Goldenes Brett Explained
The award Das Goldene Brett vorm Kopf (English translation: "The Golden Blockhead", literal translation "The Golden Board in Front of the Head") is a negative prize awarded by the Society for the Scientific Investigation of Pseudosciences (GWUP – Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften). The prize is organised by the Viennese regional group, the Society for Critical Thinking (GkD – Gesellschaft für kritisches Denken). The jury considers the "most astonishing pseudo-scientific nuisance" of the year in German-speaking countries. The award was presented for the first time in 2011 during the Sceptics Conference in Vienna.[1] [2] In 2016, the prize was presented simultaneously for the first time in Vienna and Hamburg (by the Hamburg sceptics of the GWUP).[3]
Process
Candidates are nominated via a form. A jury of experts selects the three top candidates among the nominees. The assessment is based on the following: degree of deviance, resistance to criticism, commercial interest, radius of action, pseudoscience, and hazard potential.[4] In the course of a public award ceremony, three candidates are presented by a eulogist in an ironic speech. The three candidates can comment on their nomination. Thereafter the winner is announced, and they are given a golden statue with a board in front of the head and have the option of making an acceptance speech. In 2012, the jury of experts included Heinz Oberhummer (physicist), Werner Gruber (physicist), Johannes Grenzfurthner (artist) and the eulogists Mario Sixtus (journalist), El Awadalla (writer) and Niko Alm (entrepreneur and activist).
In 2012, an additional "lifetime achievement prize" was awarded for the first time. This prize recognizes a person who, according to the jury, "made a name with particularly impressive resistance to scientific facts over decades".[5] The award was granted in 2012 by the Austrian Consumer Information Consortium (Verein für Konsumenteninformation) and since 2013 by the German Consumers' Union (Deutscher Konsumentenbund). The Austrian branch of the Cochrane Collaboration was a cooperation partner in 2015.[6]
Winners and nominees
Year | Lifetime award | Winners | Nominees/reason for nomination | Sideact |
---|
2011 | not awarded | Peter-Arthur Straubinger (In the Beginning There Was Light) | - Claudia von Werlhof (HAARP)
- Mario-Max Prinz zu Schaumburg-Lippe (elixir of wealth)
|
|
2012 | Erich von Däniken | Harald Walach of the Viadrina European University (spreading of esotericism and alternative medicine in academia) | - Dieter Broers (doomsday prophecies)
- Austrian doctors association (promotion of therapies without proof of therapeutic effect)
|
|
2013 | Ruediger Dahlke[7] | Homeopaths Without Borders (distribution of homeopathy in areas of medical crisis) | - SPAR (revitalized water)
- Marcus Franz; Austrian politician and doctor (pseudoscientific claims regarding homosexuality)
|
|
2014 | Jochen Kopp/ Kopp Verlag | Singer Xavier Naidoo[8] [9] (public spreading of conspiracy theories) | - Netzwerk Impfentscheid (claims regarding vaccines)
- Barbara Steffens; health minister of North Rhine-Westphalia (promotion of pseudoscience at public universities)
| - James Randi
- Florian Scheuba[10]
|
2015[11] [12] | Matthias Rath[13] | Stefan Lanka (denial of the measles virus) |
|
|
2016 | Ryke Geerd Hamer (Germanic new medicine)[14] | Zentrum der Gesundheit | - Roland Düringer (spreading of conspiracy theories in the public)
- Cancer centre Brüggen-Bracht (pseudoscientific claims on cancer therapy/ treatment of cancer patients with unapproved drugs)
| Sideact in Vienna:
Sideact in Hamburg:
- Armin Himmelrath
- Marcus Rohwetter
- Julia Offe
|
2017 | Cornelia Bajic and the Deutschen Zentralverein homöopathischer Ärzte | ,[15] author of Es existiert: Die Wissenschaft entdeckt das Unsichtbare (2016) and Der holistische Mensch: Wir sind mehr als die Summe unserer Organe (2017) |
|
|
2018[16] | Demeter International | The Hospital Nord in Vienna, together with the energetician Christoph Fasching, who drew an "energetic protective wall" around the hospital[17] | - Christina von Dreien (esoteric prodigy)
- Hans Tolzin (dairy expert and operator of websites against evidence-based medicine)
| Sideact in Vienna:- Sylvia Margret Steinitz
- Christian Kreil
- Lisz Hirn
- Erich Eder
Sideact in Hamburg:
- Matthias Grübel
- Nicola Kuhrt
- Marcus Rohwetter
|
2019 | Granderwasser[18] | Hevert medicines (homeopathic manufacturers)[19] |
| |
2020[20] | Ken Jebsen's Web-Projekt KenFM | Sucharit Bhakdi (spreading of COVID-19 misinformation) |
| |
2023 | Daniele Ganser[21] | Ulrike Guérot (spreading of COVID-19 misinformation and false claims concerning the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine) |
| | |
Media recognition
Media recognition ranges from numerous mentions in the blogosphere, such as ScienceBlogs (Astrodicticum Simplex,[23] Kritisch gedacht[24] or Fischblog[25] and Mathlog)[26] to Austrian media such as Der Standard[27] [28] Die Presse,[29] ORF,[30] News,[31] Heute[32] and Vice.[33]
Notes and References
- Web site: Wissenschaftlicher Humbug gesucht . Scientific humbug wanted . 24 September 2012. Wien.orf.at. 5 June 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170730084852/http://wien.orf.at/news/stories/2551350/. 30 July 2017.
- http://derstandard.at/1348283784792/Skeptiker-kueren-Esoterik-Unfug-des-Jahres derStandard.at: Skeptiker küren Esoterik-Unfug des Jahres
- Web site: Pseudowissenschaftler erhalten satirischen Preis Das "Goldene Brett" wird erstmals in Hamburg verliehen . Pseudoscientists receive a satirical award The "Golden Board" will be presented for the first time in Hamburg . 2016-11-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161125045217/http://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/article208401199/Pseudowissenschaftler-erhalten-satirischen-Preis.html . 2016-11-25 .
- https://web.archive.org/web/20110515112523/http://www.goldenesbrett.at/kriterien-und-jury/ Website goldenesbrett.at – Kriterien und Jury
- http://derstandard.at/1350258479161/Drei-Finalisten-fuer-Goldenes-Brett-vorm-Kopf--inklusive-Aerztekammer derStandard.at: Drei Finalisten für "Goldenes Brett vorm Kopf" ... inklusive Ärztekammer
- http://goldenesbrett.net/ goldenesbrett.guru: Das Goldene Brett 2015
- Web site: Goldenes Brett vorm Kopf: Auszeichnung für "Homöopathen ohne Grenzen" . Golden board in front of the head: Award for "Homeopaths without borders" . apps.derstandard.at . 2 December 2013 . 23 February 2021 .
- Web site: Xavier Naidoo als Verschwörungstheoretiker geehrt. Xavier Naidoo honoured as a conspiracy theorist . Derstandard.at. live. 2014-11-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20141128190240/http://derstandard.at/2000008670611/Xavier-Naidoo-als-Verschwoerungstheoretiker-geehrt. 2014-11-28. 2014-11-26. de.
- Web site: Nicht von dieser Welt. Not from this world . Derstandard.at. live. 2014-11-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129172718/http://derstandard.at/2000008671589/Nicht-von-dieser-Welt. 2014-11-29. Michael Vosatka. 2014-11-27. de.
- Web site: Verleihung des Goldenen Bretts 2014 . Awarded the Golden Board 2014 . 26 November 2014. 5 June 2018. YouTube. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170818051141/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghtmGT0r7hE. 18 August 2017.
- Web site: Das Goldene Brett 2015: Die drei Finalisten stehen fest . The Golden Board 2015: The three finalists have been chosen . Blog.gwup.net. live. 2015-10-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20151017004226/http://blog.gwup.net/2015/10/14/das-goldene-brett-2015-die-drei-finalisten-stehen-fest/. 2015-10-17. 2015-10-14. de.
- Web site: Das Goldene Brett 2015 – die Verleihung. The Golden Board 2015 – the award ceremony . Facebook.com. live. 2015-10-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20180610134646/https://www.facebook.com/events/1656422471241358/. 2018-06-10. de.
- Web site: "Goldenes Brett vorm Kopf" an Virenleugner . "Golden board in front of the head" to virus deniers . 21 October 2015. Wien.orf.at. 5 June 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171108225444/http://wien.orf.at/news/stories/2738165. 8 November 2017.
- Web site: "Neue Germanische Medizin" Satirepreis für Doktor Scharlatan . "New Germanic Medicine" satirical award for Doctor Charlatan . www.spiegel.de . 12 October 2016 . 23 February 2021 .
- News: "Hormonpapst" Huber für "Goldenes Brett vorm Kopf" nominiert . "Hormone Pope" Huber nominated for "Golden Board in front of the head" . 30 April 2018. APA. Die Presse. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501010210/https://diepresse.com/home/leben/mensch/5319709/Hormonpapst-Huber-fuer-Goldenes-Brett-vorm-Kopf-nominiert. 1 May 2018.
- Web site: Die Anwärter für das Goldene Brett 2018 stehen fest . The candidates for the 2018 Golden Board have been announced . futurezone.at . 14 October 2020 . de . 22 November 2018.
- Web site: "Goldenes Brett vorm Kopf" an Wiener Krankenhaus Nord . "Golden Board in front of the head" at Vienna Hospital North . 23 February 2021 . www.sn.at. 28 November 2018 .
- https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000112250614/homoeopathie-unternehmen-erhaelt-das-goldene-brett-vorm-kopf Homöopathie-Unternehmen erhält das Goldene Brett vorm Kopf
- https://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/theesp-ep-201.html TheESP – Ep. #201 – HPV vaccines are safe!
- https://www.kleinezeitung.at/international/corona/5911991/Das-Goldene-Brett-vorm-Kopf_FehlalarmArzt-Sucharit-Bhakdi-mit Das Goldene Brett vorm Kopf"Fehlalarm"-Arzt Sucharit Bhakdi mit Satirepreis ausgezeichnet
- Web site: Das Goldene Brett 2023 . . 13 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031103829/https://goldenesbrett.guru/ . 31 October 2023 . October 2023 . dead.
- Web site: Die Verleihung: Das Goldene Brett 2023 . . 13 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231113162942/https://goldenesbrett.guru/verleihung-2023/ . 13 November 2023.
- Web site: Wer hat das goldene Brett vorm Kopf? . Who has the golden board in front of their head? . Astrodicticum Simplex. 13 May 2011 . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20141204114920/http://scienceblogs.de/astrodicticum-simplex/2011/05/13/wer-hat-das-goldene-brett-vorm-kopf/. 2014-12-04.
- Web site: Nachlese zum Goldenen Brett 2012 an Harald Walach und Erich von Däniken . Review of the Golden Board 2012 to Harald Walach and Erich von Däniken. Kritisch gedacht. 21 October 2012 . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140717034629/http://scienceblogs.de/kritisch-gedacht/2012/10/22/nachlese-zum-goldenen-brett/. 2014-07-17.
- Web site: Wer wird Scharlatan des Jahres? Jetzt auch bei uns . Who will be charlatan of the year? Now with us too . Fischblog. 13 May 2011 . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150729080315/http://www.scilogs.de/fischblog/wer-wird-scharlatan-des-jahres-jetzt-auch-bei-uns/. 2015-07-29.
- Web site: Weg mit den Pillen! Ein Pharma-Lobbyist bekommt das "Goldene Brett". . Away with the pills! A pharmaceutical lobbyist receives the "Golden Board". . Mathlog. 19 October 2012 . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140724094720/http://scienceblogs.de/mathlog/2012/10/20/weg-mit-den-pillen-ein-pharma-lobbyist-bekommt-das-goldene-brett/. 2014-07-24.
- Web site: Lichtnahrungs-Doku zum "herausragendsten Unfug des Jahres" gekürt . Light nutrition documentary named "the most outstanding nonsense of the year" . Derstandard.at. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140814075949/http://derstandard.at/1304553528366/Lichtnahrungs-Doku-zum-herausragendsten-Unfug-des-Jahres-gekuert. 2014-08-14.
- Web site: Auszeichnung für "Homöopathen ohne Grenzen" . Award for "homeopaths without borders" . Derstandard.at. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140706191418/http://derstandard.at/1385169532326/Auszeichnung-fuer-Homoeopathen-ohne-Grenzen. 2014-07-06.
- Web site: Susanne Winter für "Goldenes Brett vorm Kopf" nominiert . Susanne Winter nominated for "Golden Board in front of the head" . Diepresse.com. 14 October 2015 . 5 June 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054114/http://diepresse.com/home/politik/innenpolitik/4843561/Susanne-Winter-fur-Goldenes-Brett-vorm-Kopf-nominiert. 4 March 2016.
- Web site: "Goldenes Brett vorm Kopf" an Virenleugner . "Golden board in front of the head" to virus deniers . 21 October 2015. Wien.org.at. 5 June 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171108225444/http://wien.orf.at/news/stories/2738165. 8 November 2017.
- Web site: Goldenes Brett – Preis für esoterischen Unsinn . Golden Board – Prize for esoteric nonsense . news networld Internetservice. GmbH. 22 October 2015. News.at. 5 June 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170730110524/https://www.news.at/a/goldenes-brett-preis-fuer-esoterischen-unsinn. 30 July 2017.
- Web site: Susanne Winter für Goldenes Brett 2015 nominiert . Susanne Winter nominated for the 2015 Golden Board . www.heute.at. 2015-10-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151016071739/http://www.heute.at/news/oesterreich/art23655,1222671 . 2015-10-16 .
- Web site: Die Nominierten für das Goldene Brett 2015 stehen fest . The nominees for the 2015 Golden Board have been announced . 13 October 2015. Vice.com. 5 June 2018.