James Randi Educational Foundation
The James Randi Educational Foundation ( JREF ) is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1996 by James Randi, after it was leaked in 1994 from the CSICOP. The objectives are the scientific investigation of para-science, and educating the public and the media about the consequences of accepting paranormal and supernormal claims. Therefore, the Company frequently by people who claim to have supernatural abilities, attacked.
The JREF was known primarily for the reward of one million dollars to anyone who can provide under scientific conditions paranormal abilities.
The seat of the JREF is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is funded by membership fees, donations and the sale of books and videos. Randi brings the website of JREF every Friday up to date by a commentary entitled Swift: Online Newsletter of the JREF.
On August 4, 2008 James Randi gave the position of President. He is succeeded by Phil Plait.
The one-million - dollar challenge
In 1964, Randi promised the person who was able to demonstrate paranormal abilities under objective conditions, $ 1,000, which he wanted to pay out of pocket. Later he increased the amount to $ 10,000. Since then, the prize money continued to rise and currently stands at one million dollars. Until now, no one could prove paranormal abilities and thus secure the prize money for himself.
Condition for participation is that both parties - both Randi and the candidate - to be agreed in advance when a test is counted as a "success " or a " failure". This requirement is considered by skeptics as a reason why so many people in possession of ostensible paranormal abilities did not want to take the challenge. If Randi and the candidate is unable to agree, a third person may be called, which then decides on the rules.
Similar challenges from other organizations will be published on a website of JREF.
Review and amendment of the Conditions of Participation
Randi's critics claim that his challenge was disingenuous. Randi would ensure that he would never pay the money. This accusation takes the JREF with the reference counter, the money was shown to exist (in the form of a securities account at Goldman Sachs) and would under current law a winner are also facing the contract.
Some critics see the immediate rejection of many applicants as an indication of the insincerity Randi. For example, in 1999 applied for a German candidate - Rico Kolodzey - at the price. Kolodzey claimed he could eat alone of light, and declared himself ready to demonstrate this under scientific test conditions. Randi replied, Kolodzey was a liar and swindler, and refused to test the claim that since the allegation was apparently completely absurd and untestable. Five years later, the conditions of participation have been changed to reflect that assertions in which the test object to be issued in physical danger, will no longer be considered for the million dollar challenge into consideration.
Despite the rejection Kolodzeys and the amended Terms and Conditions Randi called on 1 July 2005 the Australian Ellen Greve, who claims in books and lectures, for over 12 years to live by " light food ", to attend the one-million - dollar challenge, and their claim to need no " material " food for life to prove. This declined from Greve however.
On 19 May 2006 Randi made a further exception to the rule and began to privately negotiate with Kolodzey on a test. After 100 days of negotiations at the test conditions without result Randi went public and commented that Kolodzey had resigned from the test after he had complained loudly about being untested.
Ray Hyman, Fellow and member of the Executive Committee of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, said in reference to Randi's challenge in science rich a single test is not sufficient to evaluate a business. "Evidence in science require reproducibility. "
In March 2007, the James Randi Educational Foundation, the test conditions and acceptance criteria changed again. Especially the pre-tests were abolished. Candidates must further public demonstrations have conducted and supported by a member of the academic community. These conditions are easily fulfilled by anyone who had won a local, smaller prices.
These changes were necessary in the first place, because most candidates were not at full mental health or unable to demonstrate their skills to their own satisfaction. The processing of these requests have both a large amount of time represented, as well as detrimental to candidates. Furthermore, the price from the outset was aimed more at the most prominent Paranormalist lists have been and to force them to make their claims under laboratory conditions to the test. The Foundation feel that this task had been lost through the complicated and costly recording process from the eyes and she again had to focus on targeted and aggressively tackle Paranormalist lists to make them little excuses as to why they do not want to make the tests.