Skeptics Café

“Dinosaurs from China”

In part sponsored by the Australian Skeptics this impressive exhibition of dinosaurs and their progressive evolution into birds runs from 19 November 2004 to 17 April 2005 in the Melbourne Museum. “After visiting the Chinese Dinosaurs exhibition people will fully appreciate that dinosaurs are not extinct… they’re alive and well, and singing in your back yard.” (Prof Archer, past Director of the Australian Museum)

 From China comes an exhibition of massive proportions.
 One of the largest collections of dinosaur skeletons ever
 to tour Australia is about to take over Melbourne Museum
 including giant skeletons, rare fossils and new discoveries
 such as amazing feathered dinosaurs as well as a fantastic
 programme of children's activities.
 Adult $16; Child $6; Concession $8; Family $36
 (also includes entry to Melbourne Museum and a free ticket
 redeemable until 10 July 2005)

This is a singularly appropriate sponsorship for the Skeptics, as one of our principal concerns has always been to counter the influence of religious fundamentalists on our education system and particularly on the teaching of science. These ‘Young Earth Creationists‘, in endeavouring to keep their followers in ignorance of the evidence that really exists to underpin scientific theories of the evolution of species (and much else) have put up perennial strawman arguments along the lines of “There is no example of one species changing into another species” and equally fatuous questions such as, “Of what use is half a wing?“

Such propositions have never been scientifically valid ones, but they have had a superficial plausibility for the unsophisticated followers of this anti-scientific cult. The dinosaur specimens sponsored by the Skeptics in this exhibition, showing different transitional species on the road from reptile to bird, will serve to graphically expose such creationist rhetoric for the specious nonsense it always has been. (See Creationism Articles)

• (Photo1: Model of Sinosauropteryx prima made by Alan Groves working with palaeontologists Drs Walter Boles and Sue Hand.)
• (Photo2: Model of Sinornithosaurus smillenii made by Alan Groves working with palaeontologists Drs Walter Boles and Sue Hand.)

For more details about the Melbourne Museum Event see http://melbourne.museum.vic.gov.au/whatson/show.asp?ID=561503

For more information

• Australian Museum Chinese Dinosaurs Site
  • http://www.amonline.net.au/chinese_dinosaurs/
• Background story (with photos) – Association of Australasian Palaeontologists
  • http://www.es.mq.edu.au/mucep/aap/nomennudum/issues/28/chinosaurs.htm
• The Science Show (RN) (2002)
  • http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ss/stories/s720938.htm

We’ve discovered Victoria University have a degree based on Homeopathy !!! What’s next? A degree in mind reading or tea-leaf fortune telling? There are millions of dollars Paranormal Prize Money world-wide waiting for the proof that homeopathy’s nonsensical theories actually work. In the meantime, the Victorian committee of the Australian Skeptics have nominated Victoria University for the infamous Bent Spoon Award. Victoria University has taken education to a new low. http://www.staff.vu.edu.au/hdadmin/Staff/Courses/HS/UG/Naturopathy&Homeopathy.pdf

2004 photos from Peter Hogan, Various events edited by Ken Greatorex
Marc Abrahams’ Visit
Marc presented a talk on The Ig-nobel Prizes at Melbourne Museum

Robyn Abrahams, Marc Abrahams, Rosemary Sceats, Peter Hogan

Marc Abrahams with More of The Usual Suspects

Audience at Marc Abrahams’ talk on “The Ignoble Prizes”

Christopher Short, Charles Tivendale and Rosemary Sceats man the Information Desk at Marc Abrahams’ talk
Lynne Kelly does her thing at The Whitehorse Inn

A spot of Mind Reading

Lynne’s fascinated audience
Scenes from Sydney Convention

Lynne Kelly, Barry Williams Convention 2004 Sydney. Lynne has just been declared Skeptic of the Year

Steve Walker

Sandra and Mark Mayer

Peter Rogers Participants/onlookers include Lynne Kelly Mark Mayer and Sandra Mayer
A Monday Night at The Whitehorse
 

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Remember the craze for “Unique Water” – an Australian bottled water consumed in vast quantities by fans with religious devotion, proclaiming that it had miraculous healing powers? Its discoverer has disappeared without trace just as clinical trials were due to begin … http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/01/23/1106415456742.html

Scammer Scammed: A Melbourne financial manager swindled his own clients out of more than $1 million, but then blew it when he was suckered into a notorious Nigerian letter scam. He now faces jail and an industry life ban after admitting that his greed was criminal.

http://theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/18/1097951628112.html

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