Branches

Born Yorkshire, England 1943 ; married with 1 daughter and a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Taught in England, New Zealand, Tasmania, Queensland and the USA. at secondary and tertiary levels. Background in physical sciences (M.Sc.; D.Phil.) and science education (Cert.Ed.; Dip. Tch.), was senior lecturer at Murdoch University before becoming an independent consultant in education and science writer. From a very religious family, I became suspicious about religious beliefs at age 12 when: (a) I realised that every ship on the ocean floor was probably blessed at its launch. (b) Whenever a pope became ill and millions prayed for him - he still died. Stopped going to church when I discovered wine of higher quality outside of communion. Confirmation that God didn't exist when I was not asked to play cricket for Yorkshire. Grandmother was a psychic of some renown. People came from far and wide to seek her advice and cross her palm with silver. Predicted the future with great accuracy, e.g. "If somebody doesn't eat those bananas - they'll go bad." Main interests are astronomy and wine-tasting but usually not at the same time. Other interests are sailing and chess - definitely not at the same time.

Born in W.A. in 1965; married with 2 children; a registered nurse working in medical rehabilitation. This background has led to Polly's special interest in the more negative aspects of alternative medicine and quack diagnostics such as iridology. Main interest is gardening.

Wallace was born in Dublin in 1949 and remains unmarried - still seeing himself as a free-spirited man about town. A former secondary school teacher - teaching girls in convents in Ireland. Sustained a severe head injury around this time and, when he came round in hospital, realised he was a skeptic and knew a lot about computers. Wallace is currently self-employed as a computer consultant. Special interests are chess, classical music and matters skeptical.