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User:Nederlandse Leeuw/SN

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This page is about the Norwegian skeptical organisation. For other uses, see Skepsis (disambiguation).
Skepsis Norge
AbbreviationSkepsis
Formation1989[1]
TypeNonprofit organisation
PurposeConduct, promote and publish critical investigation of paranormal phenomena and pseudoscience[2]
HeadquartersOslo
Region served
Norway
Chair
Magnus Bernhardsen
Websiteskepsis.no

Skepsis Norge or simply Skepsis is a Norwegian nonprofit skeptical organisation that strives to conduct, promote and publish critical investigations of so-called paranormal phenomena and pseudoscientific claims, along with educating the public about popular, yet dubious ideas, such as "urban legends, conspiracy theories, miracles, astrology, parapsychology, UFOs and homeopathy."[2]

Purpose

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Skepsis strives to be a critical corrective in Norwegian society concerning supernatural and other poorly supported claims.[2]

The association is a contact point for individuals interested in these topics, and also puts itself at the disposal of journalists, teachers and others who want to spread information about national and international investigations into these topics.[2]

Skepsis is connected to the international network of related skeptical organisations, including the CSI (formerly CSICOP) and the European Council of Skeptical Organisations (ECSO). The current chair of the Norwegian organisation is Magnus Bernhardsen.[3]

History

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Marit Simonsen at QED 2015.
10:23 Campaign in Oslo in 2011, led by Kristin Carlsson.

The American mother organisation, the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), was founded in response to the “occult explosion” in USA in the 1970s. One found that so-called supernatural phenomena were given excessive attention in the media, whilst little attention were given to alternative explanations and critical analyses.[2]

Because the original archives have been lost, the foundational year of Skepsis is uncertain; it may have been 1989[1] or 1990. From 1991 until 2001, Skepsis published an identically named member magazine Skepsis, and also distributed an internal newsletter, Skeptiker-Nytt (editor: Terje Emberland) since at least 1992,[4] perhaps as early as 1991. The magazine and newsletter were made into one after the society had decided to focus on books instead. Since then, Skepsis has mainly focused on education in the popular media and via websites. This included a web journal and a blog. Skepsis was also a member of the European Council of Skeptical Organisations.

In the mid-2000s, the society was relatively dormant for a few years.[1] The early 2010s saw a revival for Skepsis. The original members contacted active forum users in 2009 to discuss the possibility of reviving the organization. Around the same time, Marit Simonsen and Yngve Nordgård were inspired by attending TAM London in 2009 and visiting Oslo Skeptics in the Pub which had been established in 2009, and decided to 'get skepticism on the map in Norway'.[1][5] They formed a group with Kristin Carlsson, Erik Arnesen and Ole Eivind Siggerud to organise a national conference, "Kritisk masse", in Oslo in 29–31 October, and the effort also helped in relaunching Skepsis.[6] There was an informal meeting at the end of the conference where board members were suggested, and it was decided to organize a revival meeting in early 2011. At the same time, science communicator Andreas Wahl, blogger Gunnar Tjomlid and Bendik Simonsen initiated the skeptical podcast Saltklypa ("Grain of Salt") which was launched in advance of the conference on 21 October 2010,[7] to be able to interview speakers. Saltklypa, which was joined by Marit Simonsen, Kristin Carlsson, Leisha Camden (and later Jørgen Bøckman when Tjomlid and Wahl left to pursue other projects) critically examine news items on (pseudo)science about twice a month since.[8] The podcast has remained formally independent of Skepsis, but often features members of the society, and supports the organization by spreading relevant news about its activites. By 2011, Skepsis was up and running again, with Marit Simonsen as its chair.[1][9]

In 2011, Skepsis participated in the global 10:23 Campaign by a mass overdose in Oslo on homeopathy, to publicly show its inefficaciousness. A blog post by Gunnar Tjomlid in June 2012, accusing the chocolate manufacturer Sjokoladeservice Norge of being a "mafia" with deeply unethical practices, went viral in Norwegian press;[10] according to former chair Marit Simonsen, this event made people more aware of the skeptical perspective, which has become mainstream since.[1] In March 2015, Simonsen debated self-professed psychic Lisa Williams on an NRK television programme, arguing she was simply using cold reading or tankefisking ("thought-fishing").[11][12]

Activities

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Publications

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As a movement, Skepsis did not want to restrict itself to an academic environment, but set itself the goal to reach the same audience that is exposed to paranormal and other fantastic claims via the media. Therefore, the organisations sometimes make use of unconventional and colourful action in, for example, refuting incorrect assertions of parapsychologists, or debunking trickery by alleged faith healers or mediums.[2] New articles, primarily written by Norwegian skeptics, are published on the official website of Skepsis, the Skepsis Blog is regularly updated, and there is an online forum open for discussions on current skeptical issues. Besides these activities, Skepsis also publishes books on diverse topics including fringe science, conspiracy theories and critical thinking.[2]

Meetings

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Kritisk masse, the conference of Skepsis.

After the Anglo-Saxon concept of Skeptics in the Pub (Norwegian: Skeptikere på puben), a monthly skeptics' meeting or Skeptikertreff is held in Oslo (since 2009, officially tied to Skepsis since 2013[13]), in Trondheim[5] (since 2012) and in Harstad (since 2014).

Skepsis organises a national conference, Kritisk masse ("Critical Mass"), "to celebrate science and communicate to the nature and importance of critical thinking to the general public".[14] So far the event has taken place in 2010 and 2012, and besides many Norwegian scientists and activists, guest speakers have included Simon Singh (Trick or Treatment?), Rebecca Watson (The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe), Martin Rundkvist (Vetenskap och Folkbildning) and Richard Wiseman (University of Hertfordshire).[15][16]

List of chairs

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  • Marit M. Simonsen (2011–2012)
  • Mona Hide Klausen (2012–2013)
  • Jan-Erik Sandberg (2013–2014)
  • Magnus Bernhardsen (March 2014– )

Publications

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  • Terje Emberland, Arnfinn Pettersen (red.), Fyrster i tåkeland. Falsknere, fantastikere og fanatikere ved vitenskapens grenser, Humanist forlag, 2001; ISBN 82-90425-51-1
  • Terje Emberland, Arnfinn Pettersen (red.), Konspiranoia. Konspirasjonsteorier fra 666 til WTC, Humanist forlag 2003; ISBN 82-90425-69-4
  • Asbjørn Dyrendal, Arnfinn Pettersen, Didrik Søderlind (red.), Åpent sinn eller høl i hue?, Humanist forlag 2006; ISBN 82-92622-16-0
  • Asbjørn Dyrendal, Arnfinn Pettersen (red.), Dommedag! Verdens undergang før og nå, Humanist forlag 2008; ISBN 978-82-92-62248-3
  • Mona Hide Klausen, Kjetil Hope (red.), Skepsis. Guide til kritisk tenkning, Humanist Forlag 2012; ISBN 978 -82-92-62284-1

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Pintér, András; Levin, Jelena; Böckman, Pontus (7 May 2016). "Episode #021, feat. Marit M. Simonsen" (podcast). The European Skeptics Podcast. Episode 21. Retrieved 9 May 2016. : 33:43 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Om Skepsis". Skepsis website (in Norwegian). Skepsis Norge. 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  3. ^ Even Gran (11 February 2014). "Skepsis deler ut pris og vil bli mer synlige". Fritanke (in Norwegian). Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  4. ^ Liljegren, Anders (8 December 2014). "Skeptikal Mags 2014-12-08". Archives for the Unexplained. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  5. ^ a b Saunders, Richard (6 April 2013). "The Skeptic Zone #233 - 6.April.2013" (podcast). The Skeptic Zone. Episode 233. Richard Saunders. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  6. ^ Even Gran (19 August 2010). "Ny norsk skeptikerkonferanse i høst". Fritanke (in Norwegian). Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  7. ^ Tim Farley (8 October 2013). "Please help update my skeptic podcast census". Skeptools. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Saltklypa". Skepsis Norge (in Norwegian). Podbean. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  9. ^ Forbund, Human-Etisk. "Ny skeptikersjef klar til dyst". Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  10. ^ Gunnar Tjomlid, Marcus Glenton Prescott (translator) (28 June 2012). "Xocai – the nasty tale of a Norwegian chocolate mafia". Saksynt. Retrieved 9 May 2016. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ Nina Stensrud Martin (5 March 2015). "Mediumet Lisa Williams og skeptikeren Marit Simonsen diskuterer". Selskapet. NRK. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  12. ^ Marit M. Simonsen (11 March 2015). "Den påstått synske Lisa Williams er en minnetyv". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Om oss". Website Skeptikertreff (in Norwegian). Skeptikere på puben Oslo. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  14. ^ "English". Kritisk masse. Skepsis Norge. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Kritisk Masse (Critical Mass) 2010". Lanyrd. Eventbrite. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Kritisk Masse (Critical Mass) 2012". Lanyrd. Eventbrite. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Skepsis Norge.

Category:Non-profit organisations based in Norway Category:Skeptic organisations

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