If Agent Scully from "The X-Files" were a real person, she would probably work here in Amherst at the Center for Inquiry.
The center, which houses the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), has offices in almost every country around the globe but their world headquarters is right across the street on Sweet Home Road.
CSICOP, founded in part by ground-breaking astronomer Carl Sagan and prolific science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov, aims to promote scientific literacy by objectively investigating all types of paranormal and fringe-science claims. Their Web site offers studies on everything from aliens and creationism to near-death experiences and global warming.
"We're trying to institute an interdisciplinary range of issues in science, society and the paranormal," said Kevin Christopher, the center's director of public relations.
The way they do that is by sponsoring, conducting and explaining scientific research, giving lectures and publishing journals such as "Skeptical Inquirer" and "Free Inquiry." They also provide many support and research services to skeptics and believers alike.
Recently, the center launched a fund-raising campaign to expand those resources. They have set their goal at $26 million. So far they have reached about 15 percent of that amount.
"Of course we have everywhere from very large donors to very small donors and they are all very important to us," said Sherry Rook, a spokesperson for the center. "To have such a large campaign, we have to have a variety of fundraising techniques, so we are taking a multi-pronged approach."
The center relies largely on donations and the proceeds from their two journals for funding. Many donations are bequeathed from the estates of deceased supporters. Some come in the form of donated property and stocks, while others are solicited through e-mail and direct mail.
For their recent, more ambitious fund-raising campaign, they are planning a Caribbean cruise called "Charting a New Course for Secularists, Skeptics and Humanists."
According to Rook, about $2.5 million of the money raised will go to the Center for Inquiry and the other portion will be split between two other branches in New York and Los Angeles.
The center's portion will go toward expanding the current facility.
"We're pretty much filled to capacity right now, so we're eager to expand," Christopher said. "The money will go toward building expansion, expanding the library and research resources and to add to the staff."
Their library now has more than 30,000 unique volumes.
"We have lots of rare original works by people like Thomas Payne, and other people very well known in free-thinking circles," he said. "Our collection consists of books you pretty much can't find anywhere else."
Most importantly, every cent will go towards the promotion of scientific inquiry, the lack of which is dangerous for society, he said.
"The dangers of scientific illiteracy are that political issues, like that of stem cell research, are misunderstood," he said. "Public perception of things like alternative medicine and how science works can lead to misperceptions and ultimately to bad politics, bad legislation and bad public policy."
According to Christopher, the media fuel many of these misperceptions, which the CSICOP is looking to clear up.
"People are not as well-versed in science and technology as ought to be necessary." Therefore, he said, "A lot of issues are not understood."
The Center for Inquiry has worked with UB in the past, offering its resources to students, but now they're taking it a step further. The center's visiting scholar, Christopher Whittle, is teaching a class here this fall, and they hope to offer a master's degree through the university in the near future.
"What every center does is it promotes science and reason in all endeavors, and we hope students will always walk away with a better understanding of critical thinking," Christopher said.
