List of prizes for evidence of the paranormal
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In 1922, Scientific American made two US$2,500 offers: (1), for the first authentic spirit photograph made under test conditions, and (2), for the first psychic to produce a "visible psychic manifestation." Harry Houdini was a member of the investigating committee. The first medium to be tested was George Valiantine, who claimed that in his presence spirits would speak through a trumpet that floated around a darkened room. For the test, Valiantine was placed in a room, the lights were extinguished, but unbeknownst to him his chair had been rigged to light a signal in an adjoining room if he left his seat. Because the light signals were tripped during his performance, Valiantine did not collect the award.[1]
Since then, many individuals and groups have offered similar monetary awards for proof of the paranormal in an observed setting. These prizes have a combined value of over $2.6 million dollars.[2] As of June 2011[update], none of the prizes has been claimed.
Contents |
[edit] Prizes
| Date | Moderator(s) | Prize | Details | Unclaimed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 |  Abraham Kovoor |
100,000 LKR | (US$901 approx) Kovoor initiated the Abraham Kovoor's challenge starting in 1963. | Yes |
| N/A | Alfredo Barrago's Bet | €50,000 | (US$67,922 approx) "... shown at least a "phenomenon" produced by "medium, seers, sensitive etc." of paranormal nature."[3] | Yes |
| N/A |  Association for Skeptical Enquiry |
£13,000 | (US$20,942 approx) | Yes |
| N/A |  Australian Skeptics |
AU$100,000 | (US$101,374 approx) For proof the existence of extrasensory perception, telepathy, or telekinesis. | Yes |
| N/A |  Basava Premanand |
100,000 INR | (US$2,190 approx) | Yes |
| N/A |  Center for Inquiry West |
US$50,000 | For "a demonstration of so-called paranormal ability scientifically tested onstage".[4] | Yes |
| 2000 | Independent Investigations Group |
US$50,000 | Contact www.info@iigwest.org for more information. Challenge rules located at http://www.iigwest.org/challenge.html. | Yes |
| N/A | Fayetteville Freethinkers |
US$1,000 | Yes | |
| 1989-present |  Skepsis ry (Finnish Association of Skeptics) |
€10,000 | (US$13,584 approx) For anybody in Finland who can produce paranormal phenomena under satisfactory observing conditions or prove that she/he/it is an extraterrestrial by providing a DNA sample for investigation. Money partially from Hannu Karttunen and Iiro Seppänen. | Yes |
| N/A | Indian Skeptic 100,000 Paranormal Challenge |
100,000 INR | (US$2,190 approx) | Yes |
| 1968–present | James Randi Educational Foundation |
US$1,000,000 | Largest prize money in US dollars. (Also see the Sima Nan prize.) | Yes |
| N/A |  Kazakhstan Commission for the Investigation of Anomalous Phenomena |
US$1,000 | Yes | |
| N/A |  Les Sceptiques du Quebec |
CA$10,000 | (US$10,132 approx) | Yes |
| N/A | New York Area Skeptics |
US$2,000 | Awarded to the successful completion of the James Randi Educational Foundation prize winner. | Yes |
| N/A | North Texas Skeptics |
US$12,000 | Yes | |
| N/A | Philip J. Klass (deceased) |
US$10,000 | For proof of an extraterrestrial visit to the Earth. | Yes |
| N/A | Science and Rationalists' Association of India |
2,500,000 INR | (US$54,758) Prabir Ghosh will pay Rs. 2,000,000 to anyone can demonstrate a supernatural power in his presence.[5] | Yes |
| N/A | Scientific American |
US$2,500 | Two US$2,500 offers: (1) for the first authentic spirit photograph made under test conditions, and (2) for the first psychic to produce a "visible psychic manifestation." From 1922. | Yes |
| N/A |  Sima Nan |
10,000,000 CNY | (US$1,524,157 approx) Can be won in conjunction with the James Randi Educational Foundation prize.[6] | Yes |
| N/A |  SKEPP |
€10,500 | (US$14,263 approx) In association with the Sisyphus project. | Yes |
| N/A |  Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World |
NZ$100,000 | (US$76,989 approx) | Yes |
| N/A |  Swedish Humanist Association |
100,000 SEK | (US$15,421 approx) | Yes |
| N/A |  Eesti Skeptik |
1000 EUR | (US$1,300 approx) | Yes |
| N/A | Raul Jaanson |
6,000 EUR | (US$8,000 approx) | Yes |
| N/A |  Eng. Sanad Rashed and Dr.Ahmed Khaled |
US$5,000 | For proof ouija boards function as claimed. | Yes |
| N/A |  Bitva Ekstrasensov |
No money | Prize is the chance to participate in the James Randi challenge with full media and academic support.[citation needed] | Yes |
| 1987–2002 |  Henri Broch, Jacques Theodor, Gérard Majax |
€200,000 | International Zetetic Challenge | Yes |
| 2011–present |  Daniel Zepeda |
MX$20,000 | Challenge rules and information at http://papaesceptico.com/reto-paranormal-de-papa-esceptico/ | Yes |
| 2004-present |  Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften |
10,000 EUR | (US$13,000 approx) | Yes |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Randi $1,000,000 paranormal challenge". The Skeptic's Dictionary. http://skepdic.com/randi.html. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
- ^ Larsen, Claus (September, 2003). "Get Rich Quick or Save the World". Skeptic Report. Archived from the original on 2007-03-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20070323193619/http://www.skepticreport.com/skepticism/getrichquick.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
- ^ http://www.antiplagio.org/eng/pages/millenium.html
- ^ http://www.cfiwest.org/calendar/paranormaltest.htm
- ^ http://www.srai.org/challenge-to-all-supernatural-and-paranormal-power-holders-astrologers-etc/
- ^ http://www.randi.org/jr/11-30-1999.html
