Canberra Skeptics

Canberra Skeptics proudly presents:

Fake Medicine: Exposing the wellness crazes, cons and quacks costing us our health

Date: Monday, 16 August 2021

Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm (AEST)

Speaker: Dr Brad McKay

Please register via Zoom.

(https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7jpKqQ1QRKOrTflGWF5icg)

Dr Brad McKay, GP and experienced science communicator, investigates the myths, scams and fads of modern health and wellbeing.

We all want to live healthier, happier, and longer lives, but too many of us are charmed by charlatans, misled by marketing, or scammed by sciencey-sounding salespeople.

Dr Brad McKay, Australian GP, and science communicator has seen the rise of misinformation permeate our lives and watched as many of us have turned away from health experts. Too often, we place our trust in online influencers, celebrities, and Dr Google when it comes to making important health decisions.

Fake Medicine explores the potential dangers of wellness warriors, anti-vaxxers, fad diets, dodgy supplements, alternative practitioners and conspiracy theories.(https://www.hachette.com.au/bradley-mckay/fake-medicine-exposing-the-wellness-crazes-cons-and-quacks-costing-us-our-health)

Questions can be sent via Zoom or emailed to canberraskeptics@gmail.com.

Canberra Skeptics is a non-profit association incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory for the purpose of promoting critical thinking. For further information about Canberra Skeptics, please visit our website: http://www.canberraskeptics.org

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanberraSkeptics/
Twitter: @cbrskeptics
Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/SocialSkepticsCanberra/
Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/canberra-skeptics-18628458762

Canberra Skeptics is gratefully supported by a more than generous grant from Australian Skeptics Inc.

Canberra Skeptics proudly presents:

Learning from Indigenous memory methods

Date: Monday, 14 June 2021

Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm (AEDT)

Speaker: Dr Lynne Kelly

Please register via Zoom.

(https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ig5zmwgtTJW2Puey5WsSlQ)

Indigenous cultures are usually represented as living in a fog of superstition but they needed a vast amount of pragmatic knowledge to survive both physically and culturally. They had no writing so how the hell did they memorise so much stuff? In this talk, I will explain the tricks of their memory trade and those of European and Asian cultures up to recent times. This big question is: how we can use these methods in contemporary society? There are significant implications for education, ageing and the interpretation of ancient monuments.

Dr Lynne Kelly is a science writer, Honorary Research Associate at LaTrobe University and founding member of the Australian Skeptics. After four decades teaching, she completed a doctorate exploring the way oral cultures memorise a vast amount of practical information without writing. She has since implemented many indigenous and medieval memory methods in a contemporary context and been astounded by their efficacy. Lynne has published 19 books, the most recent being The Memory Code, Memory Craft and co-authored Songlines: the power and promise.

Questions can be sent via Zoom or emailed to canberraskeptics@gmail.com.

Canberra Skeptics Inc. is a non-profit association incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory for the purpose of promoting critical thinking. For further information about Canberra Skeptics, please visit our website: http://www.canberraskeptics.org

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanberraSkeptics/
Twitter: @cbrskeptics

Event announcements: 
Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/SocialSkepticsCanberra/
Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/canberra-skeptics-18628458762

Canberra Skeptics proudly presents:

What is Humanism

Date: Wednesday, 12 May 2021

Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm (AEDT)

Speaker: Mary-Anne Cosgrove

Please register via Zoom.

(https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MD0h0gVDRCC-RGfusEDdaA)

For tens, even hundreds of thousands of years, humans have been wondering about their place in the universe, and pondering fundamental questions about their existence, such as:

• How can I understand the world?
• How can I find meaning and fulfillment in life?
• How can I find comfort when I am grieving?
• How do I deal with the fear of my own death?
• How should I behave – what is right and wrong?

Find out how Humanism is a framework for answering these fundamental questions.

Mary-Anne Cosgrove is a software engineer with a background in science and mathematics. She has always had an interest in living an ethical and compassionate life, and discovered Humanism in 2015. Since then, she has held several roles in the Australian Humanist community, including Convenor of the ACT Humanist Society and President of the Council of Australian Humanist Societies (CAHS). She is currently Acting Chair of Humanists Australia and a Community Leader for the Canberra Humanist Community.

Questions can be sent via Zoom or emailed to canberraskeptics@gmail.com.

Canberra Skeptics Inc. is a non-profit association incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory for the purpose of promoting critical thinking. For further information about Canberra Skeptics, please visit our website: http://www.canberraskeptics.org

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanberraSkeptics/
Twitter: @cbrskeptics

Event announcements: 
Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/SocialSkepticsCanberra/
Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/canberra-skeptics-18628458762

Canberra Skeptics proudly presents:

The Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project

Date: Tuesday, 13 April 2021

Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm (AEDT)

Speaker: Richard Saunders

Please register via Zoom.

(https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C_CFKd9mTai8rHkYSrqRRQ)

Year after year, especially around December and January, morning TV shows, radio and magazines love to give their audience a ‘preview’ of the year ahead by calling in their favorite ‘psychic’. What’s in store for celebrities, the royals, in politics and when can we expect the next volcano or earthquake? Just how accurate are these mystical insights into the future and should we be using them to place bets on the next Melbourne Cup?

For 5 years Richard Saunders has been collating and analysing over 3000 predictions made in Australia since the year 2000. With the help of an international team, this project is nearing its completion. Richard will report on the progress and give some highlights and insights into the world of psychic predictions.

Richard Saunders is from Sydney and starred as the “Skeptical Judge” on two seasons of the TV show “The One: The Search for Australia’s Most Gifted Psychic”. He is also the host of the weekly podcast “The Skeptic Zone”, now in its 12th year. Richard is also an origami expert and children’s author, CSI Fellow and life member of Australian Skeptics.

Questions can be sent via Zoom or emailed to canberraskeptics@gmail.com.

Canberra Skeptics Inc. is a non-profit association incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory for the purpose of promoting critical thinking. For further information about Canberra Skeptics, please visit our website: http://www.canberraskeptics.org

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanberraSkeptics/
Twitter: @cbrskeptics

Event announcements: 
Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/SocialSkepticsCanberra/
Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/canberra-skeptics-18628458762

Canberra Skeptics proudly presents:

Nuking the Moon: An interview with Dr. Vince Houghton

Date: Sunday, 14 March 2021

Time: 12:00pm to 1:00pm (AEDT)

Speaker: Dr. Vince Houghton

Please register via Zoom.

(https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Kq91DMniT66YXElNOK_vug)

The world of intelligence and espionage is one that continues a fascinate and mystify, whether in the world of fiction or non-fiction. Intelligence history is repleat with incredible examples of intelligence agencies, agents, and spies, developing amazing operations and technologies to get the job done. But, sometimes, it does not always go right. Drawing from his book Nuking the Moon: And Other Intelligence Schemes and Military Plots Best Left on the Drawing Board (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/575262/nuking-the-moon-by-vince-houghton/),  Dr. Vince Houghton will discuss some of history’s less successful intelligence operations.

From microphones surgically implanted into cats, to actual false flag operations, and multiple poorly thought-out uses for nuclear weapons, come join us as we interview Vince in order to answer the big question – ‘just what were they thinking?’

Dr. Vince Houghton is the former Historian and Curator of the International Spy Museum. As the museum’s subject matter expert, he was a key member of the team that created and developed the content, exhibits, and design of the new museum. Vince has a PhD in Intelligence History, and is the author of two books – Nuking the Moon: and Other Intelligence Schemes and Military Plots Left on the Drawing Board and The Nuclear Spies: America’s Atomic Intelligence Operation Against Hitler and Stalin. Dr. Houghton is currently the Director of the National Cryptologic Museum in Ft. Meade, MD.

Questions can be sent via Zoom or emailed to canberraskeptics@gmail.com.

Canberra Skeptics Inc. is a non-profit association incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory for the purpose of promoting critical thinking. For further information about Canberra Skeptics, please visit our website: http://www.canberraskeptics.org

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanberraSkeptics/
Twitter: @cbrskeptics

Event announcements: 
Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/SocialSkepticsCanberra/
Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/canberra-skeptics-18628458762

Fellow skeptics,

I trust that you all had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year and are looking forward to 2021.

As discussed late last year, Canberra Skeptics was planning to restart the Skeptics in the Pub. I am delighted to say that the first one has been announced and will be held on Sunday, 31 January, at King O’Malley’s Irish Pub. The start time is 2pm and further details can be found here – https://www.meetup.com/SocialSkepticsCanberra/events/275422014/.

The SiTP is a great way to relax and talk with your fellow skeptics over a beverage or two.

The monthly talks will resume in February. Unfortunately, COVID-19 venue restrictions have made it difficult to get a venue. Consequently, the talks will continue to take place over Zoom for the foreseeable future. The details of the February talk are presented below.

Overview of RAND’s Truth Decay initiative

Date: Monday, 15 February 2021

Time: 6:00 to 7:00pm

Speaker: Dr Carl Rhodes

Register via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_h1VgY2vFQ362KbMHzTL8bQ

Over the past two decades, national political and civil discourse in the United States has been characterized by “Truth Decay,” defined as a set of four interrelated trends: an increasing disagreement about facts and analytical interpretations of facts and data; a blurring of the line between opinion and fact; an increase in the relative volume, and resulting influence, of opinion and personal experience over fact; and lowered trust in formerly respected sources of factual information. The causes and consequences of Truth Decay will be examined along with past eras of U.S. history to identify evidence of Truth Decay’s four trends and observe similarities with and differences from the current period.

Carl will provide an overview of Jennifer Kavanaugh’s and Michael Rich’s 2018 report defining and examining Truth Decay and provide information about continuing work on the topic.

Carl Rhodes is director of RAND Australia. In this role, he identifies policy research opportunities for Australian clients at the commonwealth and state levels, delivers and disseminates high quality research and analysis on Australian policy issues, and leads the RAND Australia office in Canberra. During his tenure at RAND, Carl has also performed work for U.S. clients including the Air Force, Army, Joint Staff, and Joint Forces Command. He participated and led recent efforts examining intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; the employment and modernization of unmanned aircraft systems and nuclear force modernization. Carl received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the California Institute of Technology.

Questions can be sent via Zoom or emailed to canberraskeptics@gmail.com.

Canberra Skeptics Inc. is a non-profit association incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory for the purpose of promoting critical thinking. For further information about Canberra Skeptics, please visit our website: http://www.canberraskeptics.org

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanberraSkeptics/
Twitter: @cbrskeptics

Event announcements: 
Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/SocialSkepticsCanberra/
Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/canberra-skeptics-18628458762

Canberra Skeptics looks forward to seeing you at all our upcoming events.

Stay Skeptical,

Kevin Davies

President – Canberra Skeptics’