A variety of Skeptical products are available for purchase over the internet at http://www.skeptics.com.au
Here are some highlights with special relevance to the Victorian Skeptics.
In 1988, Bob Hawke introduced the term “The Clever Country” while opening Canberra’s Questacon . While attracting some derision, not least from many of the elite in Australia’s scientific community, the phrase did catalyse wide debate about the opportunities and difficulties confronting the Australian community in an era of enormous technological change. A focus on Education was inevitable.
At the same time, Victorian Education Policy underwent a sweeping revision. A plethora of year 11 and 12 courses were rationalized into the VCE, years 1 to 10 being subjected to the Curriculum and Standards Framework. The framers of the CSF held that the Curriculum could be divided into a small number of Key Learning Areas, and that prescriptive guidelines should commence at Junior Primary level.
Science is a Key Learning area. Victorian Government schools are required to provide a Science education based on the CSFII document, with non-Government schools generally following suit.
There is a wide range of passionately held opinions about the teaching of Science to younger students, but they can be categorized as follows:
Chris Krishna-Pillay, Manager of CSIRO Education in Victoria will address these issues on Wednesday May 21 in The Barton Room, Whitehorse Inn Hotel, 5 Burwood Road Hawthorn.
(Transcript of the talk – May 2003 Talk) Admission is $10 at the door, with refreshments provided.
Chris will commence his presentation at 8.00 pm. We suggest you try the excellent bistro before the talk.
Whitehorse Inn Hotel has plenty of parking space, is a one-minute walk from Hawthorn Station, and is served by tram route 75.
Vic Skeptics are planning more events at this venue in 2003.
Teachers! There’s a new source of material designed to help you promote critical thinking in YOUR classroom! Australian Skeptics Teacher Resource http://www.skeptics.com.au/features/teachers.htm
Hogan, Peter (Ed.), 1992. pub Australian Skeptics Inc.
This small book gives the main arguments used by creationists against evolution (using original creationist material) with concise, readable rebuttals by science educators. Will help non-scientists understand why creation “science” can’t be taken seriously.
This handy little book is available for A$4.00 (including P & H) from Australian Skeptics Inc., Victorian Branch (Contact Details)
Also available electronically on the “Great Skeptics CD” (http://www.skeptics.com.au/features/news/greatcd.htm)
(Creationism articles)
One of the many amazing stories in the Bible is the story of The Great Flood. Before The Great Flood Noah was commanded by his God to build an ark (a large boat) and to collect a pair of all the animals on Earth. The Great Flood wiped out all the other animals, including humans, and those on Noah’s Ark repopulated the Earth after the flood subsided.
Given our present knowledge of evolution, genetics, geology, physics and archeology, few people, even practising Christians, believe the story to be literally true. However there are some people who insist that all the Bible stories are literally true. As well as the story of Noah’s Ark, they also believe that:
These are the fundamental beliefs of Creationism. But why are the religious beliefs of Creationists of concern to scientists? Does it matter if people’s religious beliefs are in disagreement with scientific knowledge? Scientists and science educators are concerned about Creationism because:
Charles Darwin proposed the theory of evolution in 1859. He presented his theory after a five-year journey around the world as the naturalist on a British naval View More Creation v Evolution
Australians with sites containing Skeptical content. See also Australian Skeptical Organisations
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| Lynne Kelly | http://www.lynnekelly.com.au/skeptics_guide.html | Teacher and Skeptical lecturer, best known for her book “The Skeptic’s Guide to the Paranormal“ |
| Dan’s Data | http://www.dansdata.com http://www.dansdata.com/empower.htm http://www.dansdata.com/personal/mottoes.htm | Although for the most part a site that reviews hi-tech toys and computer hardware, check out Dan’s clash with the EMPower Quacks, the Wine Clip Review and his “offensive“/skeptical mottos |
| Mark Mayer | http://www.markmayer.com | Professional “Mind Illusionist” – see ‘Consumer Affairs‘ section for info on tv psychics John Edward and James van Pragh info |
| Wally Anglesea | http://users.bigpond.net.au/wanglese/ | Various Skeptical matters including the “Little Pebble” Australian doomsday cult |
| Peter Brown | http://www.hotkey.net.au/~petercb/ | info on William Kamm / “Little Pebble” Australian Doomsday cult |
| Peter Bowditch | http://www.ratbags.com/ | A site which critically examines the claims of alternative medicine, anti-vaccination groups among other topics. |
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See also Australian Skeptical People
| THE AUSTRALIAN SKEPTICS |
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| National | http://www.skeptics.com.au | |
| VIC Branch | http://www.skeptics.com.au/vic | |
| SA Branch | http://www.skepticssa.org.au/ | |
| ACT Branch | http://finch.customer.netspace.net.au/skeptics/ | |
| NSW Branch | http://www.users.on.net/~ct/skeptic/nsw/ | |
| QLD Branch | qld@skeptics.com.au | |
| WA Branch | wa@skeptics.com.au | |
| GOVERNMENT |
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| Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) | http://www.accc.gov.au | Australian consumer protection |
| Australian Securities and Investments Council (ASIC) | http://www.fido.asic.gov.au/fido/fido.nsf | consumer information on financial scams |
| OTHER |
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| Australian Council Against Health Fraud | http://www.acahf.org.au | |
| No Answers In Genesis | http://home.austarnet.com.au/stear/ | Presents information countering the disinformation spread by Creationists |
| Australian False Memory Association | http://www.afma.asn.au/ | |
| The Correx Files | http://www.abc.net.au/science/correx/default.htm | |
| Investigator Magazine | http://www.adam.com.au/bstett/ | Adelaide-based home-made magazine of enquiry |
| The Mystery Investigators | http://www.mysteryinvestigators.com/ | The MIs hold science shows that investigate the truth behind the “paranormal“ |
SCIENCE TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH: THE SKEPTICS ARE INVOLVED!
The STAV annually invites all Victorian school children to participate in the Science Talent Search. Students may enter in a variety of categories over six age groups from Junior Primary to Senior Secondary.
The philosophy behind STS is to encourage all participants, and to reward large numbers of the more deserving entries with modest bursaries, rather than adopt a “winner take all” stance.
For 2003, the fifty-second STS, the theme was “Freshwater“. This year the theme is “Out of This World“
Because of the nature of the STS bursary system, about sixty children benefited from Skeptics’ support in 2003, with amounts ranging from $25 to $50.
Vic Skeptics’ Christopher Short (himself a former STS bursary winner) and Ken Greatorex attended the STS awards in 2003 and were fortunate enough to meet and interview some of “our” students. We were surprised to discover that Australian Skeptics Inc was their third major sponsor for 2003 in money terms, behind only the State Government and Latrobe University. This commitment is on-going, and has increased for 2004.
Devrim Van Dijk, Balwyn High School ; Junior; “Managing Water on Mars“; Creative Essay ( with Christopher Short, Ken Greatorex of Vic Skeptics.)
Stuart Gay, McKinnon Secondary College; Junior; “Action of Soaps and Detergents” Wall Chart
Eleanor Coleman and Amy-Rose Fraser , Strathcona GGS; Primary; “Ponds Alive” Game.
Sarah Douglas, Mt Waverly Secondary College; Intermediate; Games; “Compoundability Game“
We’d like to thank STAV for staging the event and allowing us to participate; the Skeptics Foundation for appreciating the value of STS to Science education and the fostering of original and critical thought in Victorian children; and the kids who got involved.
Vic Skeptics have undertaken a number of initiatives in recent years which could be described as “overtly Educational“, including The Great Australian Science Show, Science teachers’ conferences, attempting (with limited success) to maintain a Teacher Resource web page, the Science Talent Search and advertising in Science teacher’s publications. Several of our members have spoken to and conducted activities with school groups, and one of our guest Public Speakers last year addressed Science Education in Victoria. We distribute work sheets on Skeptical issues with mail-outs of Science Teachers’ Association periodicals, and run stalls at Teachers’ conferences. We demonstrated the Bed of Nails at a Psychology Teachers’ Conferences early in 2004 at STAV’s request.
Ken Greatorex
News from the 2004 Australian Skeptics Convention
Today one of our members attended an informal trial of the Wine Clip. This magnetic device is sold with the claim that when fitted to a bottle of wine, it will greatly improve the wine’s taste. So far the results are negative.
Babies at risk from worthless homeopathic vaccines
Australian Skeptics media release about Homeopathy – an unproven, nonsensical remedy commonly available in Australia.
http://www.skeptics.com.au/features/press/050510homeopathy.htm