Skeptical Eye: News from NCAS July 2026

CSICon 2026

May 1st of this year marked the 50th anniversary of the modern skeptical movement, born near Buffalo, New York, on the second day of the American Humanist Association’s 35th annual conference.  The theme for that day’s talks was, “The New Irrationalisms: Antiscience and Pseudoscience.”  (Read more about this in James Alcock’s Skeptical Inquirer article, “Fifty Years of the Modern Skeptical Movement.”)

To commemorate this auspicious milestone, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry held its annual conference (CSICon) in Buffalo this June.  For those who were unable to attend, there are brief video recordings already available.  (Based on previous CSICons’ talks eventually showing up online, there may be more to come later.)  For example, on Friday morning, Kenny Biddle strolled through the venue, including the auditorium where Stuart Vyse was presenting “Welcome to the Burned-Over District!”  Susan Gerbic’s snippet of Thursday morning’s “CFI History & Mystery Tour” features Kenny, and she also posted video of Sunday morning’s CSICon Singers with Anthony Trecek-King.

In lieu of more videos becoming available, NCAS presents the following descriptions and commentary from several of its members who attended CSICon 2026.  (Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Capital Area Skeptics organization.)

Skeptical Eye: Frontline Reports from CSICon 2026

Note: With this, we are reviving our Skeptical Eye as the vehicle for news and other non-event announcements.

--Scott Snell