December 15, 2013

Energy Medicine at RMIT

by: Mal Vickers

‘Energy Medicine’: What is it? And should Australian Universities teach it?

energy medicine

There is a fascinating array of courses available at universities. Like me, do you look for interesting courses that might give you the edge in the jobs market or lead to an exciting new career?

Recently, I learnt that RMIT University offered a course in a relatively new branch of medicine, Energy Medicine.

The ways humanity have explored and improved human health seem endless. There’s pathology, psychology, dentistry, physiotherapy and nuclear medicine to name just a few. Should energy medicine be amongst those?

This new branch of medicine offers hope for naturally improving human health at little or no cost; but is it really effective?

RMIT and Energy Medicine

RMIT University are still advertising Energy Medicine both as a stand-alone subject in which anyone can enrol, and as an elective of the larger ‘Master of Wellness’ program.

The Master of Wellness program is administered by the Health Science faculty at RMIT.

Masters of Wellness

RMIT’s website indicates that Master of Wellness is View More Energy Medicine at RMIT

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December 2, 2013

Liza With a Zee?

OR

By Ken Greatorex

This  article was first posted a couple of years ago. As we keep getting inquiries about the spelling of our name, we’ve dusted it off and brought it to the top of the blog.

– – – – – – – –

Vic Skeptics received this via email a few months ago.

Hello, I’m interested in your organisation but wonder why you choose to use the U.S spelling of sceptic? Surely, this is not the norm in Australia and for pedants such as myself is quite off-putting.
John

The following is based on the considered replies that the question prompted.

View More Liza With a Zee?

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December 1, 2013

December Puzzles

puzzled-parrot-carlos-quirozPicture Puzzles and “Mixed Bag” Questions are in their usual spot at the top of the PUZZLES PAGE

December’s Skeptical Crossword is our largest yet. It’s theme is Alternative Healing Practices, and you have your choice of “straight” or cryptic clues. DECEMBER 2013 SKEPTICAL CROSSWORD

And finally, there’s DECEMBER 2013 LOGIC & MATHS PROBLEMS

Enjoy.

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December 1, 2013

“Mixed Bag” Questions December 2013 – Answers

1. 4 ducks

2. Eddie Murphy – Shrek; Daniel Radcliffe – Harry Potter; Elijah Wood – Lord of the Rings; Leonardo DiCaprio – Titanic; Ewan MacGregor – Attack of the Clones; Mel Gibson – Chicken Run

3. True

4. Mother and Son

5. False. It doesn’t really stand for anything.

6. Dingo

7. herring

8. Uncle Tom’s Cabin

9. Pinnochio

10. Plum

“Next Level”:

11. Lara

12. James Dougherty

13. Butter, sugar, salt, egg, mashed pumpkin (cold), Self raising flour

14. Cooktown Orchid (Dendrobium bigibbum var. Phalaenopsis)

15. Normie Rowe

16. Roller Skates / Inline Skates

17. Philology / Study of languages

18. 7 (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David)

19. A Roman Goddess

20. Converted to Catholicism

21. Arkansas (one of the first black students integrated into college)

22. The Australian Red Ensign

23. Shirley McLaine

24. Telling fortunes / the future by looking at cheese.

25. Old letters of the English alphabet (“runes” is close enough)

26. An explosive charge used to bring down walls

27. A month of a new Calendar brought in during the French Revolution

28. Large Asteroid and its satellite

29. Flute playing, boxing and chess. He’s also an actor and broadcaster

30. Dhani Harrison (George’s Son)

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November 30, 2013

Science Technology Future

This weekend in Melbourne the Science Technology Future conference is on. It features a great range of speakers, some of whom have previously spoken at our Skeptics in the Cafe third Monday events – such as Professor Peter Doherty and Tim van Gelder. Quite a few regulars from the skeptics community will also be in attendance. Please go to the conference website for full details.

Tickets are still available.

Science Technology n Future conf

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November 20, 2013

Science Talent Search 2013 – many talented students found

by Terry Kelly

For the 11th consecutive year the Australian Skeptics have sponsored the Science Talent Search (STS) run by the Science Teachers Association of Victoria (STAV).  The awards have been going for 62 years and many prominent Scientists have benefited from the encouragement these awards gave them when they were at school –  Tim Flannery, for example.

More Photos of STS Below
More Photos of STS Below

This year there were almost 2000 entries and 584 Bursaries were awarded. Australian Skeptics sponsored 65 of these Bursaries (one in nine) making us one of the major sponsors, alongside such large and respected organisations as the CSIRO, BHP Billiton, The Royal Society of Victoria, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria University and the University of Melbourne. It’s one of the best things the Australian Skeptics do. It’s a great boost for the students and priceless publicity for us.

The awards ceremonies, and displays of the entries, were held at La Trobe University on November 6th. Categories were : Creative Writing; Experimental Research; Inventions; Working Models; Science Photography; Video Productions; Games; Computer Programs; and Posters and Scientific Wallcharts.

We had 5 of our Victorian Committee attend the ceremonies which gave us a wonderful opportunity to meet many of the students we sponsored, and their families. They seemed to View More Science Talent Search 2013 – many talented students found

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November 11, 2013

Professor Chris French in Melbourne, Mordialloc & Wodonga

Before his appearance as keynote speaker at the Australian Skeptics National Convention in Canberra,  Professor Chris French will speak:

– at Vic Skeptics Café, 140 Lygon Street Carlton on Monday 18th November from 6 pm;

– at  Mordi Skeptics, Mordialloc Sporting Club 528 Main St, Mordialloc,  Tuesday 19th November 7.30 pm (after a meal from about 6.30).  Please RSVP on-line at http://www.meetup.com/Mordi-Skeptics-in-the-Pub/

– and at Borderline Skeptics  at Wodonga in The Carrier Arms Hotel, Corner of South and Church street,  in “The Courtyard” dining/stone grill section from 6:30 pm, Wednesday 20th November.

Title: Weird Science: An Introduction to Anomalistic Psychology

Summary: Ever since records began, in every known society, a substantial proportion of the population has reported unusual experiences many of which we would today label as “paranormal”.

Opinion polls show that the majority of the general public accepts that paranormal phenomena do occur. Such widespread experience of and belief in the paranormal can only mean one of two things. Either the paranormal is real, in which case this should be accepted by the wider scientific community which currently rejects such claims; or else belief in and experience of ostensibly paranormal phenomena can be fully explained in terms of psychological factors.

View More Professor Chris French in Melbourne, Mordialloc & Wodonga

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