Join us as we examine and dissect various cryptozoological mystery monsters from Bigfoot to Nessie and look at their plausibility and the evidence presented for their existence. We'll delve into the methods used to search for them and look at some real animals who are way cooler than some pretend ones. Dress code: please wear your best gorilla costume.
Join the Skeptical Gamers as they discuss and debunk the claims of nonsense and pseudoscience in this choose-your-own adventure panel! Come for the awesome, stay for the 'Stump the skeptics' Q&A!
Join the Skeptical Gamers as they discuss and debunk the claims of nonsense and pseudoscience in this choose-your-own adventure panel! Come for the awesome, stay for the 'Stump the skeptics' Q&A!
Join the Skeptical Gamers as they discuss and debunk the claims of nonsense and pseudoscience in this choose-your-own adventure panel! Come for the awesome, stay for the 'Stump the skeptics' Q&A!
From dieting to parenting to Oprah, women are often characterized in media as gullible, emotional and lacking in logic skills. But this isn't the reality. The women from Skepchick, led by writer Jen Myers, are here to debunk the prevalent myths about women's interests and abilities and prove women can actually handle and enjoy thinking critically about the world.
From dieting to parenting to Oprah, women are often characterized in media as gullible, emotional and lacking in logic skills. But this isn't the reality. The women from Skepchick, led by writer Jen Myers, are here to debunk the prevalent myths about women's interests and abilities and prove women can actually handle and enjoy thinking critically about the world.
Acupuncture - An Implausible Premise Lacking Evidence
Description:
Learn about the origins, the methods, and the tools used by acupuncturists, and explore the connections between eastern medicine and humourism, an abandoned Greco-Roman form of ancient medicine. Examine the scientific evidence proving that acupuncture is nothing more than an elaborate placebo with absolutely no plausible basis in reality. Finally, get an up close look at some of the paraphernalia used by a former acupuncture student.
Prepare for a journey into the past as we look at archaeology good and bad. We'll go over some brief basic concepts and then delve into the wild world of pseudoarchaeology, Atlantis, Ancient Astronauts, Bigfoot, and Pyramids. Can you dig it? (I know, that was bad, but I couldn't resist.)
Break the Chain: E-mail Forwards & Introductory Critical Thinking
Description:
For most people, e-mail forwards are a source of either minor annoyance or entertainment, but there are those who pass them on. The chain letter that began in the days of snail mail has branched out to text messages and Facebook posts, but it remains a great way to learn the basics of critical thinking. Going from the obnoxious to the offensive to the outright despicable, we'll be taking a look at why 'FWD' are three very evil letters.
After WWII, many Melanesian tribes adopted new religious practices. They imitated the behaviors of the Allies who had used their island homes as staging areas for resource distribution in an attempt to exhort the gods for 'cargo.' These 'cargo cults' are a powerful analogue for pseudoscience and those that practice it. What can Melanesian tribes teach us about the difference between science and pseudoscience? Attend this talk to find out.