Laboratory colloquium to feature pseudo-science investigator

Contact: Todd Hanson, (505) 665-2085 (99-083)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., May 20, 1999 -- James Randi, a former magician turned science investigator, will present a Director's Colloquium in the Los Alamos National Laboratory Main Auditorium on Tuesday, May 25 at 1:10 p.m. The title of the presentation is "Investigating Pseudo-Science."

In his colloquium, Randi will discuss the growth of superstition and pseudo-science. According to Randi, "As we enter the next millennium we should be moving further and further away from medieval thinking, yet in some respects we are retreating toward a new Dark Ages."

The author of numerous books, Randi was born in 1928 in Canada and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1987. He now lives in Florida with several untalented parrots, numerous other unnamed creatures and the occasional visiting magus. Randi has appeared internationally in a long list of television documentaries, interviews and variety productions. In 1986 Randi received the prestigious MacArthur Award and has since received numerous fellowships, awards and honors for his investigative work into spurious scientific claims.

In 1989 the American Physical Society presented Randi with their Forum Award for "contributions to public understanding of important issues where science and society interact." Also in 1989, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the University of Ghent, Belgium for his work in combating pseudo-science and quackery.

In 1992, the Hungarian Society for the Dissemination of Scientific Knowledge awarded him its highest decoration, the Commemorative Medal with Golden Wreath "for his very successful activity and enlightening efforts during several decades in the field of unmasking pseudoscientific beliefs." In 1993 Randi delivered the first Koetser Memorial Lecture in Zurich, Switzerland where the Memorial Prize was awarded to him "in recognition of his continuous efforts to educate the public on science, to make scientists more aware of methods and possible fallacies, and for his intellectual integrity in enlightening us."

While a not as widely known honor, the International Astronomical Union officially named a planetoid after him in 1996 ­ the asteroid 3163/1981QM is now known as "Randi."

This colloquium is open to the public and will also be shown on Labnet.