Month: December 2008

December 24, 2008

Fifth Annual Skeptics Trivia Extravaganza

Victorian Skeptics are hosting our 5th Annual Trivia Night at La Notte Restaurant on Monday May 18th 2009.

The Trivia starts at 7.30 pm.

  • NOTE: the earlier than usual start.

As usual, we’ll start gathering for a meal from about 6pm (or earlier!)

Previous Trivia Nights have been among our most popular events; – this year, get your team organised early , and if you’re having a meal at the restaurant before the Trivia, please arrive and order early.

If you can’t come equipped with a ready-made team, don’t stay home and mope! We can organise consortia of suitable intellects on the evening.

As we are offering a number of valuable prizes, your monetary donation will be gratefully received!

December 24, 2008

Darwin Day Suggestions

DARWIN DAY 2008 is on Tuesday 12th February

There are a number of significant events planned for 2009 around the World. Here are some examples: http://darwin-legend.org/html/Charles-Darwin-2009-Celebration-events.htm
There are also some public events planned for in and around Melbourne. Here are a few.
(Melbourne) International conference 8th to 13th February http://www.darwinday.org/events/listing.php?id=12527
(Melbourne) Rick Barker (Philosophy Forum) 10th February “Evolution’s Controversial History: Lamark, Darwin and Wallace” (Lecture) Unitarian Church Hall, 110 Grey Street, East Melbourne. 8pm
(Melbourne) There will be a celebratory evening Barbecue on the south bank of the Yarra River on Darwin Day, February 12. Closest intersection: Alexandra Avenue / Anderson Street. Melways 2G D11 or 44 HB12. BYO everything from 5.30pm.
(Mornington) http://www.darwinday.org/events/listing.php?id=12492
Please keep us up to date with your activities for inclusion on this page. Send an email to feedback@skeptics.com.au, attaching relevant text and images.//

December 24, 2008

Calendar 2008

2008

Kylie Paterson

Kylie Paterson talks about Teaching Evolution in a Catholic School. 17th of November
(!!OTHERS!! = events organised by or with other groups)

21 January Skeptics Cafe Speaker: Max Wallace The Purple Economy
!!OTHERS!!around 12 February VARIOUS DARWIN DAY CELEBRATIONS Darwin Day Suggestions
18 February Skeptics Cafe Speaker: Dr Krissy Wilson Anomalistic Psychology; The Science of Self-Deception
17 March Skeptics Cafe CULTS Panel
21 April Skeptics Cafe Speaker: Nicholas J Johnson The Honest Con Man
19 May Skeptics Cafe ”Fourth Annual Skeptics Trivia Extravaganza”
16 June Skeptics Cafe Video Night
21 July Skeptics Cafe Speaker: Stephen Mayne: The Governance of Australian Companies
18 August Skeptics Cafe Speaker from ACCC Internet Scams
15 September Skeptics Cafe Forum on Active Skepticism
20 October Skeptics Cafe Presenter: Wal Parker: The Expert at the Card Table and Martin Gardner
17 November Skeptics Cafe Presenter: Kylie Paterson: Teaching Evolution in a Catholic School.
15 December Skeptics Cafe Social Evening
December 24, 2008

Public Events (Other) for 2008

Visit this great site for heaps of science events:

Other Victorian organisations of interest that regularly have public events:

Science Organisations

Other Groups View More Public Events (Other) for 2008

December 18, 2008

Chris Krishna-Pillay

Chris Krishna-Pillay one of Australia’s most prominent science communicators and performers. Chris has performed across Australia, as well as in the UK and New Zealand. In his writing credits he includes, “Howard Florey – a Tale of Tall Poppies“, “Somnium” and “Pre-Coital, the Science of Dating“. He also writes and performs the “Great Big Science Gigs” performed across Australia each year as part of National Science Week.
Chris’ energetic presence, quick wit and engaging demeanour have made him a much sought after performer and MC. He is frequently called upon as a speaker and has been MC for countless events from orchestral concerts to corporate award presentations. Recent engagements have been with BHP Billiton, Bunnings, ABC, Siemens, State Library of Victoria and CSIRO. Chris has experience in television, drama, musicals, stand-up comedy and radio.
He was the science consultant for children’s television series “Wicked Science” (Network Ten), and has appeared on television on “Today“, “Scope” and “Totally Wild“. He is also a regular panelist on popular radio program “Einstein A Go Go” (Triple R radio).
Chris is Victorian Manager of CSIRO Education where he has worked for more than 15 years, and is Secretary of the National Science Week Victorian Coordinating Committee.

December 18, 2008

Margaret Kittson

Margaret has over 30 years experience as a teacher and librarian in a range of government and private schools, predominantly in Queensland.
Back in the late 1970s, while working as a librarian at a large metropolitan high school, she had a number of run-ins with fundamentalist Christians, biblical literalists who tried their hardest not only to get “creation science” material placed in the school’s library, but to get what was already there relocated to a science number. For those familiar with Dewey, this means somewhere in the 500s. She had placed their material in the 200s (the division for religion), specifically at 213, the number for “creation”.
Things that upset her are people who think they know everything about education and teaching because they once went to school; people who believe that there are “magic bullet” solutions to complex issues in educating children out there which just need to be imposed on to recalcitrant teachers. In February 2006 she had a “close encounter of the first kind” with one such purported “magic bullet” solution: Brain Gym: a set of fun exercises purported to help people “Learn ANYTHING faster and more easily”.
The question which interests her is just how can something grounded in pseudo-science (Applied Kinesiology and Traditional Chinese Medicine are two key components) gain so much traction in educational circles.