SKEPP

SKEPP is a Belgian nonprofit organization focused on scientific skepticism, critical thinking, and the public evaluation of claims associated with pseudoscience and paranormal phenomena. Its name is a Dutch backronym for Studiekring voor de Kritische Evaluatie van Pseudowetenschap en het Paranormale, meaning roughly “Study Circle for the Critical Evaluation of Pseudoscience and the Paranormal.” The organization emerged from the Belgian astronomical society Vereniging voor Sterrenkunde and was founded in 1990 by, among others, philosopher Etienne Vermeersch, physician Willem Betz, skeptic and science communicator Tim Trachet, and philosopher Jean Paul Van Bendegem. SKEPP’s stated approach is not to dismiss unusual claims automatically. Instead, it seeks to assess them through critical research, evidence-based reasoning, and objective examination of arguments. Its subject areas include paranormal experiences, alternative medicine, homeopathy, astrology, psychic claims, graphology, and other assertions that conflict with established scientific knowledge or lack reliable supporting evidence. The organization also collects literature and documentation on these subjects and makes its findings available to the public. Public education is central to SKEPP’s work. It communicates through media appearances, lectures, conferences, school and educational outreach, publications, and local discussion events. Since 2000, it has published the quarterly Dutch-language magazine Wonder en is gheen wonder, which addresses pseudoscientific claims as well as broader questions concerning science, rationality, and the philosophy of science. Contributors and editors associated with the publication have included academics, journalists, philosophers, and science communicators such as Johan Braeckman, Griet Vandermassen, Geerdt Magiels, and Tim Trachet. SKEPP has also developed a recognizable awards and events program. Since 1996, it has presented the Zesde Vijs, or “Sixth Screw,” to people or organizations judged to have made a notable contribution to objective public understanding of pseudoscience and the paranormal. Its contrasting Skeptische Put, or “Skeptical Pit,” draws attention to examples that SKEPP considers exceptionally uncritical or misleading science popularization. In 2012, SKEPP hosted Het Denkgelag, a program of lectures and discussions involving scientists and philosophers; the initiative later became an independent organization devoted to skeptical conferences. SKEPP subsequently supported critical-thinking education through the Zomerschool Kritisch Denken and has organized recurring Skeptics in the Pub gatherings in Ghent, Antwerp, and Leuven. The organization is funded primarily through membership fees and operates as an independent advocacy and education body rather than as a commercial product company. It has become a familiar participant in Belgian media discussions about paranormal claims, alternative treatments, and the public communication of science. SKEPP has also defended contributors involved in disputes over critical writing and has used legal proceedings to support its position that public criticism of pseudoscientific claims should remain protected. Its best-known public initiatives include a million-euro Sisyphus challenge for demonstrable paranormal abilities under controlled conditions, although published information about the prize amount and application protocol has changed over time. SKEPP’s present identity is therefore centered on skepticism as a method: testing claims, explaining evidence, challenging misleading health and paranormal assertions, and encouraging citizens to distinguish reliable knowledge from unsupported belief.

SKEPP was established in Belgium in 1990 by figures including Etienne Vermeersch, Willem Betz, Tim Trachet, and Jean Paul Van Bendegem. The organization grew out of the Belgian astronomical society Vereniging voor Sterrenkunde and adopted a mission of examining claims that appeared to contradict scientific knowledge or lacked adequate evidence. Rather than defining skepticism as automatic rejection, SKEPP presented it as a method of inquiry based on critical testing, open examination of arguments, and an effort to keep philosophical, religious, and political commitments separate from the evaluation of evidence. Its initial subject matter included paranormal phenomena and pseudoscience, but its public work has covered a broad range of claims. These have included alternative medicine, homeopathy, astrology, psychic abilities, graphology, and other forms of popular knowledge that SKEPP considers insufficiently supported or misleadingly presented. The organization has gathered relevant publications and documentation, conducted or promoted critical research, and communicated its conclusions through public talks, education, media appearances, and written material. A major publishing development came in 2000, when SKEPP began issuing the quarterly magazine Wonder en is gheen wonder. The publication combined criticism of pseudoscientific claims with discussions of science, rationality, and the philosophy of science. Its contributors and editorial participants have included academics and science communicators such as Johan Braeckman, Griet Vandermassen, Geerdt Magiels, and founder Tim Trachet. Membership fees have been identified as SKEPP’s principal source of funding. Since 1996, SKEPP has used annual awards to make its public standards more visible. The Zesde Vijs recognizes individuals or organizations that have helped communicate objective knowledge about pseudoscience and the paranormal or have offered a careful, well-documented critical perspective. Recipients have included scientists, journalists, broadcasters, media organizations, and public figures. The Skeptische Put serves as a contrasting award for people or organizations that SKEPP believes have displayed especially uncritical reasoning or have misunderstood the responsibilities of science popularization. SKEPP expanded its event activity during the 2010s. In 2012 it hosted Het Denkgelag, a series of talks and debates with prominent scientists and philosophers. The initiative subsequently developed into an independent nonprofit specializing in skeptical conferences. In 2015 SKEPP hosted the Zomerschool Kritisch Denken for education professionals. It has also organized recurring local Skeptics in the Pub meetings in Ghent, Antwerp, and Leuven, helping connect public discussion of evidence and skepticism with local communities. The organization has periodically attracted significant Belgian media attention. In 2004, approximately thirty skeptics at Ghent University staged a provocative demonstration involving diluted snake venom, belladonna, and arsenic. The action was intended to illustrate the argument that highly diluted homeopathic products contain no active ingredients. At the same time, SKEPP criticized health-insurance organizations for reimbursing alternative treatments, arguing that reimbursement could give the public the impression that such treatments had established medical efficacy. SKEPP has also been involved in legal disputes arising from its criticism of alleged pseudoscience. In 2014, the Brussels Court of Appeal ruled in its favor in a case involving Dutch physician Robert Görter. The organization has additionally defended authors facing claims connected with critical articles, including litigation concerning an article by Patrick Vermeren about alpha training. A decision by the Court of Appeal of England and Wales sided with SKEPP in that dispute. These cases reinforced the organization’s role not only as a science-education group but also as an advocate for robust public criticism of unsupported claims. From October 2012, SKEPP promoted a Sisyphus prize for anyone able to demonstrate paranormal abilities under controlled conditions. The challenge covered paranormal phenomena and homeopathy and was presented as a Belgian counterpart to similar skeptical challenges elsewhere. Later website information referred to a 25,000-euro prize and stated that the application charge and protocol were under revision, indicating that the public terms changed over time. SKEPP remains an independent Belgian organization whose activities combine research, publishing, awards, public events, media participation, and education in support of scientific skepticism.

• 2015

  Critical-thinking summer school

  [1]SKEPPen.wikipedia.org

  SKEPP hosts the Zomerschool Kritisch Denken for education professionals.

• 2014

  Court of Appeal ruling involving Robert Görter

  [1]SKEPPen.wikipedia.org

  The Brussels Court of Appeal rules in SKEPP’s favor in a dispute concerning its criticism of Dutch physician Robert Görter.

• 2012

  Het Denkgelag and Sisyphus challenge

  [1]SKEPPen.wikipedia.org

  SKEPP hosts the first Het Denkgelag program and announces a major controlled-test challenge for claimed paranormal abilities.

• 2004

  Homeopathy demonstration receives media attention

  [1]SKEPPen.wikipedia.org

  SKEPP members stage a provocative demonstration at Ghent University to argue that homeopathic products contain no active ingredients.

• 2000

  Wonder en is gheen wonder begins publication

  [1]SKEPPen.wikipedia.org

  SKEPP launches its quarterly magazine covering pseudoscience, paranormal claims, science communication, and philosophy of science.

• 1996

  Annual SKEPP awards begin

  [1]SKEPPen.wikipedia.org

  SKEPP begins presenting the Zesde Vijs and Skeptische Put awards to highlight constructive science communication and examples of what it regards as exceptionally uncritical popularization.

• 1990

  SKEPP is founded

  [1]SKEPPen.wikipedia.org

  SKEPP is founded in Belgium by, among others, Etienne Vermeersch, Willem Betz, Tim Trachet, and Jean Paul Van Bendegem, emerging from the Belgian astronomical society Vereniging voor Sterrenkunde.

An independent Belgian scientific-skepticism organization that combines evidence-based investigation, public education, media engagement, and criticism of pseudoscientific and paranormal claims.

• Quarterly magazine · 2000

  Wonder en is gheen wonder

  SKEPP’s Dutch-language quarterly magazine, launched in 2000, examines pseudoscientific and paranormal claims while also covering scientific reasoning, skepticism, and the philosophy of science. It has featured contributions from academics, journalists, and science communicators connected with the organization.

• Public award · 1996

  Zesde Vijs

  An annual award recognizing a person or organization that has helped spread objective knowledge about pseudoscience and paranormal claims, or has presented a careful, nuanced, and well-documented critical perspective in public media.

• Critical award · 1996

  Skeptische Put

  A contrasting annual award intended to identify what SKEPP considers exceptionally uncritical thinking or poor science popularization. It has been given to individuals, media programs, and organizations associated with claims or communication that SKEPP considers misleading.

• Controlled-test challenge · 2012

  Sisyphus Prize

  A public challenge offering a monetary prize to applicants who can demonstrate paranormal abilities or related effects, including homeopathy, under controlled and agreed testing conditions. The advertised amount and application protocol have varied over time.

• 2015Zomerschool Kritisch Denken

  Belgium

  SKEPP hosted a summer school designed for education professionals and devoted to the development and communication of critical-thinking skills.

  Outcome. The program extended SKEPP’s educational work beyond media commentary and public lectures.

  Source
• 2012Het Denkgelag

  Belgium

  SKEPP organized a series of lectures and discussions featuring scientists and philosophers, creating a public forum for skeptical inquiry and critical discussion.

  Outcome. Het Denkgelag later became an independent nonprofit focused on skeptical conferences.

  Source
• 2004Homeopathy demonstration

  Belgium

  Around thirty skeptics associated with Ghent University conducted a deliberately provocative demonstration involving highly diluted toxic substances to illustrate SKEPP’s argument that homeopathic preparations contain no active ingredients. The action also drew attention to the reimbursement of alternative treatments by Belgian health-insurance organizations.

  Outcome. The demonstration generated Belgian media coverage and intensified public discussion about homeopathy, alternative medicine, and the evidentiary basis for health-insurance reimbursement.

  Source

• 2012

  Launch of the Sisyphus Prize challengeOther

  Background

  SKEPP sought a practical way to test claims of paranormal abilities and homeopathic effects rather than debating them only at a theoretical level.

  Action taken

  The organization announced a prize for applicants who could demonstrate such effects under controlled conditions. Later published information referred to a smaller prize amount and a protocol under revision.

  Aftermath

  The challenge became one of SKEPP’s most visible public initiatives, although the available material does not establish a successful claim or final payout.

  Source

• 2000

  Launch of Wonder en is gheen wonderProduct launch

  Background

  SKEPP needed a recurring publication through which it could communicate research, criticism, and philosophy of science to members and the broader public.

  Action taken

  The organization began publishing a quarterly magazine focused on pseudoscience, paranormal claims, skepticism, and scientific reasoning.

  Aftermath

  The magazine became a continuing part of SKEPP’s public-education and member-communication activities.

  Source

• 2015

  SKEPP organizes critical-thinking summer school[1]SKEPPen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  SKEPP hosted the Zomerschool Kritisch Denken, an event aimed particularly at education professionals and focused on developing critical-thinking skills.

• 2014

  Brussels Court of Appeal upholds SKEPP's position in dispute with Robert Görter[1]SKEPPen.wikipedia.org

  Lawsuit

  The Brussels Court of Appeal ruled in a case involving Dutch physician Robert Görter, following SKEPP's earlier public criticism of him as a quack.

• 2012

  SKEPP launches a public million-euro challenge for paranormal claims[1]SKEPPen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  SKEPP announced a Sisyphus prize for anyone able to demonstrate paranormal abilities, including homeopathic effects, under agreed controlled conditions.

1. 1SKEPPen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official SKEPP websiteskepp.be