Investigating pseudo-science and the paranormal from a responsible scientific viewpoint
Immunisation saves lives. Since the humble observations about cowpox made by Edward Jenner in the 1700s, vaccination programs have saved millions of lives and dramatically decreased child mortality and suffering. Diseases such as smallpox are now consigned to history, while polio has virtually disappeared. But sadly there are some people who are vehemently opposed to vaccinations. While they … Read on »
Pitcairn Island — paradise or hell? Probably more of the latter, as Kathy Marks, The Independent’s Asia-Pac correspondent, relays in this scary tale of abuse, corruption and justice pursued. Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club, July 27, 6pm onwards. Tickets $50 including dinner. … Read on »
[ Saturday, September 7, 2013; 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. ] Speaker: Merryn McKinnon Date: Saturday, 7 September 2013 Time: 1:30 – 3:00pm Location: CSIRO Discovery Centre, North Science Road, Acton ACT Free Admission The upcoming elections and the latest budget have placed school education reforms high on the public agenda. As politicians and practitioners work to improve the quality of education for every Australian child, we need to examine if … Read on »
[ Saturday, August 17, 2013; 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. ] Speaker: Dr Rachael Dunlop PhD FSB Date: Saturday, 17 August 2013 Time: 3:00 – 4:30pm Location: Questacon, King Edward Terrace, Parkes, ACT Free Admission Science is proud of its ability to self-correct and change position when new evidence is presented, but what about when this doesn’t happen? And why does it take so long for science to accept changes in … Read on »
Kathy Marks, Asia-Pacific correspondent for The Independent, has covered the 1999 violence in East Timor, the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings, the civil war in Indonesia’s Aceh province, the 2006 Boxing Day tsunami, and the corruption and abuse trials on Pitcairn Island. So, was the famous final resting place of the Bounty mutineers ever a paradise … Read on »
[ Saturday, July 6, 2013; 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. ] Speaker: Nick Ware Date: Saturday, 6 July 2013 Time: 1:30 – 3:00pm Location: CSIRO Discovery Centre, North Science Road, Acton ACT Free Admission Anthropogenic climate change has been debated in scientific circles for at least 150 years but it was not until 1979, with the publication of the Charney report, that it became politicised. Today, the findings of mainstream science are … Read on »
The alternative medicine researcher, Edzard Ernst, has brought to our attention a recent study in South Korea of higher mortality rates of cancer patients who use alternative medicines. Yun YH et al evaluated the influence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the survival and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of terminal cancer patients. In a 15 month study of … Read on »
[ Saturday, June 1, 2013; 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. ] Speaker: Richard Saunders Date: Saturday, 1 June 2013 Time: 1:30 – 3:00pm Location: Lecture Theatre, CSIRO Discovery, Clunies Ross Street, Acton, ACT Free Admission Ghosts, Spoon Bending, Mind Tricks, Talking with the Dead, Water Dowsing and the Anti-Vaccination movement all come under the microscope in this talk and demonstration. There will also be a look into the skeptical movement around … Read on »
[ Friday, November 22, 2013 1:00 pm to Sunday, November 24, 2013 5:00 pm. ] Landing on the Truth: Science, Skepticism and Conspiracy Theories November 22 – 24, 2013 CSIRO Discovery Centre North Science Road Acton ACT 2601 Australia Heard the one about how the Illuminati, in conjunction with the U.S Government, are hiding the existence of aliens in order to ensure the supply of helium is kept low? Or that the CIA, the militant wing of the Freemasons, … Read on »
April 10th marks the 258th birthday of the Samuel Hahnemann the progenitor of Homeopathy. Fittingly it is also the beginning of World Homeopathic Awareness Week which has been celebrated internationally since 2005. The theme for the 2013 Awareness Week is “Homeopathy for Trauma & Disasters”. In a colourful and cheery brochure, the organisers extol the role of homeopathic … Read on »
[ Saturday, May 4, 2013; 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. ] Speaker: Dr Lindy Orthia Date: Saturday, 4 May 2013 Time: 1:30 – 3:00pm Location: Lecture Theatre, CSIRO Discovery, Clunies Ross Street, Acton, ACT Free Admission 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the first broadcast of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, a program that has often grappled with science-related themes during its illustrious history. The immense popularity of … Read on »
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© 2013 Australian Skeptics Inc. Website by Joel Birch.
