Presented by Sharon A. Hill, Author
In the 21st century,
reality television and the Internet have fed public interest in ghosts,
UFOs, cryptozoology and other unusual phenomena. By 2010, roughly two thousand amateur research and investigation groups
formed in the U.S. – ghost hunters, Bigfoot chasers, and UFO
researchers, using an array of (supposedly) scientific equipment and methods with an aim
of proving the existence of the paranormal. American culture’s honorific
regard for science, coupled with the public’s unfamiliarity with scientific
methods, created a niche for self-styled paranormal experts to achieve a
measure of respect and authority without scientific training or credentials. These
groups of amateurs serve as a surrogate for scientists in examining
strange claims. And, they provide a unique lens by which we can examine the wider public understanding of science and research.
Sharon A. Hill is an advocate for science appreciation, critical
thinking, and evidence-based inquiry, specializing in pop culture
discourse on ghosts, monsters, mysteries, anomalies, and oddities. She is the creator of
DoubtfulNews.com, SpookyGeology.com, and the host of the podcast 15
Credibility Street. She has degrees in Geosciences and Education with a focus
on science and the public. Her personal website is SharonAHill.com.
