Category: Announcements

September 1, 2012

Puzzles for September

This month we have a new set of Logic and Maths Puzzles, as well as our now-traditional Picture Puzzles, Mixed Bag Questions and Crossword.

Usually our crossword puzzles have a monthly theme about some aspect of Skeptical interest. The crossword for September 2012 is on a slightly different theme. Vic Skeptics provides free resources for the classroom at all age levels. This Crossword is an example. It’s called Measurement – Units and Quantities and is aimed at Senior Secondary Physics students. See how far you can get without having to google!

Go to our PUZZLES section for all September’s puzzles, or you can go direct to the Crossword HERE and the Logic & Maths Puzzles HERE

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July 5, 2012

Gippsland Skeptics In the Pub – update

Gippsland Skeptics In the Pub now has two meetings a month, one in Sale and one in Morwell.

The Sale meetings happen on the Fourth Friday of the month at Relish At the Gallery http://www.menumate.com.au/relish-at-the-gallery from 6.30 pm.

The Morwell Venue is The Top Pub (Morwell Hotel) http://www.morwellhotel.com.au/ and meetings are on the Second Friday of each month, also from 6.30 pm.

Just turn up and ask for The Skeptics!

For information about Skeptics groups around Victoria, subscribe to our monthly news bulletin:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vic_skeptics_news/

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April 2, 2012

Dr Ken Harvey Awarded CHOICE “Consumer Champion”

Congratulations to Dr Ken Harvey. The Australian Consumers Association has named Dr Ken Harvey as the CHOICE “Consumer Champion of 2012”.

It seems if there is a shonky medical product on sale, Dr Harvey knows about it and works tirelessly to highlight the problem to government authorities and the public at large; and to improve policy and regulation to reduce the harm and financial burden that shonky products impose on consumers.

The award is well deserved. The number of committees, policy groups and organisations on which Dr Harvey serves and is actively involved with is bewildering.

Most notably in the last twelve months, Dr Harvey was faced with a problem that every consumer advocate dreads facing. He was sued for defamation by the promoters of a slimming product called SensaSlim. He did not back down in his criticisms of the claims made for the product. Eventually View More Dr Ken Harvey Awarded CHOICE “Consumer Champion”

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March 18, 2012

James Randi returns to Australia in 2012

James “The Amazing”  Randi is returning to Australia to speak at the National Convention. Most readers would be familiar with the life and activities of James Randi, arguably the world’s most prominent skeptic.

The Convention will be held in Melbourne starting on Friday the 30th of November.

The Convention’s organising committee represents several skeptical groups in Victoria. Collectively they are very grateful that Randi has agreed to visit Australia once again.

The most up to date information about the 2012 National Convention, can be found here.

Other news is that there is a project under way to make a documentary about Randi’s life, headed by the well regarded and experienced Justin Weinstein and Tyler Measom. The producers are asking for contributions to help get the project under way. Details can be found here.

The trailer for the documentary.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/36724471]

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January 20, 2012

Darwin Day Barbecue 2012

You are invited to join us in celebrating  Charles Darwin’s birthday with a Barbeque on Sunday, 12th February 2012  from about noon till ??? on the banks of the Yarra at Alexandra Avenue Melbourne.

Melways, 2G D11 Just west from the Morell Bridge and Anderson Street. Next to the Botanic Gardens.

All Welcome

Free BBQ facilities available

BYO food and drinks.

Since the early 1990s, Darwin Day has been celebrated around the world including in Melbourne. Every year we’ve said  “this year’s celebrations will be the biggest party so far”, and we’ve been pretty much right. Come along and enjoy a summer BBQ by the Yarra.

TEACHERS: for our suite of Darwin Day Classroom Exercises, go here: http://skeptics.cafe/for-sale/stuff-for-teachers-education-resources/darwin-day-february-12-classroom-suite-of-exercises/

For a brief article about Charles Darwin, go here: http://skeptics.cafe/2007/11/27/about-charles-darwin/

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November 29, 2011

Skeptics presenting at STAVCON 2011

By Don Hyatt
The Victorian Skeptics were out in force again this year at the Science Teachers’ Association annual conference STAVCON.

The display attracted a steady stream of interested teachers including, in one case, a former student. Teachers weren’t just attracted by the free Stuff for Teachers DVD or the Skeptics pens, although the new 2012 Skeptics Calendar was a highly prized item. Clearly debunking Kinesiology and the effect of the placebo power wrist band was popular as were fielding the range of “What do you think about ….” questions expertly and wisely addressed by the Vic Skeptics assistants.

The Skeptics also presented a workshop on Real Science for the Real World. Ken Greatorex designed and conducted a unique double blind dowsing experiment, the statists of which matched that of guesswork rather than an ability to dowse. Participants had to ‘dowse’ 5 hidden jars containing water or gravel after ‘calibrating’ their dowsing rod. None of the teachers got all correct, so the $110,000 challenge is still safe! Don Hyatt also covered topics such as homeopathy, power wrist bands, the AVN and SensaSlim. It is fair to say that there was a fair bit of interest in the topics raised.
Don demystifies the trick of Kinesiology to a STAVCON participant. The placebo power wrist band is exposed as a fraud.

View More Skeptics presenting at STAVCON 2011

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