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European Council of Skeptical Organisations

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The European Council of Skeptical Organisations (ECSO) is an umbrella of organisations defending scientific skepticism in Europe.

European Council of Skeptical Organisations
AbbreviationECSO
Formation1994; 30 years ago (1994)
TypeNonprofit organisation
Legal statusEingetragener Verein registered in Darmstadt
PurposeCo-ordination between European organisations and individuals that promote scientific skepticism[1]
HeadquartersRoßdorf, Germany
Region served
Europe
President
Pontus Böckman[1]
Websiteecso.org

Goals

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Founded on 25 September 1994, the ECSO aims to co-ordinate activities of European organisations and individuals that aim at critically investigating pseudoscientific statements and claims regarding observations of paranormal phenomena, and to make the results of its investigations known to the broad public.[1] It means to continue the series of European skeptical congresses that preceded its foundation[2] and supports a biennial congress and a symposium every other year.[1]

The Charter of the European Council of Skeptical Organisations states that it strives

1) To protect the public from the promulgation of claims and therapies which have not been subjected to critical testing and thus might pose a danger to them.
2) To investigate by means of controlled tests and experiments such extraordinary claims which are on the fringe of or contradict current scientific knowledge. In particular this applies to phenomena commonly identified as "paranormal" or "pseudoscientific". However no claims, explanations or theories will be rejected in advance of objective evaluation.
3) To promote public policy based on good practice in science and medicine.[3]

The Charter was signed by Amardeo Sarma (GWUP), Michael Howgate (UK Skeptics), Miguel Angel Sabadell (ARP), Paul Kurtz (CSICOP), Tim Trachet (SKEPP), Arlette Fougnies (Comité Para) and Cornelis de Jager (Stichting Skepsis).[3]

Structure

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Board of directors

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The board gathered in Wrocław at ESC 2017.
Back: de Jong, De Gobbi, Böckman, Sarma, Pintér.
Front: Heap, Trachet, Klingenberg, Korteweg.

Cornelis de Jager served as first president until 2001, when he was replaced by Amardeo Sarma (2001–2013),[4] who in turn was succeeded by Gábor Hraskó (2013–2017). Since 2017 the president has been Claire Klingenberg. As of June 2024, the ECSO board is composed as follows:[5]

Member organisations

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The ECSO brings together the following skeptic groups:[6]

Local name English name Abbrev. Founded Region served Notes
Alternativa Racional a las Pseudociencias – Sociedad para el Avance del Pensamiento Crítico[7] Rational Alternative to Pseudoscience – Society for the Advancement of Critical Thinking ARP-SAPC 1986   Spain Founding member.[3]
Association for Skeptical Enquiry Association for Skeptical Enquiry ASKE 1997   United Kingdom
Association française pour l'information scientifique French Association for Scientific Information AFIS 1968[8]   France Member since 2001.[9]
Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Affermazioni sulle Pseudoscienze Italian Committee for the Investigation of Claims of the Pseudosciences CICAP 1989   Italy
Comité belge pour l'Analyse Critique des parasciences Belgian Committee for the Critical Analysis of Parasciences Comité Para 1949   Belgium Serves Wallonia and Brussels. Founding member.[3]
Círculo Escéptico Skeptical Circle CE 2006   Spain
Föreningen Vetenskap och Folkbildning Science and Popular Enlightenment / Swedish Skeptics Association[10] VoF 1982   Sweden
Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften Society for the Scientific Investigation of Parasciences GWUP 1987   D-A-CH Based in Roßdorf, Germany. Founding member.[3]
Irish Skeptics Society Irish Skeptics Society ISS 2002   Ireland
Klub Sceptyków Polskich Polish Skeptics Club KSP 2010   Poland Member since 2017.[11]
Observatoire Zététique Zetetic Observatory OZ 2003   France [12]
Skepsis ry Skepsis Skepsis 1987   Finland
Skeptiker Schweiz – Verein für kritisches Denken Swiss Skeptics – Association for Critical Thinking Skeptiker 2012   Switzerland [13]
Stichting Skepsis Skepsis Foundation Skepsis 1987   Netherlands Founding member.[3]
Studiekring voor de Kritische Evaluatie van Pseudowetenschap en het Paranormale Study Circle for the Critical Evaluation of Pseudoscience and the Paranormal SKEPP 1990   Belgium Serves Flanders and Brussels. Founding member.[3]
Szkeptikus Társaság Hungarian Skeptic Society SzT 2006   Hungary
Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij Association against Quackery VtdK 1881   Netherlands No formal membership yet.[14]
Český klub skeptiků Sisyfos Czech Skeptics Club Sisyfos Sisyfos 1995   Czech Republic

Furthermore, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI, formerly CSICOP), whose founder and long-time chairman Paul Kurtz was actively involved its formation (especially because the Skeptical Inquirer had many subscribers in Europe),[3] and the Israel Skeptics Society are associate members of the ECSO.[6]

European Skeptics Congress

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Main article: European Skeptics Congress
 
ECSO Board and CSICOP members meeting at the 11th European Skeptics Congress in London.
 
Speakers at the 14th European Skeptics Congress in Budapest.
 
Meeting of the representatives of ECSO member organisations at the European Skeptics Congress 2015 in London

European Skeptics Congresses (ESCs), in which skeptical organisations from many different European countries participate, have been held ever since 1989. The conferences are often held in the month of September, and may last from two up to four days. The ECSO was formed at the 6th ESC on 25 September 1994 in Ostend, Belgium. Since its foundation, the ECSO co-ordinates in the organisation of new ESCs that take place (on average) every other year, and is hosted by a different member organisation each time. Skeptical organisations that are non-ECSO members may also send their delegations. Past ESCs have been:[2][15]

Event Date City Country Notes
1st European Skeptics Congress 5–7 May 1989 Bad Tölz   West Germany
2nd European Skeptics Congress 10–11 August 1990[16] Brussels   Belgium
3rd European Skeptics Congress 4–5 October 1991[17] Amsterdam   Netherlands
4th European Skeptics Congress 17–19 July 1992[18] Saint-Vincent   Italy
5th European Skeptics Congress 29–31 August 1993 Keele   United Kingdom Theme: "Science for Life: Health, Medicine and Well-Being". Organised by the UK Skeptics.
6th European Skeptics Congress 23–25 September 1994 Ostend   Belgium Theme: "Science, Pseudoscience and the Environment".[19] ECSO formed.[3]
7th European Skeptics Congress 4–7 May 1995 Roßdorf   Germany
8th European Skeptics Congress 4–7 September 1997 A Coruña   Spain
9th European Skeptics Congress 17–19 September 1999 Maastricht   Netherlands Hosted by Stichting Skepsis[20]
10th European Skeptics Congress 7–9 September 2001 Prague   Czech Republic Theme: "Rise and Development of Paranormal Beliefs in Eastern Europe"[4]
11th European Skeptics Congress 5–7 September 2003 London   United Kingdom
12th European Skeptics Congress 13–15 October 2005 Brussels   Belgium Theme: "Pseudoscience, Alternative Medicine and the Media"[21]
13th European Skeptics Congress 7–9 September 2007 Dublin   Ireland Theme: "The Assault on Science: Constructing a Response"[22] 100+ attendees.[23]
14th European Skeptics Congress 17–19 September 2010 Budapest   Hungary [24]
15th European Skeptics Congress 22–25 August 2013 Stockholm   Sweden Theme: "ESCape to Clarity!"[25][26]
16th European Skeptics Congress 10–13 September 2015 London   United Kingdom Organised by Association for Skeptical Enquiry and Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit[27]
17th European Skeptics Congress 22–24 September 2017 Wrocław   Poland "Where great minds meet" Organised by Klub Sceptyków Polskich and Český klub skeptiků Sisyfos[28]
18th European Skeptics Congress 30 August – 1 September 2019 Ghent   Belgium "The Joy of Skepticism" Organised by SKEPP and Comité Para[29]
19th European Skeptics Congress September 9 - September 11 Vienna   Austria
20th European Skeptics Congress May 30 - June 2 2024 Lyon   France Organized by Association Française pour L'information Scientifique

Other

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Gábor Hraskó, who was then President of ECSO, stated in a 2015 interview[30] that some goals of ECSO are to facilitate communication between the member groups; organise the regular conferences, and keep track of the active leaders for the various European groups. Sometimes a leader or a whole group will "disappear", and some groups are still active but with new leaders; it is important to "establish networks". At the 2015 conference held in London, Hraskó felt that he had learned a lot about organising from the UK skeptic groups. They operate differently than the continental Europeans, which tend to be one group that runs everything. The UK groups are all independent and more grassroots, but they end up working together on big conferences and projects. The 2017 conference "hopefully will be with the Polish and Czech skeptics". Hraskó stated that the Czech skeptics disappeared for some time, and he hopes that they have re-organised and they and the Polish skeptics will formalize the plans for the 2017 conference. This was achieved with the Polish Skeptics’ Club in cooperation with the Czech Skeptics’ Club Sisyfos organising the 17th biannual European Skeptics Congress 2017 in Wrocław, Poland.[31] They were denied access to their initial venue on religious grounds,[32] then they changed venue to the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics at the University of Wrocław.[31] The ECSO met at the end of the conference and new leadership was elected. Claire Klingenberg took over as president from Gábor Hraskó. In an interview with Eran Segev for the Skeptic Zone podcast, Klingenberg said that the conference “went great … quite productive and stimulating.” When Segev congratulated her on her new role as president of ECSO, he asked her what her top priority for ESCO was. Her answer was, “make ECSO important … it has to be more relevant, more influential … and seen as a partner not just with European skeptics, but with organizations all over the world.”[33]

Catherine de Jong stated that having an organization overseeing the entire European skeptic groups is helpful to disseminate information when an alt med lecturer is planning a European tour. She gave the example of faith healer Peter Popoff being one who planned a tour of Europe. The UK skeptic Michael Marshall was able to contact the ECSO, who in turn were able to notify all the leaders of the other groups. They were able to share information and plan how to handle the events.[34]

András Gabor Pinter reported from the 2019 conference in Belgium that they heard presentations about investigating psychics, the anti-vaccination movement, GMOs, and nuclear power. "Energy policies should be driven by science and as skeptics that’s what we advocate, after all."[35]

Awards

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During the 6th World Skeptics Congress (Berlin, 18–20 May 2012[36]), co-sponsored by the ECSO, GWUP and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), the ECSO presented the "Outstanding Skeptics Award" to Wim Betz (SKEPP) and Luigi Garlaschelli (CICAP) "in recognition of [their] dedication and outstanding contributions in promoting science and investigating extraordinary claims". Simultaneously, the CSI presented Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst with the "In Praise of Reason Award" "in recognition of [their] distinguished contribution to the use of critical inquiry, scientific evidence, and reason in evaluating claims to knowledge".[37][38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "ECSO: Skeptics in Europe – About". ECSO website. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Earlier European skeptic events". HSS website. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i de Jager, Kees (December 1994). "Een Europese Skeptische organisatie". Skepter (in Dutch). 7 (4). Stichting Skepsis: 11.
  4. ^ a b Mahner, Martin (February 2002). "10th European Skeptics Congress: Rise and Development of Paranormal Beliefs in Eastern Europe". Skeptical Inquirer. 26 (1). CSICOP. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  5. ^ "About ECSO". European Skeptics. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  6. ^ a b "Skeptics Organisations: ECSO Members". ECSO website. European Council of Skeptical Organisations. 16 March 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  7. ^ ARP-SAPC website
  8. ^ (in French) Jean-Pierre Thomas. "Notre histoire". Website AFIS. AFIS. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  9. ^ Mike Heap (June 2002). "From the Chairman: The 10th European Skeptics Congress". Skeptical Adversaria. Association for Skeptical Enquiry. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  10. ^ "About VoF". Archived from the original on 2016-11-13. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  11. ^ "European Skeptics elect fresh leadership". European Skeptics. Archived from the original on 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  12. ^ "FAQ". OZ website. Observatoire Zététique. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  13. ^ Gregor Schenker (24 March 2014). "Wir Skeptiker sind keine Nörgler". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). Tamedia. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  14. ^ The VtdK membership has not been formalised yet, but there is close cooperation with the ECSO, and its chairwoman Catherine de Jong already serves as ECSO board member.
  15. ^ "European Skeptic Congress and ECSO Events". Lanyrd. Archived from the original on 23 July 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  16. ^ Michels, Hans (1990). "Over de frontlijn. De European Skeptics Conference 1990". Skepter (in Dutch). 3 (4). Stichting Skepsis: 30–31.
  17. ^ Hulspas, Marcel (December 1991). "Van APE-mensen tot wijntherapie. Het derde Euroskeptics Congres". Skepter (in Dutch). 4 (4). Stichting Skepsis: 30–31.
  18. ^ Koene, Bart; Nanninga, Rob (September 1992). "Quali prove? Het vierde EuroSkeptics congres". Skepter (in Dutch). 5 (3). Stichting Skepsis: 1–3.
  19. ^ Poley, Stephen (December 1994). "Bijeen in Oostende. Het zesde EuroSkeptics congres". Skepter (in Dutch). 7 (4). Stichting Skepsis: 8–10.
  20. ^ Ted de Hoog (6 October 1999). "Sceptici aller landen..." De Groene Amsterdammer (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  21. ^ "European Skeptics Congress 2005". University of Hasselt. 11 October 2005. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  22. ^ "13th Congress of the European Council of Skeptical Organisations (ECSO)". ISS website. 2007. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  23. ^ Shane Hegarty (7 September 2007). "Surely it's not the sceptics?". The Irish Times.
  24. ^ Hall, Mike; Marshall, Michael; Harris, Colin (23 September 2010). "Skeptics with a K: Episode #031" (podcast). Skeptics with a K. Episode 31. Merseyside Skeptics Society. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  25. ^ Agnes Tieben (27 May 2013). "15th European Skeptics congress, 23–25 augustus 2013, Stockholm, Sweden" (in Dutch). Klopt Dat Wel?. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  26. ^ Frazier, Kendrick (16 September 2013). "Three Days of Science and Skepticism in Stockholm". CSI website. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  27. ^ European Skeptics Congress Archived 2014-05-18 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ European Skeptics Congress Archived 2017-07-20 at archive.today
  29. ^ "The Joy of Skepticism". 18th European Skeptics Congress 2019. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  30. ^ "Episode #001, feat. Gábor Hraskó". The European Skeptic Podcast. 18 November 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  31. ^ a b "17th European Skeptics Congress". euroscepticscon.org. Archived from the original on 2017-07-20. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  32. ^ Saunders, Richard (23 July 2017). "The Skeptic Zone: The Skeptic Zone #457 – 23. July.2017". skepticzone.libsyn.com (Podcast). Event occurs at 8:20. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  33. ^ Gerbic, Susan (9 February 2018). "Skeptical Adventures in Europe, Part 2". www.csicop.org. Committee for skeptical inquiry. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  34. ^ "Episode #002, feat. Catherine de Jong". European Skeptics Podcast. Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  35. ^ Nicaise, Alexander (2019-10-07). "ESC in Gent – The European Skeptics Congress including Skeptics and a lot of Skeptical Fun | Skeptical Inquirer". Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  36. ^ 6th World Skeptics Congress Program Archived 2014-09-05 at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ Chairman's Blog (8 October 2012). "The Sixth World Skeptics Congress". ASKE website. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  38. ^ World Skeptics Congress (16 June 2012). "World Skeptics Congress 2012: In Praise of Reason Award / Outstanding Skeptics Award (Introduction)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
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