We all lost a true hero
yesterday. I am stunned and
saddened and I have been searching the internet for an hour this morning looking
for news because I just can't believe it.
Barry Beyerstein died. Barry Beyerstein. I don't have enough words
to tell you what this loss will mean to the skeptical and rationalist
world. Barry was a tireless
defender of science. An activist
who has been a staple in the media, television, newspapers, public forums for
decades. I searched in the Skeptical Inquirer CD-ROM and found 311
mentions of his name. He is scheduled to teach a workshop for the
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry in Oregon later this summer - and represent us
at a conference in Ireland in the fall. He traveled and lectured all over
the world for us, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, Italy, and he
was part of our delegation to China.
He was one of our first people on a number
of topics we deal with. Graphology, Psychic Powers, Why People Believe,
Near Death Experiences, Critical Thinking, Alternative Medicine, Neuropathology
of Spiritual Possession, Brain States, Dowsing, The Sins of Big Pharma,
and the list goes on and on. The thing is, he didn't have to do any
of this. He was a volunteer, but he worked just as hard for this
organization as he did for his full-time faculty job at Simon Fraser
University. But he had talents, wisdom and knowledge and he saw the
need and he used those talents. And we are far better for
that.
And Barry was one of the most charming, wittiest, and
nicest people you could ever meet. He was kind and funny, yet strong in
his convictions. My heart goes out to his family, his wife and children and
brother Dale.
and I can't believe that he is
gone.
You should do a google search on Barry today,
just to get an idea as to the kind of person we have lost. Here is a
good place to start: http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2007/06/barry-l-beyerst.html
Barry Karr
Committee for Skeptical
Inquiry
Barry Beyerstein is Professor of Psychology and a member of the Brain
Behaviour Laboratory at Simon Fraser University. His research has involved
many areas related to his primary scholarly interests: brain mechanisms of
perception and consciousness and the effects of drugs on the brain and
mind. His work in these areas and his interest in the philosophy and
history of science have also led him to be skeptical of many occult and New Age
claims. This has prompted him to investigate the scientific status of many
questionable products in the areas of medical and psychological treatment, as
well as a number of dubious self-improvement techniques.
Dr. Beyerstein serves as chair of the Society of B. C. Skeptics and he is a
Fellow and a member of the Executive Council of CSICOP and serves on the
editorial board of CSICOP’s journal, The Skeptical Inquirer. He was
also elected to the Council for Scientific Medicine, another organization
headquartered at the Center for Inquiry; it provides critiques of unscientific
and fraudulent health products. He is a founding member of Canadians for
Rational Health policy and a Contributing Editor of the journal, The
Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine. He has published in these
areas himself and is a frequent commentator on such topics on TV and Radio and
in the print media.
