The Observatoire Zététique or OZ (English: ''Zetetic Observatory'') is a French
skeptical nonprofit organisation
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
founded in 2003, headquartered in
Grenoble. It is a member of the
European Council of Skeptical Organisations (ECSO).
Purpose
The OZ's stated goal is "promoting and spreading the methods and techniques of ''
zététique''" (defined as "a research method based on doubt and verification of information", in English better known as
scientific skepticism).
It seeks to:
*conduct investigations of the
paranormal,
*set up
experiments to evaluate the existence of purported paranormal phenomena,
*publish the results of tests,
*provide documentation, organise
conferences
A conference is a meeting of two or more experts to discuss and exchange opinions or new information about a particular topic.
Conferences can be used as a form of group decision-making, although discussion, not always decisions, are the main pu ...
and exposés on recurrent themes concerning the
supernatural
Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...
,
*
reproduce phenomena that have been declared "impossible".
The Observatoire Zététique affirms it maintains a respectful approach to the freedom to believe tenets of the paranormal, to avoid dogmatism and to only comment on the validity of the evidence and reasonings.
Activities
The OZ explores mechanisms of
disinformation on the
Internet.
The OZ publishes its researches and dossiers online, and produces a monthly newsletter, the ''POZ'' (''Publication de l'Observatoire Zététique'').
Regarding the
Trans-en-Provence Case, a 1981 incident where a
UFO
An unidentified flying object (UFO), more recently renamed by US officials as a UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon), is any perceived aerial phenomenon that cannot be immediately identified or explained. On investigation, most UFOs are id ...
is supposed to have left behind physical evidence near the town of
Trans-en-Provence
Trans-en-Provence (; Provençal: ''Tranç'') is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Trans-en-Provence is famous among the ufologists as the site of an alleged UFO incident called the ...
, the Observatory has done extensive investigations.
On 20 and 21 September 2008, the Observatoire Zététique organised the ECSO symposium in Grenoble.
Reception
Vincent Brunner of ''
Les Inrocks'' commented that "On topics that are real springboards to fantasies (...) the skeptics at the Observatoire Zététique
ffera recurring and valuable response (...): they know how to put things in their place."
See also
*
Association française pour l'information scientifique
*
CICAP
*
Comité Para
*
International Zetetic Challenge
*
Laboratoire de Zététique
*
List of prizes for evidence of the paranormal
Paranormal challenges, often posed by groups or individuals who self-identify as skeptics or rationalists, publicly challenge those who claim to possess paranormal abilities to demonstrate that they in fact possess them, and are not fraudulent or ...
*''
Science et pseudo-sciences''
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Observatoire Zetetique
2003 establishments in France
Educational institutions in Grenoble
Non-profit organizations based in France
Skeptic organizations in France