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The Skeptics encourage people to be careful about what they believe. Things that sound "too good to be true" - usually aren't true! Science has revealed many amazing things, but amazing claims are also used to deceive and to rip-off innocent people.
The Skeptics also encourage thoughtful, rational exploration of the world around us, especially in matters considered 'paranormal'. To this end, the Skeptics are keen to promote scientific education and a sense of wonder in the natural world.
- See what events are on our Calendar.
- Get Involved with the Australian Skeptics
- Contact Details also - For the Press
- Please visit the national site (http://www.skeptics.com.au) to find out more about the Skeptical movement in Australia.
| Weird and Wonderful - Read about all manner of supernatural and scientific matters on our Articles page including these popular topics |
| Creation v Evolution - Sensing Murder - Bed of Nails - Murders and Clairvoyants - Homeopathy |
(Yes, "sceptical" & "sceptics" are the correct spellings but we're so clever we spell them with a k instead. :-)
COMING EVENTS
- Monday 20th October, La Notte Restaurant 140 Lygon Street Carlton. The Expert at the Card Table and Martin Gardner presented by Wal Parker. Wal Parker is a scientist and Secretary of the Melbourne chapter of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. http://www.magician.org/ .
The Expert at the Card Table - Artifice, Ruse, and Subterfuge by S. W. Erdnase was originally published in 1902. It has been widely studied by magicians, gamblers, and advantage players. It is still of great interest as is the identity of the elusive author. We will discuss the book, the search for the author, and Martin Gardner's part in this search. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expert_at_the_Card_Table:_The_Classic_Treatise_on_Card_Manipulation
Other relevant topics in Wikipedia include Martin Gardner , S.W. Erdnase, Poker, Advantage gambling, Confidence trick, and Fraud.
8:00 pm or join us for a meal from 6pm. (Donation requested)
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- On Monday 17 November our featured speaker will be Kylie Paterson, who will discuss her experiences teaching evolution in a Catholic school.
Kylie Paterson has worked at St.Bedes (an all-boys Catholic school in suburban Melbourne) for 6 years teaching Chemistry, Science and Maths. She will talk about the pathways subject Genetics and Evolution and how she supports the Catholic ethos of the school while teaching a subject that does not. Kylie will display some books and list resources that she uses when debating with some students who are adamant that evolution is wrong. She will also talk a little about the class pet project and our use of him in Genetics, Evolution and in the teaching of children with behavioural problems.
La Notte Restaurant 140 Lygon Street Carlton.
8:00 pm or join us for a meal from 6pm. (Donation requested)
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STATEMENT on CLIMATE CHANGE:
The Australian Skeptics do not have an official position in the climate change debate. This is a question being decided by the Science community, and it is not our role to be arbiters of Science. It is up to each individual to make up their own mind. Theories in Science are accepted and rejected on the available evidence, not decided by numbers of people in favour, or by statements from authorities. However, in deciding on who is more likely to be correct, we would have more confidence in information that comes from peer reviewed journals and from scientists working in the field. _____________________________________________________________________________
NEWS GROUP
Vic Skeptics have an email news group. We send about one bulletin per month, listing and describing our upcoming events and activities, as well as supplying contact information for similar organisations. To join this group, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vic_skeptics_news/
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NOW AVAILABLE
Dr John Long (Head of Science, Museum of Melbourne)
The Fossil Record - What Gaps?
This DVD, a project of Vic Skeptics, is now available.
$12 per copy inc. postage. From:
- The Australian Skeptics Shop (see below)
OR
- feedback@skeptics.com.au,
OR
- Vic Skeptics PO Box 5166 Melbourne 3001
OR
- 'phone 1800 666 996 _____________________________________________________________________________
VISIT THE AUSTRALIAN SKEPTICS SHOP
Purchase books and DVDs, subscribe to The Skeptic magazine, make your convention bookings on-line, etc at https://secure5.ozhosting.com/skeptics/shop/dvd.htm
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SKEPTICAL DISCUSSION PAMPHLETS:
You can download any or all of our pamphlets (free) as .pdfs from: http://www.skeptics.com.au/resources/resources.htm#pamphlets. These pamphlets were written to stimulate critical discussion in classrooms, but are useful for anyone who wants a Skeptical view on such topics.
