CONVENTION SPEAKERS
Speakers at the Australian Skeptics 2006 Convention, to be held 18-19 November in Melbourne.
Dr Stephen Basser
- (GP, Australian Skeptics commentator on medicine and alternative medicine).
- Topic: “Medicines, Money and the Media – A Dangerous Cocktail?”
- Go to www.skeptics.com.au “Search” for articles by Stephen Basser.
Dr Martin Bridgstock
- (Griffith University Academic, author)
- Topic: “Where is the truth most needed? Where can skepticism do the most good? ”
- http://www.griffith.edu.au/school/sce/StaffPages/staff_bridgstock_2.html
Leigh Dayton
- (Science Journalist, The Australian)
- Topic: “A Skeptics Guide to the Newsroom.”
- http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/cyberwar/biog.htm
Dr Kevin Hennessy
2006 Convention Accomodation
If you have any questions or need assistance in arranging accommodation, please contact: Email convention@skeptics.com.au Phone (03) 9378 4414
NEARBY HOTELS
The following hotels have been found to be near the venue. The event organizers have no connection to these venues and have not thoroughly researched each facility. The information that follows is intended to help you narrow your search and is about places to stay that are close to the museum.
THE HOTEL WINDSOR At the top end of town, and venue for the convention dinner. MENTION THAT YOU ARE ATTENDING THE CONVENTION FOR A SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNT IN ACCOMMODATION RATES ! http://www.thewindsor.com.au/index.html 103-115 Spring Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000 Telephone (03) 9633 6000 Facsimile (03) 9633 6001 Email: reservations@thewindsor.com.au Reservations: (03) 9633 6002 toll free reservations: (1800) 033 100
THE CARLTON CLOCK TOWER http://www.clocktower.com.au/ Carlton Clocktower Apartments Shop 27 255 Drummond Street Carlton, VIC 3053 Phone: (03) 9349 9700 Fax: (03) 9349 2542 Email: info@clocktower.com.au
View More 2006 Convention Accomodation
Australian Skeptics at ScienceWorks
Vic Skeptics will be featured at ScienceWorks over the two weekends of Science Week (12th and 13th, 19th and 20th August). Drop by and see us. http://scienceworks.museum.vic.gov.au/whats_on/show.asp?ID=562169&venue=1001&type=&query=sweeksw&schools=0&days=365&page=1&dc=&mth=&yr=
Mark Mayer and Alison Dubious
(Text Version)
Australian Skeptics Present Mark Mayer “Alison Dubious- Criminal Profiler, Research Medium OR Medium Criminal With a Profile? ”
Monday 21st August La Notte Restaurant 140 Lygon Street Carlton 8pm (meal from 6pm) (Gold Coin Donation)
More about Mark Mayer: (Go to this page For the Press and scroll down)
Allison DuBois is an American psychic on whom the “true life” tv show “Medium” is loosely based. Allison DuBois has claimed to have helped the Texas Rangers and Arizona police solve crimes but both organisations claim to have never used psychics. (See http://www.twopercentco.com/rants/archives/2005/03/medium_the_dubi_4.html )
Skeptics Cafe
Come along on and have a friendly meal with the Victorian Skeptics and chat about life, the universe, everything.
| Details: 3rd Monday of every month, from 6pm; all welcome |
| Talk or other event at 8pm unless otherwise advised |
| Meals and drinks available from the restaurant |
| Venue: La Notte Cafe, 140 Lygon Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Australia. ( East side of Lygon Street between Pelham and Queensberry Streets) |
See Calendar for dates.
Convention Accommodation, 2006
The 2006 Australian Skeptics convention will be held at the Melbourne Museum on Nicholson St. near the city. It is walking distance from the Parliament or Melbourne Central Train Station. It is walking distance from the City Circle Tram and on the #34, 36 and 96 tram stop at Nicholson and Gertrude Street.
Any accommodation that you may find that has easy access to public transport will make your access to the museum quick and easy. The following url gives map descriptions of the Melbourne public transport system.
http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/transport_maps/public_transport_map.php
For fares information you can follow this:
http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/metcard/fares_zones/
If you have any questions or need assistance View More Convention Accommodation, 2006
Sensing Murder
| (See also: Sensing Nothing (SM Review), Murders and Clairvoyants, Fake psychics use Cold Reading, Win $110,000 Paranormal Prize Money!) |
The Australian Skeptics are saddened to see that Channel 10 has decided to screen “Sensing Murder“, a series in which self-proclaimed psychics attempt to solve unsolved murders. This is an insult as psychics have never solved a crime and families of victims have reported the stress of being pestered by useless “psychics” with a fountain of false leads. (See article Murders and Clairvoyants)
On the show, the psychics veer between “discovering” commonly known details, and providing useless “leads” for details that can never be checked on. It’s clear the “Sensing Murder” crew also provides them with some details, although we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they don’t tell everything. When the psychics “find” crime scenes, it’s not hidden that the crew drives them there and then guides them to the precise location.
Much is made of the psychics’ useless ability to relate already known facts about the case without being told them. Sure, this could look good at a carnival, but the show’s supposed to be about discovering new information! Fake psychics can use their common sense and Cold Reading to find already-known information. They might also View More Sensing Murder
Calendar 2006
To receive notification of upcoming Victorian Skeptics events, send an email to vic_skeptics_news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com All events are open to the general public. Most of our events are based in and around Melbourne. (Events will get added to this list through the year as we organise them.)
2006
(
= events organised by or with other groups)
| 10 January | Atheist Get together |
| 16 January | Skeptics Cafe |
| 14 February | “Can Psychics Solve Murders?” (Atheist Soc) |
| 20 February | Skeptics Cafe – The Soapbox |
| 20 March | Skeptics Cafe – Trivia Night |
| 17 April | Skeptics Cafe – Social Evening |
| 15 May | Talk: Steve Roberts UFOs – An Unusual Ally |
| 19 June | Skeptics Cafe |
| 17 July | Skeptics Cafe Dr John Perkins Is there too much religion in politics? |
| 12,13,19 and 20 August | Australian Skeptics at ScienceWorks |
| 21 August | Talk: Mark Mayer – A Magician vs TV show Medium |
| 18 September | Skeptics Cafe Bob Aikenhead, President Science Teachers Association of Victoria: Initiatives for Improving Science Education in the State of Victoria |
| 16 October | Skeptics Cafe Dr Neil Thomason, History & Philosophy of Science, Melbourne Uni; Should We Be Skeptical About Scientists? |
| 30 October | Science Talent Search Exhibition and Awards Day, Latrobe University |
| 18-19 November | Australian Skeptics 2006 Convention – Melbourne |
| 18 November | Inaugural Skeptics Awards Dinner, Windsor Hotel, Melbourne |
| 19 November | Free Talk “The Fossil Record – What Gaps?” Dr John Long – see Convention Program |
| 20 November | Skeptics Cafe – “Towards a Nuclear Future” Dr Colin Keay |
| 18 December | Skeptics Cafe Social Night |
There are other Victorian organisations of interest that regularly have Public Events (Other) Previous events: Calendar 2005, Calendar 2004 Extra keywords: sceptics