan Gerbic Awarded Balles Prizes for Critical Thinking |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/2022/02/timothy-caulfield-susan-gerbic-awarded-balles-prizes-for-critical-thinking/ |url-status=live |journal=Skeptical Inquirer |volume=46 |issue=2 |archive-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}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2020
|[[Timothy Caulfield]]
|''A 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."<ref name=SI2022/>
|}

===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."<ref name="Hook award 1985"/> Beginning in 1991, CSI began awarding in two categories, "print" and "broadcast".<ref name="1991 Awards"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Person
! Media
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=1|1984
|[[Leon Jaroff]] and Davyd Yost
|Jaroff as managing editor of ''[[Discover (magazine)|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".<ref name="Hook award 1985"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1986
|Boyce Rensberger and Ward Lucas
|Rensberger, science reporter for ''[[The Washington Post]]'' and Lucas "anchor and investigative reporter [[KUSA (TV)|KUSA-TV]] Channel 9 Denver"
|Presented at the University of Colorado, Boulder, "In recognition of contributions to fair and balanced reporting of paranormal claims".<ref name="1986 Awards"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1987
|Lee Dembart, Ed Busch, and [[Mike Willesee|Michael Willesee]]
|Dembart from ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', Willesee, Australian journalist and Busch, Texas radio talk-show host
|Presented at Pasadena CSICOP award banquet.<ref name="Pasadena 1987"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1988
|C. Eugene Emery Jr. and [[Milton J. Rosenberg|Milton Rosenberg]]
|Emery 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 (AM)|WGN-Radio]] in Chicago
|Presented at the Chicago CSICOP conference<ref name="Chicago 1988"/> Emery researched claims of faith-healer Ralph A. DiOrio and wrote about the results in his journal.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Articles of Note|journal=The Skeptical Inquirer|date=1988|volume=13|issue=4|page=425}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|1990
|[[Stephen Doig]]
|Science Editor for the [[Miami Herald]]
|Awarded at the Washington, D.C., conference, March 30-April 1st.<ref name="DC conference 1990"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1991
|Keay Davidson
|Science 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 (gorilla)|Koko the talking ape]].
|Print Category – Awarded at the 15th Anniversary of CSICOP in Berkeley, California<ref name="1991 Awards"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1991
|[[Mark Curtis (broadcaster)|Mark Curtis]]
|Reporter for [[WEAR-TV]] Channel 3, Pensacola, Florida
|Investigation into the [[Gulf Breeze UFO incident]] exposing trick photography. Awarded at the 15th Anniversary of CSICOP in Berkeley, California<ref name="1991 Awards"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1992
|[[Andrew A. Skolnick|Andrew Skolnick]]
|Associate editor of Medical News & Perspectives for the ''Journal of the American Medical Association''
|Presented at the CSICOP Dallas, Texas Convention<ref name="Dallas 1992"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1992
|[[Henry Gordon (magician)|Henry Gordon]]
|Columnist, magician and author
|Presented at the CSICOP Dallas, Texas Convention<ref name="Dallas 1992"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1994
|Jack Smith
|Columnist with the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
|Awarded at the CSI Seattle Conference June 23–26<ref name="Seattle 1994"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1996
|[[Phillip Adams (writer)|Phillip Adams]], [[Piero Angela]] and [[Pierre Berton]]
|
|Presented at the First World Congress in Buffalo, New York, the 20th Anniversary of CSICOP.<ref name="First World Congress 1996"/>
|}

===Frontiers of Science and Technology Award===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Person
! Media
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=1|1986
|[[Paul MacCready]]
|[[AeroVironment]]
|Presented at the University of Colorado, Boulder "In recognition of his innovative and creative contributions to technology and his outstanding defense of critical thinking".<ref name="1986 Awards"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1987
|[[Murray Gell-Mann]]
|
|Presented at Pasadena CSICOP award banquet.<ref name="Pasadena 1987"/>
|}

===Public Education in Science Award===
In recognition of distinguished contributions to the testing of scientific principles and to the public understanding of science.<ref name="Pasadena 1987"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Person
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=1|1990
|[[Richard E. Berendzen|Richard Berendzen]]
|Presented at Pasadena CSICOP award banquet.<ref name="Pasadena 1987"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1991
|[[Eugenie Scott]]
|Awarded at the 15th Anniversary of CSICOP in Berkeley, California<ref name="1991 Awards"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1992
|[[Sergei Kapitza]]
|Presented at the CSICOP Dallas, Texas Convention<ref name="Dallas 1992"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1994
|[[John Maddox]]
|Awarded at the CSI Seattle Conference June 23–26<ref name="Seattle 1994"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1996
|[[Dean Edell]]
|Presented at the First World Congress in Buffalo, New York, the 20th Anniversary of CSICOP.<ref name="First World Congress 1996"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|2000
|[[Richard Wiseman]]
|Presented at the Third World Congress held in Sydney, Australia.<ref name="WSC 2000"/>
|}

===Distinguished Skeptic Award===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Person
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=1|1990
|Henri Broch
|Awarded 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.<ref name="Brussels 1990"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1991
|[[Susan Blackmore]]
|Awarded at the 15th Anniversary of CSICOP in Berkeley, California<ref name="1991 Awards"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1992
|[[Evry Schatzman]]
|Presented at the CSICOP Dallas, Texas Convention<ref name="Dallas 1992"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1994
|[[Philip Klass]]
|Awarded at the CSI Seattle Conference June 23–26<ref name="Seattle 1994"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1996
|[[James Randi]]
|Presented at the First World Congress in Buffalo, New York, the 20th Anniversary of CSICOP.<ref name="First World Congress 1996"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|1998
|[[Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften|Amardeo Sarma]]
|Presented at the Second World Congress<ref name="Heidelberg Conference">{{cite journal|last1=Frazier|first1=Kendrick|title=Science and Reason, Foibles and Fallacies, and Doomsdays|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=1998|volume=22|issue=6|page=6}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2000
|Barry Williams, [[Joe Nickell]]
|Presented at the Third World Congress held in Sydney, Australia. Williams was recognized for his "yeoman service to organized skepticism".<ref name="WSC 2000"/>
|-
|rowspan=1|2001
|[[Harlan Ellison]]
|Presented at the Fourth World Skeptics Conference in Burbank, California.<ref name="Burbank Conference 2001">{{cite journal|last1=Frazier|first1=Kendrick|last2=Radford|first2=Ben|title=Fourth World Skeptics Conference in Burbank a Lively Foment of Ideas|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=2002|volume=26|issue=5|page=5}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=1|2002
|[[Marcia Angell]]
|{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}
|-
|rowspan=1|2003
|[[Jan Harold Brunvand]]
|Presented at the Albuquerque, New Mexico Conference<ref name="Albuquerque 2003">{{cite journal|last1=Frazier|first1=Kendrick|author-link=Kendrick Frazier|title=From Internet Scams to Urban Legends, Planet (hoa)X to the Bible Code: CSICOP Albuquerque Conference Has Fun Exposing Hoaxes, Myths and Manias|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=2004|volume=28|issue=2|pages=7}}</ref>
|}

===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.<ref name="1986 Awards"/>

===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".<ref name="First World Congress 1996"/>

===Lifetime Achievement Award===
Presented to [[Eugenie Scott]] by [[Ronald A. Lindsay|Ronald Lindsay]] at the CFI Summit in Tacoma, Washington, in 2013 calling her a "Champion of Evolution Education".<ref name = "Tacoma 2013"/>

===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".<ref name="Seattle 1994"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Person
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=1|1994
|[[Carl Sagan]]
|[[Janet 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."<ref name="Seattle 1994"/> 
|-
|rowspan=1|1995
|[[Stephen Jay Gould]]
|Presented at the First World Congress in Buffalo, New York, the 20th Anniversary of CSICOP<ref name="First World Congress 1996">{{cite journal|title=CSICOP Award Winners|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=1996|volume=20|issue=5|page=7}}</ref>
|}

===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.<ref name = Pantheon2020>{{cite web |title=Pantheon Of Skeptics |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/pantheon-of-skeptics/ |website=skepticalinquirer.or |date=April 3, 2019 |publisher=CFI |access-date=26 December 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201226224827/https://skepticalinquirer.org/pantheon-of-skeptics/ |archive-date=December 26, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable nowraplinks"
|+ The Pantheon of Skeptics
|-
! Person || Notes
|-
| [[George O. Abell]] || astronomer and popularizer of science
|-
| [[Steve Allen]] || entertainer, author, critic
|-
| [[Jerry Andrus]] || magician and writer
|-
| [[Isaac Asimov]] || biochemist and author of science and science fiction
|-
| [[Robert A. Baker]] || psychologist
|-
| [[Barber and Calverley|T. X. Barber]] || psychologist
|-
| [[Barry Beyerstein]] || biopsychologist
|-
| [[Bart J. Bok]] || astronomer
|-
| [[Milbourne Christopher]] || magician and writer
|-
| [[Francis Crick|Francis H. Crick]] || Nobel laureate molecular biologist
|-
| [[L. Sprague de Camp]] || science fiction author and skeptic
|-
| [[Martin Gardner]] || columnist and popularizer of mathematics and science
|-
| [[Stephen Jay Gould]] || evolutionary biologist, and historian of science
|-
| [[Donald O. Hebb|D. O. Hebb]] || neuropsychologist
|-
| [[Sidney Hook]] || philosopher
|-
| [[Leon Jaroff]] || science writer and editor
|-
| [[Philip J. Klass]] || engineer, journalist, and UFO skeptic
|-
| [[Paul Kurtz]] || philosopher, skeptic and prominent secular humanist
|-
| [[Paul MacCready]] || scientist, engineer, inventor
|-
| [[John Maddox]] || biologist and science writer
|-
| [[William V. Mayer]] || biologist
|-
| [[Walter McCrone]] || microscopist and expert in forensic science
|-
| [[Ernest Nagel]] || philosopher of science
|-
| [[H. Narasimhaiah]] || physicist
|-
| [[W. V. Quine]] || philosopher and logician
|-
| [[Carl Sagan]] || astronomer and science popularizer
|-
| [[Wallace Sampson]] || professor of clinical medicine, alternative medicine skeptic
|-
| [[Glenn T. Seaborg]] || Nobel laureate in chemistry
|-
| [[B. F. Skinner]] || psychologist
|-
| [[Victor Stenger]] || particle physicist and philosopher
|-
| [[Stephen Toulmin]] || philosopher, author, and ethicist
|-
|}

=== 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, thought not restricted to, a field related to the skeptical movement
* 2. Outstanding contribution to the communication of science and/or critical thinking or
* 3. 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."<ref name="Fellows 2021">{{cite journal |title=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry Names Ten New Fellows for Outstanding Contributions to Science and Skepticism |journal=Skeptical Inquirer |date=2021 |volume=45 |issue=1 |page=5 |publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquirer}}</ref>

==== Current CSI fellows ====
<!-- When adding names to this list, also add the person to the category: Fellows of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry-->

This is a list of current CSI fellows; an asterisk denotes the person is also a member of the CSI Executive Council.<ref name="FellowList">{{cite web |title=Center for Inquiry Fellows And Staff |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/fellows-and-staff/ |website=skepticalinquirer.org |date=April 3, 2019 |publisher=CFI |access-date=26 December 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201226231853/https://skepticalinquirer.org/fellows-and-staff/ |archive-date=December 26, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry Elects Twelve New CSI Fellows |url=https://centerforinquiry.org/news/committee-for-skeptical-inquiry-elects-twelve-new-csi-fellows/ |website=centerforinquiry.net |date=December 18, 2023 |publisher=Center for Inquiry |access-date=21 December 2023}}</ref>

{{Columns-list|colwidth=16em|

* [[James Alcock]]*
* [[Marcia Angell]]
* [[Kimball Atwood|Kimball Atwood IV]]
* [[Banachek]]
* [[Stephen Barrett]]
* [[Robert Bartholomew (sociologist)|Robert Bartholomew]]
* Jann Johnson Bellamy
* Kenny Biddle
* [[Irving Biederman]]
* Sandra Blakeslee
* [[Susan Blackmore]]
* Alejandro Borgo
* [[Mark Boslough]]
* [[Glenn Branch]]
* Henri Broch
* [[Jan Harold Brunvand]]
* [[Sean B. Carroll]]
* [[Tom Casten|Thomas R. Casten]]
* [[Timothy Caulfield]]
* Clark R. Chapman
* [[K.C. Cole]]
* John Cook
* [[Jerry Coyne]]
* [[Frederick Crews]]
* [[Manfred Cuntz]]
* [[Richard Dawkins]]
* Geoffrey Dean
* [[Cornelis de Jager]]
* [[Daniel Dennett]]
* [[Ann Druyan]]
* [[Sanal Edamaruku]]
* [[Taner Edis]]
* [[Mark Edward]]
* [[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]]
* [[Larry Kusche]]
* [[Stephen Law]]
* [[Nathan H. Lents]]
* [[Stephan Lewandowsky]]
* [[Jere H. Lipps]]
* [[Elizabeth Loftus]]
* [[William M. London]]
* [[Leighann Lord]]
* [[Daniel Loxton]]
* [[Michael E. Mann]]
* [[David Marks (psychologist)]]
* [[Michael Marshall (skeptic)|Michael Marshall]]
* [[Lee McIntyre]]
* Mario Mendez-Acosta
* Tim Mendham&nbsp;
* [[Kenneth R. Miller]]
* [[David Morrison (astrophysicist)]]
* [[Richard A. Muller]]
* [[Meera Nanda]]
* [[Joe Nickell]]
* [[Jan Willem Nienhuys]]
* Lee Nisbet
* [[Matthew Nisbet|Matthew C. Nisbet]]
* [[Steven Novella]]
* [[Bill Nye]]
* [[James Oberg]]
* [[Paul Offit]]
* [[Naomi Oreskes]]
* [[Loren Pankratz]]
* [[Jay Pasachoff]]
* [[Natália Pasternak Taschner]]
* [[John Allen Paulos]]
* [[Clifford A. Pickover]]
* [[Massimo Pigliucci]]
* [[Steven Pinker]]
* [[Massimo Polidoro]]
* <s>[[James L. Powell]]</s>{{Thin space}}{{efn|In 2015, [[James Lawrence Powell]] was named a fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.<ref name="Ten2015">{{Cite journal |date=2015 |title=Ten Distinguished Scientists and Scholars Named Fellows of Committee for Skeptical Inquiry |url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/ten_distinguished_scientists_and_scholars_named_fellows_of_committee_for_sk |url-status=dead |journal=[[Skeptical Inquirer]] |volume=39 |issue=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016122711/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/ten_distinguished_scientists_and_scholars_named_fellows_of_committee_for_sk |archive-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref> He resigned in March 2022 in protest against the publication of an article in [[Skeptical Inquirer]] by CSI fellow [[Mark Boslough]] regarding the Bunch et al. [[Tall el-Hammam#Air burst claim|Tall el-Hammam airburst]] paper,<ref name="Pillar of Salt">{{Cite Q |Q110293090 |last1=Boslough |first1=Mark |author-link1=Mark Boslough}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Q |Q108641540 |author-link19=James P. Kennett |last=Bunch |first=Ted E. |last2=LeCompte |first2=Malcolm A. |last3=Adedeji |first3=A. Victor |last4=Wittke |first4=James H. |last5=Burleigh |first5=T. David |last6=Hermes |first6=Robert E. |last7=Mooney |first7=Charles |last8=Batchelor |first8=Dale |last9=Wolbach |first9=Wendy S. |last10=Kathan |first10=Joel |last11=Kletetschka |first11=Gunther |last12=Patterson |first12=Mark C. L. |last13=Swindel |first13=Edward C. |last14=Witwer |first14=Timothy |last15=Howard |first15=George A. |last16=Mitra |first16=Siddhartha |last17=Moore |first17=Christopher R. |last18=Langworthy |first18=Kurt |last19=Kennett |first19=James P. |last20=West |first20=Allen |last21=Silvia |first21=Phillip J. |display-authors=6}}{{Retracted|doi=10.1038/s41598-025-99265-5|intentional=yes}}</ref> citing a departure by the CSI from "every tenet of proper skepticism".<ref name="PowellResignation">{{Cite web |last=Lawrence Powell |first=James |author-link=James Lawrence Powell |date=2022-03-19 |title=Powell CSI Resignation |url=http://www.jamespowell.org/Resignation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325020034/http://www.jamespowell.org/Resignation/ |archive-date=2022-03-25 |access-date=2022-05-04 |quote=I hereby resign from the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Please inform the members of the committee of my resignation. My reason is the publication of Mark Boslough's recent article in Skeptical Inquirer. It violates nearly every tenet of proper skepticism as defined by CSICOP and CSI.}}</ref>}}
* [[Anthony Pratkanis]]
* [[Donald Prothero]]
* [[Benjamin Radford]]
* [[Amardeo Sarma]]*
* [[Richard Saunders (skeptic)|Richard Saunders]]
* [[Joe Schwarcz]]
* [[Eugenie Scott]]*
* [[Seth Shostak]]
* Gale M. Sinatra
* [[Simon Singh]]
* [[Dick Smith (entrepreneur)|Dick Smith]]
* [[Keith Stanovich|Keith E. Stanovich]]
* [[Karen Stollznow]]
* [[Jill Tarter]]
* [[Carol Tavris]]
* [[Dave Thomas (physicist)|Dave Thomas]]
* Nicholas 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]]
* [[E. O. Wilson]]
* [[Richard Wiseman]]
* [[Benjamin Wolozin]]
* Lin Zixin
}}

==== Former CSI fellows ====
This is a list of former CSI fellows not included in the Pantheon of Skeptics. 
{{Columns-list|colwidth=16em|
* [[Edoardo Amaldi]]
* [[Brand Blanshard]]
* [[Vern Bullough]]
* Bette Chambers
* [[Daniel Cohen (children's writer)|Daniel Cohen]]
* John R. Cole
* [[Eric Dingwall]]
* [[Paul Edwards (philosopher)|Paul Edwards]]
* [[Christopher Evans (computer scientist)|Christopher Evans]]
* [[Charles M. Fair]]
* [[Antony Flew]]
* [[Kendrick Frazier]]
* Yves Galifret
* [[Henry Gordon (magician)|Henry Gordon]]
* Saul Green
* [[Harriet Hall]]
* [[C. E. M. Hansel]]
* [[Albert Hibbs]]
* Lawrence Jerome
* [[Sergei Kapitsa]]
* [[Scott O. Lilienfeld]]
* [[Marvin Minsky]]
* [[Dorothy Nelkin]]
* [[Graham Reed (psychologist)|Graham Reed]]
* [[Milton J. Rosenberg]]
* [[Evry Schatzman]]
* [[Thomas Sebeok]]
* [[Elie A. Shneour]]
* Robert Steiner
* [[Marcello Truzzi]]
* [[Marvin Zelen]]
* Lin Zixin
}}

== Controversy and criticism ==
[[Image:Uri Geller.jpg|right|thumb|[[Uri Geller]] filed a number of unsuccessful lawsuits against CSICOP.]]

CSI's activities have garnered criticism from individuals or groups which have been the focus of the organization's attention.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cfpf.org.uk/articles/background/nicholls-prn.html| title = The Campaign for Philosophical Freedom| publisher = www.cfpf.org.uk| access-date = 13 August 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060826014714/http://www.cfpf.org.uk/articles/background/nicholls-prn.html| archive-date = 26 August 2006| url-status = dead}}</ref>  Television celebrity and claimed psychic [[Uri Geller]], for example, was formerly in open dispute with the organization, filing a number of unsuccessful lawsuits against them.<ref>Truzzi, M (1996) from the Parapsychological Association newsletter {{cite web|url=http://66.221.71.68/psir.htm |title=PSI Researcher |access-date=2006-11-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602021158/http://66.221.71.68/psir.htm |archive-date=2008-06-02 }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blavatskyarchives.com/zeteticism.htm|title=Parapsychology, Anomalies, Science, Skepticism, and CSICOP|work=blavatskyarchives.com|access-date=October 12, 2006|archive-date=October 7, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007185135/http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/zeteticism.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Truzzi coined the term ''[[pseudoskeptic]]'' to describe critics in whom he detected such an attitude.<ref>"Marcello Truzzi, [http://www.anomalist.com/commentaries/pseudo.html On Pseudo-Skepticism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310113805/http://www.anomalist.com/commentaries/pseudo.html |date=March 10, 2011 }}"  ''[[Zetetic Scholar]]'' (1987)  No. 12/13, 3-4.</ref>

=== 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 (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."<ref>{{cite web
| last = Rawlins
| first = Dennis
| year = 1981
| url = https://www.discord.org/lippard/rawlins-starbaby.txt
| title = sTARBABY
| publisher = FATE Magazine
| 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
}} Rawlins's account of the Mars Effect investigation</ref> CSICOP's [[Philip J. Klass]] responded by circulating an article to CSICOP members critical of Rawlins' arguments and motives;<ref>{{cite web
| last = Klass
| first = Philip J.
| year = 1981
| url = https://www.discord.org/lippard/klass-crybaby.txt
| title = Crybaby
| 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
}}</ref> Klass's unpublished response, refused publication by ''Fate'', itself became the target for further criticism.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}

=== Church of Scientology, 1977 ===

In 1977, an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|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 [[Central Intelligence Agency|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.<ref>{{cite news|work=Toronto Globe and Mail|date=January 25, 1980|last=Marshall|first=John|title=Cult order sought to end scientists' criticism}}</ref>

=== 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 David Josephson|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."<ref>{{cite web |last= Josephson |first= Brian |author-link= Brian Josephson |title= Scientists' unethical use of media for propaganda purposes |url= http://www.tcm.phy.cam.ac.uk/%7Ebdj10/propaganda/ |access-date= 2006-08-31 |website= tcm.phy.cam.ac.uk |archive-date= June 15, 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060615023610/http://www.tcm.phy.cam.ac.uk/~bdj10/propaganda/ |url-status= live }}</ref> [[Ray Hyman]], one of the three researchers who designed and conducted the test, published a response to this and other criticisms.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.abelard.org/briefings/bayes.htm#testing_for_rare_conditions |title= Cause, Chance and Bayesian Statistics: A Briefing Document |access-date= 2006-09-11 |website= abelard.org |archive-date= August 31, 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060831185909/http://www.abelard.org/briefings/bayes.htm#testing_for_rare_conditions |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="Statistics-Natasha">{{cite web |last= Hyman |first= Ray |author-link= Ray Hyman |title= Statistics and the Test of Natasha |publisher= CSICOP |url= http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/statistics_and_the_test_of_natasha |access-date= 2013-08-31 |website= csicop.org |date= June 7, 2005 |archive-date= April 19, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130419011638/http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/statistics_and_the_test_of_natasha/ |url-status= live }}</ref> CSI's Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csmmh.org/ |title=Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925212414/http://www.csmmh.org/ |archive-date=2010-09-25 }}</ref> 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:<ref name="Statistics-Natasha" /><ref>{{cite web |publisher= CSMMH |url= http://www.csmmh.org/demkina/answerstocritics.html |title= ''Answer to Critics'' |access-date= 2006-09-11 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050204152650/http://www.csmmh.org/demkina/answerstocritics.html |archive-date= 2005-02-04}}</ref> <blockquote>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.</blockquote>

=== 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 and a posteriori|a priori]]'' convictions.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} A 1992 article<!--Or perhaps an editorial? I have no way of knowing. ([[User:Bishonen|Bishonen]], 16:37, 2 July 2013 (UTC)).--> 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.<ref name=JASPR>''[[The Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research]]'', Volume 86, No. 1, January 1992; pp. 20, 24, 40, 46, 51</ref> Astronomer [[Carl Sagan]] wrote on this in 1995:<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Sagan
 | first = Carl
 | author-link = Carl Sagan
 | title = The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
 | url = https://archive.org/details/demonhauntedworl0000unse
 | url-access = registration
 | publisher = [[Random House]]
 | isbn=0-394-53512-X
 | year = 1995
}}</ref>

<blockquote>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&nbsp;... 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&nbsp;... 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.</blockquote>

== See also ==
* [[Lists about skepticism]]
*[[National Council Against Health Fraud]]
*''[[Point of Inquiry]]'' – CSI podcast
*[[Quackwatch]]

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist|1}}

== References ==
'''Notes'''
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="csinow">{{Cite web |title=It's CSI Now, Not CSICOP |url=http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/csicop.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212074506/http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/csicop.html |archive-date=December 12, 2007 |first=Kendrick |last=Frazier |website=CSICOP |date=2006 |access-date=December 16, 2024}}</ref>

}}

'''Bibliography'''
* {{Cite book
 | editor-last = Kurtz
 | editor-first = Paul
 | editor-link = Paul Kurtz
 | title = Skeptical Odysseys: Personal accounts by the world's leading paranormal inquirers
 | publisher = [[Prometheus Books]]
 | year = 2001a
 | isbn = 1-57392-884-4
 }}
*{{Cite book
 |last=Randi 
 |first=James 
 |author-link=James Randi 
 |year=1995 
 |title=An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural 
 |url=http://www.randi.org/encyclopedia/ 
 |publisher=[[Prometheus Books]] 
 |isbn=0-312-13066-X 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904200903/http://www.randi.org/encyclopedia/ 
 |archive-date=2014-09-04 
}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://skepticalinquirer.org/}}

{{Center for Inquiry}}
{{Skeptic Organizations|state=autocollapse}}
{{Pseudoscience|state=autocollapse}}
{{James Randi}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Committee For Skeptical Inquiry}}
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Skeptic organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1976]]
[[Category:Scientology-related controversies]]
[[Category:Inquiry]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Scientific skepticism organizations]]