It is with great delight that Canberra Skeptics announces the Australian Skeptics National Convention 2022, to be held at the National Library of Australia from the 3rd to the 4th of December. The theme of the convention is ‘Science and Skepticism in a Changed World’, and I am honoured to say that the international speakers will be President of the European Council of Skeptical Organisations Claire Klingenberg and the hosts of The European Skeptics Podcast (https://theesp.eu/) Pontas Böckman, Annika Harrison, and András Pintér. We have many other fascinating speakers lined up and the convention promises to be a great show! While it will be held in-person, the event will also be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend. The convention website will be going live shortly, so please check it (http://www.skepticon.org.au) for further information. There will also be a convention dinner and some pre-convention events so stay tuned!

The regular speakers program continues, and we have several interesting talks coming up. Please note that both the June and July talks require tickets for COVID-19-related purposes. The talk details are as follows:

June talk

Ned Kelly: the making of a myth

Date: Monday, 20 June 2022

Time: 6:00 to 7:30pm

Speaker: David Dufty

Venue: Belconnen Community Service, 26 Chandler Street, Belconnen ACT 2616

Cost: Free

Tickets essential: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ned-kelly-the-making-of-a-myth-tickets-346391415047

July talk

Rights, Riots and Ratbags: Making Sense of Magical Thinking

Date: Wednesday, 13 July 2022

Time: 6:00 to 7:30pm

Speaker: Associate Professor Bruce Baer Arnold

Venue: Belconnen Community Service, 26 Chandler Street, Belconnen ACT 2616

Cost: Free

Tickets essential: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/rights-riots-and-ratbags-making-sense-of-magical-thinking-tickets-360287338127

August talk (National Science Week 2022)

Free screening of ‘Science Friction’

Date: Sunday, 14 August 2022

Time: 1:00 to 3:00pm

Venue: King O’Malley’s Irish Pub, 131 City Walk, Civic

Cost: Free

Details:  https://www.scienceweek.net.au/event/free-screening-of-science-friction/canberra/

Skeptics in the Pub

Due to lack of interest that is possibility COVID-19-related , Skeptics in the Pub will be suspended until January 2023.

Membership

With the end of the financial year approaching, it is time for people to please renew their membership for 2022/2023. Please do so by filling out the form here – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uVg-mWyXoIv_tmieSy24FMdra4JedcLTRj9UPPeeYlA/viewform?edit_requested=true and paying as per the instructions on the form. The fees are quite minimal, but they are essential for ensuring Canberra Skeptics continues.

Upcoming psychic fair

The ‘Psychic and Well-Being Festival – Canberra’ is to be held from 17 to 19 June 2022 at EPIC (https://allevents.in/canberra/psychic-and-wellbeing-festival-canberra/200022199588749?ref=eventlist-cat#) and I encourage you all to attend. Canberra Skeptics Inc. is not involved in this event in anyway, but I strongly recommend people attend and politely listen and learn. There should be no COVID-19 concerns because you would think that they already know which potential attendees will have it ….

Stay skeptical,

Kevin Davies

President – Canberra Skeptics