Susan Gerbic | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gerbic in August 2016 | |
| Born | 1962 (age 62–63) Salinas, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | California State University, Monterey Bay (BA) |
| Occupation | Studio photographer |
| Employer | Lifetouch Portrait Studios (1982–2016) |
| Known for | Scientific skepticism |
| Website | abouttimeproject |
Susan Gerbic (born 1962) is an Americanstudio photographer who became known as ascientific skepticism activist, mostly for exposing people claiming to bemediums.[1][2][3] A columnist forSkeptical Inquirer,[4] she is the co-founder of Monterey County Skeptics[5] and a fellow of theCommittee for Skeptical Inquiry.[6]
The youngest of three children, Gerbic was raised as aSouthern Baptist inSalinas, California.[7] Her father was born inEuclid, Ohio, to parents fromSlovenia; he served duringWorld War II and after the war went to live in Salinas.[8] Gerbic attended Fremont Elementary, El Sausal Junior High School,[9] andAlisal High School in Salinas, graduating in 1980.[1] She became anatheist in her junior year. After high school, she studied atHartnell College, also in Salinas,[7] obtainingAAs in general studies in 1993 and history in 1998,[9] while working and raising two sons. In 2002, she was awarded aBA in Social & Behavioral Studies byCalifornia State University, Monterey Bay.[7]
Gerbic worked at Lifetouch, a portrait studio inJC Penney in theNorthridge Mall in Salinas, from 1982[1] for 34 years, including as manager.[7] She retired in 2016 when the studio closed.[7]
Much of Gerbic's activism has consisted of organizingsting operations against people claiming to be mediums. She and a group of volunteers calling themselves "Guerrilla Skeptics" would set up fake Facebook profiles, then visit mediums claiming to be receiving messages from the subjects of the profiles. Gerbic's team would record the session and post the evidence online.[3]
In 2010, Gerbic founded "Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia" (GSoW),[10] a group of editors who create and edit Wikipedia articles that reflectscientific skepticism.[7][11]The New York Times Magazine reported in February 2019, in an interview with Gerbic, that GSoW had 144 editors who had worked on nearly 900 Wikipedia pages.[3]
Gerbic married Robert Forsyth in 1983.[16] The couple had two sons, and the marriage ended in 2002. As of August 2018, Gerbic was in a relationship with thementalistMark Edward.[7]
In 2013, Gerbic discovered she hadbreast cancer.[17] By December that year, Gerbic had completedchemotherapy, and by March 2014,radiation treatments.[18] Gerbic continued to work throughout the treatment, and her follow-upmammogram revealed no cancer. She said the experience had made her tougher.[17]
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