European Skeptics Congress 2019 – The Joy of Skepticism

The next European Skeptics Congress will be held from 29 August to 1 September 2019 in Ghent, Belgium.

Location: Academieraadzaal of Ghent University, Voldersstraat 9, 9000 Ghent, Belgium The hall is located in this building, next to the “Aula”. It’s not the neoclassic circular hall, but the auditorium next to it. The entrance hall (“Foyer”) will be used for the reception of the participants. Next to it lies the “Peristylium” where a variety of side events and the coffee breaks will be held.

Organisers: SKEPP vzw, Comité Para asbl in cooperation with ‘Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij’ and ‘Stichting Skepsis’

	May 2019
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
		1 GREENWICH: Circular reasoning: The rise of flat earth belief, Michael Marshall GREENWICH: Circular reasoning: The rise of flat earth belief, Michael Marshall 1st May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm The Star and Garter 60 Old Woolwich Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NY Link: http://greenwich.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/19698/Circular-reasoning-The-rise-of-flat-earth-belief In 2013, when Michael Marshall first interviewed the Vice President of the Flat Earth society for his show Be Reasonable, people could scarcely believe that anyone could genuinely think the Earth was flat. Five years later, Flat Earth belief has gone mainstream, spawning thousands of hours of YouTube videos, gaining widespread international media coverage, and attracting countless followers. How did we get here? In this talk, Marshall will talk through his experiences of the Flat Earth movement, take a look at the leaders and some of their reasoning, and report back from the weekend he spent at the UK’s first ever Flat Earth convention. Michael Marshall is the Project Director of the Good Thinking Society and the Vice President of the Merseyside Skeptics Society. He regularly speaks with proponents of pseudoscience for the Be Reasonable podcast. His work has seen him organising international homeopathy protests, going undercover to expose psychics and quack medics, and co-founding the popular QED conference. He has written for the Guardian, The Times and New Statesman. See more details OXFORD: Keith Kahn-Harris - Denialism: What's the alternative? OXFORD: Keith Kahn-Harris - Denialism: What's the alternative? 1st May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm St Aldates Tavern, 108 St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 1BU, UK Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/325986294717844/ * RESCHEDULED: this event will now take place on Wednesday 1st May. * One of the most challenging and frustrating questions for scientists is how to combat denialism: Holocaust denial, global warming denial, anti-vaxxers, 911 conspiracism, creationism and more. Debunking denialist claims is essential - yet also rarely effective.We are now living in a world where even the most apparently basic truths are routinely contested. In this talk, Keith Kahn-Harris, author of Denial: The Unspeakable Truth, argues that to really understand denialism, we have to face up to what he calls 'the deniers alternative'. Denialism emerges when this alternative is so 'unspeakable' that denialism becomes a preferable option. In thinking about how to combat denialism, we also have to consider whether a world without it might not be a truth-filled utopia, but something even worse. Dr Keith Kahn-Harris is a sociologist and writer. Denial: The Unspeakable Truth is his fifth book. His badly-designed website can be found at http://www.kahn-harris.org/ and he tweets irregularly at https://twitter.com/KeithKahnHarris --- 7.30PM start at St. Aldates Tavern, and entry is free, although we do suggest a donation of around £3 to cover speaker expenses. We tend to get busy, so arrive early to make sure you get a seat. If you have difficulty standing, send us a message and we'll make sure we reserve a chair for you. Come along and say hello! All welcome. http://oxford.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/21813/Denialism-Whats-the-alternative See more details HIGH WYCOMBE: Skeptics in the Pub - Social HIGH WYCOMBE: Skeptics in the Pub - Social 1st May 2019 @ 9:00 pm - 12:00 am Mad Squirrel Tap & Bottleshop, 4-5 Church St, High Wycombe HP11 2DE, UK Link: https://www.meetup.com/high-wycombe-skeptics/events/xbtvgqyzhbcb/ Join us the first Wednesday of each month for a social. There will be beer, there will be skeptical chat and there will be more beer! Please note we have changed location! We will be trying out the Mad Squirrel Brewery Shop (the old Red Squirrel shop) opposite All Saints Church, as Bootlegger was getting a bit noisy and sports obsessed! Skeptics in the Pub is a place for inquisitive people of all ages to meet and converse in the High Wycombe area. Skeptics are people who yearn to discover the truth behind extraordinary claims that people or groups may make, this can be in areas of alternative therapies, the paranormal, religion and faith, the afterlife and many other areas of life. We we often end up talking about superstition, science, religious fundamentalism, health, censorship and conspiracy theory We make no claims to balance, and actively promote science, freedom of expression and secular humanism.. You are welcome to come along and just sit and listen to others, or if you are braver get stuck right in with conversation and views! Our Website is at wycombe.skepticsinthepub.org (http://wycombe.skepticsinthepub.org/) where you will find links to join our Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/HighWycombeSkeptics/) page and follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/wycombesitp). See more details • • •	2 BRIGHTON: 9/11, Diana and Vaccines: The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories BRIGHTON: 9/11, Diana and Vaccines: The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories 2nd May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 12:00 am The Verdict 159 Edward Street, Brighton, BN2 OJB · Brighton Link: https://www.meetup.com/Brighton-Skeptics-in-the-Cafe/events/vjhzgmywhbmb/ Please NOTE: Date changed to May 2nd (the 1st Tuesday of the month ONLY for this month May). ================================== Conspiracy theories are associated with almost every significant social and political event, such as the suggested theory that the U.S. government orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, that the U.K Government murdered Diana, Princess of Wales, or that the pharmaceutical industry deliberately concealed the fact that the MMR vaccine causes Autism. Beliefs in these type of conspiracy theories are blooming in the 21st century; millions of people subscribe to them. A basic understanding of logic, rationality and probability tell us, however, that most of these conspiracy claims are probably false. So why then do so many people believe them? What makes them so attractive and compelling to certain people? And, anyway, what’s the problem, aren’t they just harmless fun? Until recently, psychology had not explored these questions in great depth but today the psychology of conspiracy theories is blooming. We are learning more about why people subscribe to conspiracy theories, alongside uncovering some of the potentially damaging consequences of conspiracy theories; maybe they are not just harmless after all. This month's guest speaker, Dr Daniel Jolley from the Department of Psychology at Staffordshire University is in the vanguard of this research. It is important that as Skeptics, we ask why people believe these claims. Dr Jolley is ideally placed to provide us with answers. He will explain what he’s found so far on the causes and consequences of belief in conspiracy theories as well as focusing specifically on the social consequences of their widespread belief. As usual, there will be a Q and A session as well as group discussion afterwards. BIOGRAPHY Dan is a Lecturer in Psychology at The University of Staffordshire. He obtained his PhD in Social Psychology in 2015 (Thesis title: The social psychological consequences of conspiracy theories) from the University of Kent. Before his lectureship, Daniel worked as a Research Associate at Lancaster University. His research interests (and expertise) is in exploring the psychology of conspiracy theories. He is particularly interested in using experimental methods to examine the social consequences of exposure to conspiracy theories – such as examining the impact on vaccination intentions after exposure to anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. His research also examines the effectiveness of interventions that aim to address the potential impact of conspiracy theories – such as aiming to improve vaccine uptake after exposure to conspiracy theories. He is therefore broadly interested in social cognition, persuasion and attitude-change, to name a few key areas. Ultimately however, he is interested in investigating real-world topical issues that span the diverse and interesting area of social psychology. Daniel blogs at conspiracypsychology.com and tweets @DrDanielJolley (https://twitter.com/DrDanielJolley) Examples of his academic work include: Jolley, D. & Douglas, K.M. (2014). The effects of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories on vaccination intentions. PLoS ONE, 9 (2): e89177. doi:[masked]/journal.pone[masked] [Impact Factor: 3.534, 15+ citations] Jolley, D. & Douglas, K.M. (2014). The social consequences of conspiracism: Exposure to conspiracy theories decreases intentions to engage in politics and to reduce one’s carbon footprint. British Journal of Psychology, 105, 35-36. doi:[masked]/bjop.12018 [Impact Factor: 3.389, 22+ citations] Book chapters: Douglas, K.M, Sutton, R.M., Jolley, D., & Wood, M. J. (2015). The social, political, environmental, and health-related consequences of conspiracy theories. In: M. Bilewicz, A. Cichocka, & W. Soral (Eds.), The psychology of conspiracy. Abingdon, Oxford, UK: Taylor & Francis. Jolley, D., Griffiths, A. W., Friel, N., Ali, J. B., & Rix, K. (2015). The importance of peer support in getting through a PhD. In: E. Norris (Ed.), The PsyPAG Guide for Psychology Postgraduates: Surviving postgraduate study. London, UK: PsyPAG Commentary pieces: Jolley, D. (2013). Are conspiracy theories just harmless fun. The Psychologist, 26(1), 60-62. [4 citations] Jolley, D. (2013). The detrimental nature of conspiracy theories. PsyPAG Quarterly, 88, 35-39. Conference talks (recent): Jolley, D. (2015, July). The social psychological consequences of conspiracy theories. Oral presentation at Security Lancaster Summer School, Twente, Netherlands. Jolley, D. & Douglas, K.M. (2014, September). Attenuating the potentially harmful effects of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. Oral presentation at BPS Social Section Annual Conference, held at Canterbury Christ Church University. Jolley, D. Douglas, K.M, & Sutton, R. (2014, June). Conspiracy theories and system justification beliefs. Oral presentation at European Association of Social Psychology, held at University of Amsterdam. Jolley, D. & Douglas, K.M. (2013, September). The effects of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories on vaccination intentions. Poster presentation at BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, held at Brighton Inn, Brighton. ============================ Please Note: Our venue manager, John at The Verdict, kindly hosts Skeptics for free, on the understanding that we will buy a few drinks at the bar to cover his staff and other expenses. To build up a small pot of money to cover costs over the whole of this season's event, as some months speaker's fees and expenses will be more than that event's door takings), there is a charge for everyone of £5 on the door for this event. ================================= Skeptics in the Cafe aims to develop the long term sustainability of the group during 2017. Tickets are limited to 70 at £5 to cover speaker's expenses. Food can be pre arranged at The Verdict at extra cost depending on interest & numbers. Please comment below ! https://verdictcafe.com/ See more details •	3 PRAHA: Jiří Černý: Postižení lidskými právy - problémy hendikepovaných PRAHA: Jiří Černý: Postižení lidskými právy - problémy hendikepovaných 3rd May 2019 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Viničná 1594/7, 128 00 Praha-Nové Město, Czechia Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1425273980947591/ Milí Pátečníci. Rádi bychom Vás srdečně pozvali na páteční přednášku, která se uskuteční v budově Přírodovědecké fakulty UK v Praze na Viničné 7, posluchárna zoologie B7, druhé patro. Postižení lidskými(?) právy, aneb problémy osob se zdravotním postižením v ČR v kontextu vývoje jim přiznaných práv a změn společnosti. O právech osob se zdravotním postižením především. Na 3. května jsme si pro vás, milý Pátečníci, po několika přírodovědeckých tématech posledních přednášek, připravili, na (snad) odlehčenou, odpočinkové, společenskovědní a zároveň nepolitické téma. Každá kodifikovaná práva lze označit za výtvor člověka, tedy lidská, ale lidská práva jsou speciální kategorie, práva zvláštní významnosti, kterých se člověk sám nemůže vzdát. V poslední době se ale z pojmu stává až nadávka, kdy začíná nabývat negativní konotace, kritici v něm vidí například umělý konstrukt a přirovnávají k různým ideologiím či dokonce „lidskoprávní propagandě.“ Jak ale tento postoj dopadá na zrovnoprávnění osob se zdravotním postižením? Patří práva osob se zdravotním postižením mezi lidská práva nebo tvoří samostatnou kategorii? Jsou vůbec potřeba, když teoreticky by měli mít práva úplně stejná jako kdyby zdravotní postižení neměli? Co už je a co není zdravotní postižení? Jak se zdravotně postiženým v ČR dnes žije? V čem jsou stále znevýhodněni až diskriminováni? Mají právo se ozvat že se jim nějakého práva či služby nedostává jako takzvaně zdravým lidem, nebo je to od nich fňukání a měli by se, slovy sociálních sítí #sestimsmiřit? Může třeba takový zastaralý slovní obrat nebo stereotyp v populárním filmu jim v reálném životě uškodit? Jak moc pomohl v přístupu k vzdělání či zaměstnání osob s postižením pokrok v kompenzačních technologiích? A dá se vůbec na všechny tyto otázky jednoznačně odpovědět? Přednáška Mgr. Jiřího Černého, slabozrakého právníka, externího doktoranda Katedry pracovního práva a práva sociálního zabezpečení Právnické fakulty UK, experta odborného sociálního poradenství organizace Quip, právního publicisty a člena Poradního orgánu veřejného ochránce práv pro oblast ochrany práv osob se zdravotním postižením. _ Na základě špatných zkušeností s prvním oznámením přednášky na toto téma, si uctivě dovolujeme upozornit a požádat, že akcent přednášky bude na práva osob s postižením a popularizaci problémů osob s postižením v příslušném kontextu. Přednášející sám, ani organizátoři, si nepřejí posun debaty od práva a sociálního zabezpečení někam do oblasti živých politických reálií. Přednášející není politik, ani není do funkce nominován politickým subjektem, ale odbornou veřejností a funkci vykonává bezplatně, je však vázán např. etickým kodexem KVOP, proto se k takzvaně živé politice nemůže ani nechce vyjadřovat a na tuto skutečnost tímto předem upozorňuje. Děkujeme za pochopení. See more details DELFT: Meetup, enjoy vibrant discussions and lovely beers. DELFT: Meetup, enjoy vibrant discussions and lovely beers. 3rd May 2019 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm Bierhuis De Klomp, Binnenwatersloot 5, 2611 BJ Delft, Netherlands Link https://www.meetup.com/Skeptics-in-a-Pub-Delft-edition/events/xgspllyzhbfb/ Skeptics in the Pub is your chance to get together with other Skeptics, Freethinkers, and Atheists in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere to talk, debate, and just hang out. What can you expect at our events? Interesting talks, lively debate, a chance to hang with people who have a rational outlook, and people willing to listen to you and answer your questions. See more details BASEL: Science+Fiction Festival BASEL: Science+Fiction Festival 3rd May 2019 - 5th May 2019 @ Sommercasino, Münchensteinerstrasse 1, 4052 Basel, Switzerland Link: https://www.skeptiker.ch/event/sciencefiction-3/ science+fiction ist das Festival der Wissenschaft in Basel. Vom 3. bis 5. Mai 2019 findet die vierte Ausgabe vom Science+Fiction Festival statt. Das diesjährige Thema ist: die Zeit. Wer schon einmal in einem Wartezimmer gesessen hat, weiss: Zeit ist nicht nur eine feste physikalische Grösse, sondern auch ein Phänomen der subjektiven Erfahrung. Obwohl wir die Zeit mit Uhren, Kalender und Grammatik objektiviert haben, behalten unser Körper und unser Gedächtnis ihre eigenen Zeitempfindungen. Seit Einstein wissen wir, dass Zeit auch physikalisch relativ ist – die Kunst hat seither nicht aufgehört, sich von dieser Einsicht inspirieren zu lassen. Weitere Infos folgen. Werft bereits jetzt einen Blick auf die Webseite (https://scienceandfiction.ch/festival/). See more details • • •	4 PRAHA: Prague March for Science 2019 PRAHA: Prague March for Science 2019 4th May 2019 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Václavské náměstí, 110 00 Praha, Česká Republika Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2193194017666867/ Letošní ročník připadá na mezinárodní den Star Wars, proto jsme pro vás zvolili program, který spadá před i za hranice toho, co jsme považovali za sci-fi. Čeká vás teleportace a cestování vesmírem, cílené genetické úpravy člověka pomocí nejnovějších vědeckých metod a alternativní metody, které se snaží být vědecké. A na závěr bude informativní panel mapující současný stav klimatických změn a jejich vliv na nás a naší planetu. 9.00-9.30 sraz na Václavském náměstí u sochy sv. Václava 9.30-9.45 pochod do budovy Akademie věd, Národní 3 10:00-10:15 úvod, poděkování, zahájení 10:15-10:50 Jak se kvantově (ne)teleportovat - Prof. RNDr. Pavel Cejnar Dr., DSc. Matfyz /Matematicko-fyzikální fakulta UK/ 10:50-11:25 Alternativní způsoby rychlého cestování po vesmíru - Prof. doc. RNDr. Pavel Krtouš, Ph.D. Matfyz /Matematicko-fyzikální fakulta UK/ 11:25-11:40 Pauza, postery studentů 11:40-12:15 CRISPR, editace lidského genomu - Prof. Ing. Jaroslav Petr, DrSc. Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze 12:15-12:50 (Ne)kvantové alternativní metody - MUDr. Jaromír Šrámek 1. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy 12:50-13:30 Pauza s občerstvením, postery studentů 13:30-14:30 Panel: Klimatické změny Mgr. Alexander Ač, Ph.D. Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR - CzechGlobe RNDr. Radim Tolasz, Ph.D. doc. Ing. Ilona Švihlíková, Ph.D. RNDr. Vladimír Wagner, CSc. 14:30-15:30 “volná zábava” 15:30 Ukončení Více info na https://marchforscienceprague.blogspot.com See more details OSIMO: L'universo oscuro OSIMO: L'universo oscuro 4th May 2019 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Istituto Campana per L'Istruzione Permanente, Piazza Dante Alighieri, 4, 60027 Osimo AN, Italy Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/413665716084831/ Nell'universo ci sono cose le stelle e le galassie la cui luce arriva ai nostri occhi; ma ci sono ancor più cose che non emettono luce come la materia oscura, l'energia oscura, i buchi neri. Per studiare queste cose gli astronomi devono ingegnarsi: durante questa chiacchierata proverò a raccontarvi come facciamo a sapere così tanto dell'universo senza poterlo vedere direttamente. E scopriremo che ci sono ancora tanti misteri che dobbiamo risolvere. Se siete dalle parti di Osimo (AN), venite a farmi un sacco di domande, mi raccomando! See more details • •	5 ROMANIA: Watch Party - Vaccinat - Dragoste, frică si vaccinuri ROMANIA: Watch Party - Vaccinat - Dragoste, frică si vaccinuri 5th May 2019 @ 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/270551540555855 Vom urmari impreuna cel mai bun documentar despre vaccinare din care veti intelege de ce sunt vaccinurile importante, cum se creeaza imunitatea impotriva bolilor prevenibile si de ce este miscarea antivaccinare un pericol. See more details •
6 KØBENHAVN: Myten om den hvide gud - Erobringen af Mexico KØBENHAVN: Myten om den hvide gud - Erobringen af Mexico 6th May 2019 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Heidi's Bier Bar København - ved baren på 1. sal (op ad trappen til højre) Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/658651414581291/ Denne mandag skal vi udvide vores brains med nogle af histories mange “underholdende” myter! Hvad sker der, når to kulturer mødes? Det har historien mange forskellige eksempler på! Nogle af dem lidt mere tvivlsomme end andre... I aften vil lekter Jesper Nielsen fra Institut for Tværkulturelle og Regionale Studier underholde os med myterne om den spanske erobring af de indianske kulturer (Aztekerne) i Mesoamerika i 1500-tallet. Gennem århundreder har spanske og vestlige historikere enten fremstillet spanierne som geniale triumfatorer og indianerne som underlegne barbarer - eller spanierne som blodtørstige mordere og indianerne som ofre. Hvad er op og ned, hvad er korrekt og hvad er ‘fake news’ i et af historiens største kulturmøder? Arrangementet er som altid gratis! Vi ses 🍻🧠✌️ See more details GLASGOW: Cafe Scientifique: Pumping Scottish Lochs for Renewable Energy GLASGOW: Cafe Scientifique: Pumping Scottish Lochs for Renewable Energy 6th May 2019 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Waterstones Sauchiehall St 153-157 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3EW Glasgow, United Kingdom Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2265106507096625/ So we don't have an official Glasgow Skeptics event on this date ... but our friends over in Cafe Scientifique have got something to tickle your fancy instead. The topic this month: Pumping Scottish Lochs for Renewable Energy Working to get more Renewables into the UK’s electricity system is very important. Since 2014, we have expanded into the development of sites for Pumped Storage Hydro generation. Mark will explain pumped storage and how this is a source of large stores of energy. He will discuss the advantages of this approach: The nature of pumped storage means it can act as both a generator and a store of energy (the latter is particularly relevant when it comes to helping wind farms). It responds very quickly, therefore can be powered up and down in a matter of seconds which allows it to help address sudden spikes in demand or drops in supply. With a life of at least 50 years and perhaps over 100, it is considered as much more sustainable than other forms of storage. Once built the projects will also offset millions of tons of CO2 emissions per year. About the speaker: Mark Wilson is CEO of Intelligent Land Investments Group and has been working on Renewable Energy for the last 10 years. === For more information about Café Scientifique:Visit their website: http://www.gla.ac.uk/events/cafescientifique/ === The talk is free - although they do ask for donations Accessibility: The talk is on the top floor of the store. There is a lift available for those unable to use the stairs. See more details • •	7 SOFIA: Ratio представя: Кръвопийци SOFIA: Ratio представя: Кръвопийци 7th May 2019 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm City Stage НДК основен подлез, вход от Пилоните, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1752356468228507/ Пролетта дойде, а с нея идват и комарите. Едва ли има човек на Земята, който да не е бил хапан от комар през живота си, но доколко добре познаваме тези насекоми? Как комарите ни откриват, за да пият кръв от нас? Защо всъщност комарите пият кръв? Какво се случва с тях и с нас след това? Къде се развиват комарите и за колко време? Могат ли комарите да се размножават незабелязано в собствения ни дом или двор? А в този на съседа? А в близката ливада или гора? Какви заболявания могат да пренасят комарите? Можем ли да се заразим от тропическа болест, без да сме напускали България? Тигър или тигров комар е по-вероятно да ни ухапе през живота ни? Дали чесънът предпазва от ухапванията на комарите или прогонва само най-близкото ни обкръжение? Как наистина да се предпазим от ухапвания или заразяване с вирусни и паразитни заболявания? Отговорите на всички въпроси ще научите от предстоящата лекция на д-р Огнян Миков. ===== ЗА ЛЕКТОРА ===== Огнян Миков е специализирал „Ентомология” в БФ на СУ през 2000 г. С комари се занимава от 2002 г., когато започва докторантура върху маларийните комари в Националния център по заразни и паразитни болести в София (НЦЗПБ). Защитава докторска дисертация през 2008 г., а от следващата година изследва разпространението на тигровия комар у нас. Освен с комари, Огнян се занимава и с изучаването на други насекоми с медицинско значение, което го прави един от малкото медицински ентомолози у нас. See more details KÖLN: Skeptikerstammtisch im Herbrands KÖLN: Skeptikerstammtisch im Herbrands 7th May 2019 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Herbrandstraße, 50825 Köln, Germany Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/783841018682332/ Wir treffen uns zwischen den Vorträgen immer informell in netter Runde, bei gutem Wetter gern im Biergarten. See more details • •	8 WINCHESTER: Skeptics of the Round Table WINCHESTER: Skeptics of the Round Table 8th May 2019 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm The Bishop on the Bridge, 1 High St, Winchester SO23 9JX, UK Link: http://www.hampshireskeptics.org/?page_id=1374 See more details BIRMINGHAM: Mobile Phones: A Miracle In Your Pocket Or Out To Kill You?, Sean Slater BIRMINGHAM: Mobile Phones: A Miracle In Your Pocket Or Out To Kill You?, Sean Slater 8th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm The Victoria 48 John Bright Street, Birmingham, B1 1BN Link: http://birmingham.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/21817/Mobile-Phones-A-Miracle-In-Your-Pocket-Or-Out-To-Kill-You We nearly all now carry around in our pockets something which just 15 years ago would have seemed utterly miraculous. From this little slab of light, and for a few £ a month we can touch a glass sheet and interact with most of the world’s population. We can share opinions, memories, hopes, fears, dreams and experiences as they happen and from almost anywhere on the planet, we have access to the sum of the world’s information just about whenever and wherever we want. Social media would likely not exist as it does without the smartphone. It’s probable that the huge changes in the political landscapes over the past 5 years would not have happened without it. But do you even know how it works? Is having a microwave transmitter right next to your brain or in your pocket a bad thing? Can your mobile actually be killing you? How did the industry grow so quickly and what is the future for radio communications; is 5G the ‘killer’ technology many are making it out to be? Sean Slater is the Vice-Chair of Edinburgh Skeptics Society and has worked in the mobile phone industry for over 25 years; seeing it grow from an expensive businessman’s toy to the ubiquitous consumer necessity it is now. This is a free event, however we do suggest a £3 donation to cover speakers expenses. See more details BOURNEMOUTH: Save The Honeybee?, Rebecca Nesbit BOURNEMOUTH: Save The Honeybee?, Rebecca Nesbit 8th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm The Brunswick Pub 199 Malmesbury Park Road,, Charminster, Bournemouth, BH8 8PX Link: http://bournemouth.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/21787/Save-The-Honeybee Save the Honeybee stories are never far from the news, but is the species really under threat? And should environmentalists be interested in them at all? Britain has around 250 bee species, yet almost all the attention goes to the domestic honeybee. Queen bees are traded around the world, and honeybee populations are dependent on the work of beekeepers, so should we see them as wildlife Rebecca Nesbit will explore how we choose which species should be conservation priorities, and therefore whether protecting honeybees is important. She will argue that the evidence for the EU’s widely-publicised ban on neonicotinoid pesticides is not as clear cut as many news outlets would have us believe. Rebecca is an ecologist and writer with a particular interest in the science and ethics of setting conservation priorities. For her PhD she used radars and flight simulators to study butterfly migration, and she now works in science communication. She has written two books: ‘Is that Fish in Your Tomato?’, looking at the fact and fiction of GM foods, and ‘A Column of Smoke’, a novel. See more details CHELMSFORD: How to Explain Quantum Physics with Heavy Metal CHELMSFORD: How to Explain Quantum Physics with Heavy Metal 8th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm The Woolpack, Mildmay Rd, Chelmsford CM2 0DN Link: http://essexskeptics.co.uk/?page_id=8 There are deep and fundamental links between quantum physics and heavy metal. I know that a Skeptics In The Pub audience will be deeply sceptical about that claim, but there are. Really. Far from being music for Neanderthals, as it’s too often construed, metal can be harmonically and rhythmically complex. That complexity is the source of many connections to quantum physics. You’ll discover how the uncertainty principle can be found in chugging guitar riffs, what the double slit experiment has to do with Iron Maiden, and why metalheads in mosh pits behave just like molecules in a gas. Philip Moriarty is a professor of physics at the University of Nottingham, a heavy metal fan, and a keen air-drummer. His research focuses on prodding, pushing, and poking single atoms and molecules; in this nanoscopic world, quantum physics is all. Moriarty has taught physics for almost twenty years and has always been struck by the number of students in his classes who profess a love of metal music, and by the deep connections between heavy metal, mathematics, and quantum mechanics. He’s a father of three — Niamh, Saoirse, and Fiachra – who have patiently endured his off-key attempts to sing along with metal classics for many years. Unlike his infamous namesake, Moriarty has never been particularly enamoured of the binomial theorem. He blogs at https://muircheartblog.wordpress.com and the book on which this talk is based was published by Ben Bella last year: https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Uncertainty-Principle-Goes-11/dp/1944648526 See more details • • • •	9 TURINO: Presentazione di Magia n. 20 TURINO: Presentazione di Magia n. 20 9th May 2019 @ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Sala Rosa, Salone del Libro, Lingotto Fiere Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/505488059985726/ Da duecento anni i numeri di memoria sono una delle specialità più complesse e affascinanti del mentalismo artistico. Vanni De Luca, il più grande mnemonista italiano, si racconta e ci coinvolge con la storia di questa branca della magia, insieme al direttore della rivista Alex Rusconi e al suo fondatore Massimo Polidoro See more details GÖTTINGEN: Homöopathie: Lehre - Überzeugung - Evidenz? GÖTTINGEN: Homöopathie: Lehre - Überzeugung - Evidenz? 9th May 2019 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Hörsaal ZHG 004, Göttingen Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/820171061682317/ (scroll down for English) Die Homöopathie ist ein Therapiekonzept, das im ausgehenden 18. Jahrhundert von dem Arzt Samuel Hahnemann erdacht wurde und praktisch unverändert bis heute fortbesteht. Aus heutiger Sicht sind die Grundlagen jedoch nicht haltbar und eine pharmazeutische Wirkung der eingesetzten Mittel erscheint daher unmöglich. Dennoch wird die Homöopathie in der Bevölkerung als wirksame Arzneimitteltherapie wahrgenommen, die der konventionellen Medizin mindestens gleichwertig, wenn nicht gar überlegen sei. Es gäbe sogar entsprechende Studien und systematische Übersichtsarbeiten, die dies belegen, sagen die Interessenvertreter und einschlägigen Verbände. Wie kommen diese Aussagen zustande und was davon ist belegt? Dieser Vortrag setzt sich mit den Argumenten der Kritiker und der Befürworter der Homöopathie auseinander und soll eine Orientierung in der in der Öffentlichkeit sehr emotional geführten Diskussion liefern. Zum Vortragenden: Dr. Norbert Aust war lange Jahre Leiter Forschung und Entwicklung in der Industrie und beschäftigt sich seit einigen Jahren mit den naturwissenschaftlichen Grundlagen und der Evidenz zur Homöopathie. Ort: Hörsaal ZHG 004 (Hauptgebäude der Universität, aka Zentrales Hörsaal Gebäude) Homeopathy: Teachings - Convictions - Evidence Homeopathy is a therapeutic concept that was conceived by the physician Samuel Hahnemann in the late 18th century and remains virtually unchanged until today. From today's perspective, however, the foundational principles are not tenable, and a pharmaceutical effect of the remedies used therefore seems impossible. Nevertheless, homeopathy is perceived in the population as an effective drug therapy, which is at least equivalent, if not superior, to conventional medicine. There are even studies and systematic reviews that prove this, say lobbyists. How do these statements come about and what is proven to work? This lecture deals with the arguments of the critics and the supporters of homeopathy and should provide an orientation in the discussion, which is very emotion-driven in the public. To the lecturer: Dr. Norbert Aust is an engineer and has been a director of research and development in several businesses and has been working for many years on the scientific foundations and evidence for homeopathy. Location: Lecture Hall ZHG 004 (Main Building of the University, aka Central Lecture Hall Building), Platz der Göttinger Sieben 5, 37073 Göttingen Date & Time: May 9, 2019 – 18:30-20:00 See more details PORTSMOUTH: Mobile phones: A miracle in your pocket or out to kill you?, Sean Slater PORTSMOUTH: Mobile phones: A miracle in your pocket or out to kill you?, Sean Slater 9th May 2019 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm The Rifle Goldsmith Avenue, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO4 0AW Link: http://www.portsmouth.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/21810/Mobile-phones-A-miracle-in-your-pocket-or-out-to-kill-you We nearly all now carry around in our pockets something which just 15 years ago would have seemed utterly miraculous. From this little slab of light, and for a few £ a month we can touch a glass sheet and interact with most of the world’s population. We can share opinions, memories, hopes, fears, dreams and experiences as they happen and from almost anywhere on the planet, we have access to the sum of the world’s information just about whenever and wherever we want. Social media would likely not exist as it does without the smartphone. It’s probable that the huge changes in the political landscapes over the past 5 years would not have happened without it. But do you even know how it works? Is having a microwave transmitter right next to your brain or in your pocket a bad thing? Can your mobile actually be killing you? Sean Slater is the Vice-Chair of Edinburgh Skeptics Society and has worked in the mobile phone industry for nearly 25 years; seeing it grow from an expensive businessman’s toy to the ubiquitous consumer necessity it is now. £3 on the door Doors 7pm Talk 7:30pm See more details LISBOA: A falta de cultura científica paga imposto #1: Alimentação LISBOA: A falta de cultura científica paga imposto #1: Alimentação 9th May 2019 @ 8:00 pm - 10:45 pm Pavilhão do Conhecimento - Centro Ciência Viva Link: http://comcept.org/events/event/on/2019/05/09/ Local: Pavilhão do Conhecimento - Centro Ciência Viva Categorias: Eventos COMCEPT Tags: Alimentação, Dietas, Glúten, pseudociência Debate no Pavilhão do Conhecimento sobre os custos da pseudociência na alimentação, com a colaboração da COMCEPT. See more details MANCHESTER: Pixie Turner: Why Diets Don’t Work (and other myths about food and health) MANCHESTER: Pixie Turner: Why Diets Don’t Work (and other myths about food and health) 9th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm The Kings Arms, 11 Bloom St, Salford M3 6AN, UK Link: https://www.gmss.uk/events/pixie Despite a wealth of information at our fingertips there are still so many things we get wrong about our health, and with a new diet book out every other day it’s no wonder people are confused. What should we be eating? When? How often? Just how important is food when it comes to our overall health? Humans have always been a bit weird around food. We’re told eating certain foods are the key to living longer, some foods are ‘sinful’ or ‘bad’, that ‘you are what you eat’, and that we must seek to obtain health at all costs. All this means we follow crazy diets that make things worse rather than better, and have a population where most of us dislike our bodies. Pixie will unpack why diet and nutrition misinformation is so problematic, on social media, in mass media, and on a public health level, and why we could all benefit from taking a moment to assess our personal relationship with food. Expect some mythbusting, diet rants, and lots of fully-referenced evidence-based science. Pixie is a nutritionist (ANutr), food blogger, and science communicator. She graduated with a First Class degree in Biochemistry, and went on to complete a Masters in Nutrition with Distinction. She is the brains behind the ‘Pixie Nutrition’ social media accounts, which aim to infiltrate the wellness movement and debunk nutrition misinformation online. In addition, she has been featured as a nutrition expert on BBC and Channel 5, and in publications such as Red magazine, Evening Standard, Grazia, the Telegraph and more. Her first book, ‘The Wellness Rebel’ was published early 2018, with her second book, ‘The No Need to Diet Book’ released March 2019. See more details • • • • •	10 PRAHA: Michal Žák: Bouře jak je (ne)známe PRAHA: Michal Žák: Bouře jak je (ne)známe 10th May 2019 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Viničná 1594/7, 128 00 Praha-Nové Město, Czechia Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1872127796226475/ Milí přátelé, rádi bychom Vás pozvali na páteční přednášku. Uskuteční se od 17 hodin v budově Přírodovědecké fakulty UK v Praze, Viničná 7, posluchárna zoologie B7 ve druhém patře. Konvektivní bouře jsou běžnou součástí středoevropského počasí, zejména letní poloviny roku. Zatímco v některých případech jsou prakticky neškodné, občas přinášejí přívalové srážky, krupobití i silné nárazy větru. V extrémním případě můžou přinést i tornáda. Na čem závisí vznik nebezpečných bouří, jak je možné toto riziko detekovat a hlavně předpovídat? A jaký je rozdíl mezi supercelou, derechem nebo multicelou? Odpoví přednáška o bouřích. See more details STOCKHOLM: Skeptikerpub - Vårversionen STOCKHOLM: Skeptikerpub - Vårversionen 10th May 2019 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Kontoret Bältgatan 2, 11321 Stockholm, Sweden Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2421670028056780/ Mer än ett kvartal kan det inte få gå mellan skeptikerpubarna, så välkommen att umgås, äta, dricka, prata, lyssna, eller vad ni vill. Vi har borden bokade längst in i källaren på Kontoret, men vid varmt torrt väder försöker vi åtminstone i början av kvällen få plats på uteserveringen. See more details • •	11 BRIGHTON: Skeptics Social at The Eagle BRIGHTON: Skeptics Social at The Eagle 11th May 2019 @ 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm The Eagle, 125 Gloucester Rd, Brighton BN1 4AF, UK Link: https://www.meetup.com/Brighton-Skeptics-Social/events/260984591/ Hello from the Brighton Skeptics Society, In addition to our lecture nights at the Caroline of Brunswick, we’ve now added a social date to our monthly calendar. Set in a friendly pub in the heart of town, this is an opportunity to meet like-minded skeptics, and make friends over a pint. There will be a group discussion led by Heathen Rose, followed by free association time. This month’s subject is “What made you fall in love with science?” We'd really love to see you there and hope this can fill some of the gap that Skeptics in the Cafe left us all with. See more details •	12 CHELMSFORD (Essex): Time to tell: A look at how we tick CHELMSFORD (Essex): Time to tell: A look at how we tick 12th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm The Woolpack, 23 Mildmay Rd, Chelmsford CM2 0DN, UK Link: http://essexskeptics.co.uk/?page_id=8 Time seems to flash by when we’re enjoying ourselves, and slows to a crawl when we’re bored. Why? Does time exist, or is it an illusion? How real are our memories? When is now? These are just some of the questions that we will ponder in our foray into what time is for us, and how we live and relate to it in our daily lives. Rattling the comfort of instant satisfaction, of reality shows, celebrity worship and the self-glorification of the I-generation, we will go on a journey that goes to the core of what it means to be human – a journey replete with twists and turns and “aha!” moments. Challenging what is naturally taken for granted (“the willingness to be puzzled by things that look obvious,” as Chomsky put it), we will forge a link between philosophy and science, blowing away the cobwebs that obscure both. How Things Really Are. Can we even refer to that? That is the question. Ronald Green is the author of “Time To Tell: a look at how we tick” (iff Books, 2018) and “Nothing Matters: a book about nothing” (iff Books, 2011). Philosopher, linguist, university lecturer and ESL teacher, with 13 ESL books published, Ronald has lectured and given workshops in Europe, North and South America and the Middle East on linguistics, ESL and the use of the Internet in education. His short stories have been published in Nuvein magazine, Tryst, Aesthetica, the Sink and Unholy Biscuit. He has completed a philosophical novel and co-authored a psychological thriller with strong philosophical underpinnings. After thinking about nothing for five years, he spent the following five years thinking about everything, i.e. time, culminating in his recently-published book and his theory of time. See more details ROMANIA: Watch Party - Vaccinat - Dragoste, frică si vaccinuri ROMANIA: Watch Party - Vaccinat - Dragoste, frică si vaccinuri 12th May 2019 @ 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/270551537222522 Vom urmari impreuna cel mai bun documentar despre vaccinare din care veti intelege de ce sunt vaccinurile importante, cum se creeaza imunitatea impotriva bolilor prevenibile si de ce este miscarea antivaccinare un pericol. See more details • •
13 GLASGOW: Shoot for the Moon: Professor Richard Wiseman GLASGOW: Shoot for the Moon: Professor Richard Wiseman 13th May 2019 @ 8:15 pm - 10:00 pm The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo St, Glasgow G2 7DA, UK Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2276072695790186/ Professor Richard Wiseman presents a pioneering study of the mindset that took humanity to the Moon. Combining personal interviews with cutting-edge psychology, Wiseman embarks on the ultimate voyage through inner space. He identifies the key principles that make up the Apollo Mindset and describes practical techniques that you can use to incorporate these winning principles into both your life. We will have some copies of the book available for sale & signing on the night as well, so bring some extra readies with you! About the speaker: Described by a Scientific American columnist as ‘…one of the most innovative experimental psychologists in the world today’, Richard’s books have sold over 3 million copies worldwide and have been, and he has presented keynote addresses to The Swiss Economic Forum, Google and Amazon. Richard has written several best-selling books that have been translated into over 20 languages. Many of these books explore the science of success and focus on practical, evidence-based, techniques that improve people’s personal and professional lives. For instance, The Luck Factor is based on Richard’s ten-year investigation into exceptionally lucky people , 59 Seconds describes techniques that people can learn in less than a minute, and Night School examines how to get the perfect night’s sleep. Richard presents talks exploring how to be lucky, the power of sleep, and the psychology of deception and illusion. He has presented keynote addresses to organisations around the world, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and the Swiss Economic Forum. In addition, Richard has spoken at science and literary festivals, such as The Royal Society, The Royal Institution, The Edinburgh Book Festival, The Cheltenham Literary Festival, and The Dubai Festival of Literature. Finally, Richard also interviews celebrities about their work, with previous interviewees including Richard Dawkins, Armando Iannucci, Derren Brown, Alan Davies, Ken Dodd and Ian Rankin. For more information, please visit https://richardwiseman.wordpress.com/ === Doors at 7.15, kickoff at 7.30 This is event is free to attend, although we will be asking for donations at the end of the talk. Participants are under no obligation whatsoever to donate, however please rest assured that the money we collect doesn't end up in anyone's pocket - it is used to fund our overhead costs, and travel/accommodation for our speakers who come from further afield. === Accessibility: As per the policy of the Admiral Bar, access to the venue “can only be provided to patrons who are sufficiently mobile and capable of independently evacuating premises, or with the minimum of assistance”. Unfortunately, this leaves the basement inaccessible to most wheelchair users. See more details AMSTERDAM: Wilmar Taal-Hitler's escape to Argentina: historic proof, or better lack thereof AMSTERDAM: Wilmar Taal-Hitler's escape to Argentina: historic proof, or better lack thereof 13th May 2019 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Café de Doffer, Runstraat 12-14, 1016 GK Amsterdam, Netherlands Link: https://www.meetup.com/Amsterdam-Skeptics-in-the-Pub/events/sjcmnqyzhbrb/ In 2015 there was panic in Conspiracy-land as multiple websites reported that Hitler escaped to Argentina in 1945. Their source? An FBI-file. Supported by the dreadful documentary series of History Channel Hunting Hitler, people started to believe that the West allowed Hitler to escape and live his life in Patagonia in trade for German scientific secrets. Tonight we are going to trace Hitler's footsteps in South America the historic-scientific way, and as always fiction turns out to be stranger than truth. Wilmar Taal is a Dutch historian and author. As usual, we'll start at around 20:00 in the back room (around the corner behind the bar). Feel free to walk in from around 19:30! We organize these meetings for free! If you don't agree with this feel free to leave Stichting Skepsis, our sponsor, a small donation: www.skepsis.nl/doneren See more details GRONINGEN: Peter ten Wolde - Reset your worldview with factfulness GRONINGEN: Peter ten Wolde - Reset your worldview with factfulness 13th May 2019 @ 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm Buckshot Café, Gedempte Zuiderdiep 58, 9711 HK Groningen, Netherlands Link: https://www.meetup.com/Groningen-Skeptics-In-The-Pub/events/258522532/ Update 3: we have a new date: May 13th! Factfulness is a term that was coined by Ola Rosling of the Gapminder foundation (www.gapminder.org) which means: the stress-reducing habit of only carrying opinions for which you have strong supporting facts. Ola is the son of the late Hans Rosling, the professor of International Health and master-statistician-story-teller who sadly passed away in 2017. This evening Peter ten Wolde will lecture about our worldview, how this is shaped by our background, education and the news sources we use. That worldview turns out to be distorted and outdated for most people. The lecture covers: - The mechanisms of pre-conceived ideas; - A different approach how to deal with these; - And that in many respects the world is in much better shape than we are often inclined to think. Both from a personal and business perspective a very relevant topic in this turbulent age of cursory news and a globalised world that changes at an ever-increasing rate. Peter (@peter_tenwolde) graduated from The Hague University of Applied Science in 1993 where he studied information management. For more than 20 years he consulted companies about topics like reporting, analysis, scorecards and budgeting. Peter is now dedicated to spread Roslings’ Factfulness message as a public speaker. See more details BERN: Skeptics in the Pub BERN: Skeptics in the Pub 13th May 2019 @ 7:30 pm - 11:00 pm Musigbistrot, Mühlemattstrasse 48, 3007 Bern, Switzerland Link: https://www.skeptiker.ch/event/skeptics-in-the-pub-bern-6/ See more details • • • •	14 SOFIA: Ratio представя: Биопринтиране - от клетка до орган SOFIA: Ratio представя: Биопринтиране - от клетка до орган 14th May 2019 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm City Stage НДК основен подлез, вход от Пилоните, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/315468045784578/ Дали тъканното инженерство е един от тези инструменти на човешкия гений, който ще ни направи богове? Могат ли биопринтерите и биомастилата да дават живот? 3D-биопринтирането е един от последните отговори на регенеративната медицина по тези въпроси. За всичко това от първа ръка ще ви разкаже Спас Керимов от Принтиво - биотехнологичен стартъп, който се занимава точно с тази материя. Ще ви запознаем с биопринтера ЕВА и цяла дузина АДАМовци, нейните биомастила. Биопринтирането е чудата смесица от биоинженерство, полимерна химия, клетъчна биология, медицина и архитектура. Но дали има потенциала да предизвика дългоочакваната биотехнологична революция в науката и медицината? За лектора: Спас Керимов е създател и изпълнителен директор на Printivo Ltd, стартираща биотехнологична компания, занимаваща се с 3D-биопринтиране на човешки тъкани. Компанията е избрана на “Иновативно предприятие на годината” за 2018г. Принтиво е носител на международната награда - CIDIC Award и финалист в международни стартъп състезания: BetaPitch Global Berlin 2017 & CESA Awards 2018. Спас е завършил медицина, отличен с награди от много международни научни форуми. Интересува се живо от тъканно инженерство и регенеративна медицина. Следи прогреса в области като Изкуствен Интелект, Генетика, Биотехнологичната революция и сблъсъка на Човечеството с новите технологии. През 2015г. създава Асоциацията на Студентите Изследователи. Мисията на организацията е да променя университетската среда и да създава по-добри медицински специалисти. Година по-късно дава началото на първият биомедицински форум за студенти в България - International Biomedical Congress - Sofia. През 2018 г. става и един от учредителите на първия в България "Биотехнологичен и здравен клъстер". Част от The Changemakers of Bulgaria инициативата на MOVE.BG. Многократен гост-лектор в различни университети в страната на теми свързани с предприемачество, високотехнологични стартъпи и перспективата на биотехнологиите в бизнеса. Вход: свободен Програма 19:00 Отваряне на врати 20:00 Презентация "Биопринтиране - от клетка до орган" 21:00 Дискусионна част и въпроси от публиката See more details NOTTINGHAM: Paleo-fantasy and Alien Contact, Dr Stacy Hackner NOTTINGHAM: Paleo-fantasy and Alien Contact, Dr Stacy Hackner 14th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm The Canalhouse 48-52 Canal St, Nottingham, NG1 7EH Link: http://www.nottingham.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/21782/Paleofantasy-and-Alien-Contact We often see the past through the lens of media, who take great leaps with facts. Do you imagine cavemen going out to club a bear while cavewomen stayed home with the kids? Did you learn in school that the Greeks invented civilization? Do you believe that aliens built the pyramids? When you see the image of apes evolving into man, do you stop to question the idea that it represents a progression to the ultimate goal of contemporary Western civilization? These are all myths about the ancient world perpetuated by the media, uninformed pseudoscientists, and sometimes outright racists. The way we teach history tends to focus a model of humanity that’s reinforcing 1950s white gender roles and reproducing capitalist patriarchy. I’ll discuss a few ways in which a common conception of the past doesn’t add up, why we’ve come to think of history in this biased way, and how we can continue to question and correct these misunderstandings. Dr Stacy Hackner is a bioarchaeologist focusing on ancient activity patterns in Sudan and diseases in 19th-century Cyprus. She has excavated human remains in four countries and lectures at UCL and Glyndwr University. She has also worked in public engagement at UCL Museums and at science festival booths, where she has learned to battle conspiracy theorists. See more details GUILDFORD: Group Meeting - Who are the Young Humanists? GUILDFORD: Group Meeting - Who are the Young Humanists? 14th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm The Guildford Institute, Guildford Institute, Ward Street · Guildford, GU1 4LH Link: https://www.meetup.com/Guildford-Woking-Humanists/events/mhwzglyzhbsb/ Young Humanists is the 18-35 section of Humanists UK, working to ensure that more and more young people are aware of and active in Humanism at the local level, and provide a national voice on issues that are relevant to them. Our speaker this month, Sean Turnbull, will talk about the Young Humanists' campaigns, touching on issues such as faith schools, humanist marriages, bishops in the House of Lords and “no-platforming” of speakers on university campuses. See more details • • •	15 PRAHA: Změna data! Ludmila Hamplová: Hoaxy v medicíně PRAHA: Změna data! Ludmila Hamplová: Hoaxy v medicíně 15th May 2019 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Akademie věd České republiky Národní 3, 117 20 Prague, Czech Republic Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/395058721060991/ Český klub skeptiků Sisyfos vás zve na přednášku Ludmily Hamplové na téma Hoaxy v medicíně. Přednáška se koná 20. března od 17:00 v budově Akademie věd ČR na Národní 3, místnost č. 206. Vstup zdarma, registrace netřeba. Web: https://www.sisyfos.cz/clanek/1277-hoaxy-v-medicine See more details GRAVESEND: Torture - Does it work and can it ever be justified? GRAVESEND: Torture - Does it work and can it ever be justified? 15th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm No. 84 Tea Room 84 Parrock Road Gravesend Link: http://gravesend.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/22832/Torture--Does-it-work-and-can-it-ever-be-justified What if there was a dirty bomb hidden somewhere in the UK and you had to get a suspect to tell you where it was and how to disable it, what lengths would you go to? Recent revelations in the media about the UK government’s role in cooperating with the CIA torture programme have re-opened the debate on what is and is not acceptable when innocent lives are at stake. The President of the United States has declared that torture ‘absolutely works’ but the CIA’s own reports state that torture techniques “do not produce intelligence” and “will probably result in false answers”. This talk examines the ethical arguments for and against torture and reviews the science behind what techniques do and don’t work in eliciting information in high-pressure situations. Jo Kenrick is a member of the Forensic Psychology Unit and an Associate Lecturer at Goldsmiths where she is researching the development of deceptive skill for her PhD. She has a wide range of research interests as you can see by her previous dissertation topics -"Let the traffic policeman wear black cotton gloves": Why traditional rituals of death matter to modern people (BA, Religious Studies), One born every minute: A target selection hypothesis of deception abilities in Machiavellian personalities (BSc, Psychology) and The influence of information channels on attributions for Domestic Violence against Women in Sweden, Bulgaria and the UK (MSc, Research Methods). See more details High Wycombe: Talk - The History of Heresy and Blasphemy in Islam - Sadia Hameed High Wycombe: Talk - The History of Heresy and Blasphemy in Islam - Sadia Hameed 15th May 2019 @ 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm Wycombe Arts Centre, 19 Desborough Rd, High Wycombe HP11 2RQ, UK Link: https://www.meetup.com/high-wycombe-skeptics/events/261052803/ Sadia Hameed is a spokesperson for the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, as well as being a women's rights and human rights activist. She is regularly featured on TV documentaries, and is a writer for Sister-Hood.com, and also a previous Skeptics in the Pub speaker. Who are we? Skeptics in the Pub is a place for inquisitive people of all ages to meet and converse in the High Wycombe area. Skeptics are people who yearn to discover the truth behind extraordinary claims that people or groups may make, this can be in areas of alternative therapies, the paranormal, religion and faith, the afterlife and many other areas of life. We we often end up talking about superstition, science, religious fundamentalism, health, censorship and conspiracy theory We make no claims to balance, and actively promote science, freedom of expression and secular humanism.. You are welcome to come along and just sit and listen to others, or if you are braver get stuck right in with conversation and views! Our Website is at wycombe.skepticsinthepub.org (http://wycombe.skepticsinthepub.org/) where you will find links to join our Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/HighWycombeSkeptics/) page and follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/wycombesitp). See more details WORTHING: OBJECTION! - YOU! WORTHING: OBJECTION! - YOU! 15th May 2019 @ 9:00 pm - 12:00 am Grand Victoria Hotel function room Link: http://www.worthing.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/24864/OBJECTION Our plan to become an ACTIVE skeptics group is progressing! Following our interactive Critical Thinking Brainstorm last month we are staging another event that you can positively engage in! Do you remember Brian Edwards who debated me a year ago? On May 15th we will play his video "The Bible: an authentic book" and shred it! Our committee will be onstage stopping and starting the playback and taking notes. If you spot a fallacy, error, claim, assumption, attempt to smuggle an untruth or any other problem, just shout OBJECTION! I even object to the inclusion of the Union Jack on the cover of the video! We will stop the video and talk about the objection before continuing to show it... When complete, I will edit the video with our reviews, send it back to Brian and flood the internet with it! This will be more fun than a pub quiz! Who wants to play? £2 on the door. See more details • • • •	16 MANCHESTER: Annual General Meeting (2019) MANCHESTER: Annual General Meeting (2019) 16th May 2019 @ 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm Pie & Ale, Units 1 & 2 the Hive, 47 Lever St, Manchester M1 1FN, UK Link: https://www.gmss.uk/events/agm-19 If you'd like to get involved with running Manchester Skeptics, or help decide who is, then come along to Pie and Ale where we will talk over the next few months to a year of admin. There are a few things we need to cover, but the main one is voting on the organisers for the next year, so if there's a job you're after then do come along (or send someone to nominate you). There'll be beer and food and skeptics, so it shouldn't be too boring (although if it's more interesting than the talks then that's a problem which should go on the agenda for next time). See more details BEDFORD: These Miserable Wretches, Jon Kaneko-James BEDFORD: These Miserable Wretches, Jon Kaneko-James 16th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm North End Social Club 60 Roff Avenue, Bedford MK41 7TW Link: http://bedford.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/20762/These-Miserable-Wretches Along with Johannes Nider's Formicarius, Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger's 15th century book, Malleus Maleficarum, became the manual for a vigorous campaign of European Witch Hunting. Protestant London saw 67 witch trials in the decade of 1600-1610: both before and after the accession of the witch hunting King James. In the world of publishing, 1598 to 1610 saw a huge growth in fairy-themed literature, with both the rural and urban sick seeking the help of 'fairy' empowered Cunning Folk in the absence of trained medics. But did everyone actually believe in it? Author and researcher Jon Kaneko-James will examine the hidden language of equivocation found in medieval chronicles, the differing nature of experience, and the existence of skeptical narratives in pre-industrial Europe. See more details EDINBURGH: Open Mic Night EDINBURGH: Open Mic Night 16th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm The Banshee Labyrinth, 29-35 Niddry St, Edinburgh EH1 1LG, UK Link: https://www.meetup.com/EdinburghSkeptics/events/260419924/ We are holding on Open Mic night on May 16th as our monthly event. If you fancy speaking for 10 mins about a skeptical topic that interests you, fill in the form, prepare your talk and tell us about your passion. Don't worry of you've not spoken before - its an ideal opportunity to give it a shot and see if you like it! Please complete this form to reserve a spot: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRnw3I_2YpTCNHYyry8WxJ75GFySCXKcvPWFPUgKQy9aL9vg/viewform?usp=sf_link&fbclid=IwAR3NVPrCCQCstaZe0QET2zdxetcoS5chowgPezTTUijpIXI2aVPDhV9oH6A See more details LIVERPOOL: Michael Marshall – Circular Reasoning: The Rise of Flat Earth Belief LIVERPOOL: Michael Marshall – Circular Reasoning: The Rise of Flat Earth Belief 16th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm The Casa, 29 Hope St, Liverpool L1 9BQ, UK Link: http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/meetup-event/michael-marshall-circular-reasoning-the-rise-of-flat-earth-belief/ In 2013, when Michael Marshall first interviewed the Vice President of the Flat Earth society for his show Be Reasonable, people could scarcely believe that anyone could genuinely think the Earth was flat. Five years later, Flat Earth belief has gone mainstream, spawning thousands of hours of YouTube videos, gaining widespread international media coverage, and attracting countless followers. How did we get here? In this talk, Marshall will talk through his experiences of the Flat Earth movement, take a look at the leaders and some of their reasoning, and report back from the weekend he spent at the UK’s first ever Flat Earth convention. Michael Marshall is the Project Director of the Good Thinking Society and the Vice President of the Merseyside Skeptics Society. He regularly speaks with proponents of pseudoscience for the Be Reasonable podcast. His work has seen him organising international homeopathy protests, going undercover to expose psychics and quack medics, and co-founding the popular QED conference. He has written for the Guardian, The Times and New Statesman. See more details • • • •	17 PRAHA: Ondřej Holý: Eradikační programy WHO - minulost i budoucnost PRAHA: Ondřej Holý: Eradikační programy WHO - minulost i budoucnost 17th May 2019 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Viničná 1594/7, 128 00 Praha-Nové Město, Czechia Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/345485702743511/ Dovolte, abychom Vás srdečně pozvali na páteční přednášku, která se uskuteční v budově Přírodovědecké fakulty UK v Praze, Viničná 7, posluchárna zoologie B7 ve druhém patře. Od začátku 20. století zemřelo na infekční onemocnění několik desítek až stovek miliónů lidí. I v dnešní době se řadí infekční nemoci mezi jedny z nejčastějších příčin úmrtí a to hlavně v rozvojových státech. Eradikace a eradikační programy, jakožto nástroje sloužící k vymýcení těchto nemocí, mohou velmi výrazně zvýšit kvalitu života v těchto oblastech. Lidským úsilím došlo zatím k eradikaci dvou onemocnění (variola, mor skotu) a díky tomu došlo k výraznému ušetření mimojiné i finančních nákladů související s léčbou těchto nemocí. See more details •	18 GÖTEBORG: Månpub med VoF Gbg GÖTEBORG: Månpub med VoF Gbg 18th May 2019 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Haket - Bar å sånt Masthuggstorget 5, 413 27 Gothenburg Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/367558407187375/ Fullmånen visar sig åter över Göteborg och människor i svarta tishor beger sig mot Haket. Fullmånepub med VoF innebär en trevlig afton med roliga diskussioner och god mat för den som önskar. Alla är välkomna! See more details •	19 READING: Sunday Assembly Reading - Neurodiversity READING: Sunday Assembly Reading - Neurodiversity 19th May 2019 @ 11:30 am - 1:45 pm Reading Irish Centre, 96 Chatham St, Reading Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/425132341395717/ To ask the question “what is it to be human?” ignores the potential for there to be many ways to be human. Most now understand that it serves no purpose to categories and limit people on arbitrary attributes such as race, gender or sexuality. Where special considerations are required then it is better to embrace those needs than to cause disadvantage. It is better to design a society that recognises that we all live within a spectrum of abilities rather than defining what is ‘normal’ and excluding those who fall outside of that artificial category. Neurodiversity is an understanding that the sweep of mental abilities is not uniform across humans and those who exhibit Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum, Tourette Syndrome or others variations are displaying normal human behaviours from a normal human mind. Those traits define those individuals and to disregard them is to diminish their humanity. This month we welcome longtime Sunday Assembly member, Abi Morecock, who is Insights Director at Irrational Agency, a behavioural insight consultancy. Abi will be talking on the importance and value of recognising Neurodiversity. As always there will be silly games, sharing, socialising, and singing along with The Word of Bob. After the Assembly, we will either go for a picnic or to Brewdog depending on the weather. About Sunday Assembly Sunday Assembly Reading is free to attend and runs entirely on donations. The Sunday Assembly Reading is a secular congregation that celebrates life, meeting once a month at The Reading Irish Centre. Members of the Assembly believe in Living Better, Helping Often and Wondering More, for no other reason than to make the most of the one life we know we have. The morning is a lively combination of group singing, silly games, interesting words, and eating cakes, in the company of a lovely diverse bunch of people. The Sunday Assembly welcomes all - of all ages and of all backgrounds. The best way to meet new people is to come early and enjoy some tea, coffee, homemade cakes and savouries (vegan-friendly). We can always do with a few extra help, so if you want to really feel part of our community, offer a hand or two. Either contact us now or arrive a bit earlier on the day and we'll find you something fun to do. * Travel * The Assembly is at The Reading and District Irish Centre, Chatham Street. Doors open at 10:30 am with the Assembly starting at 11. A 10-minute walk from Reading train station. The closest car park is Q-Park Chatham Place There is free parking on Sundays on the streets north of the Irish Centre. Try Weldale, North and Great Knollys Streets but get there early. There is a footpath that leads from Weldale Street to Chatham Street, and then the Irish Centre will be on your right. Travel issues? Post in our Facebook group page, there are sure to be others travelling in your direction. * More Info * https://www.sundayassemblyreading.uk If we go for a The picnic it will be at Forbury Gardens. Brewdog is at 11 Castle Street. It is a 7 min walk from the Assembly and we typically get there about 13:15. See more details ROMANIA: Watch Party - Vaccinat - Dragoste, frică si vaccinuri ROMANIA: Watch Party - Vaccinat - Dragoste, frică si vaccinuri 19th May 2019 @ 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/270551543889188 Vom urmari impreuna cel mai bun documentar despre vaccinare din care veti intelege de ce sunt vaccinurile importante, cum se creeaza imunitatea impotriva bolilor prevenibile si de ce este miscarea antivaccinare un pericol. See more details • •
20 STOCKHOLM: What is Life - Richard Dawkins STOCKHOLM: What is Life - Richard Dawkins 20th May 2019 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Scalateatern, Wallingatan 32, 111 24 Stockholm, Sweden Link: https://www.eventim.se/tickets.html?affiliate=SC1&esid=2465526&fun=page&pagename=eventseries Pi-Symposium: Vad är liv? Se Richard Dawkins möta internationella och svenska forskare i en stjärnspäckad kväll om AI, evolution, vetenskapshistoria och filosofi. Vad är liv? För 75 år sedan publicerade fysikern och Nobelpristagaren Erwin Schrödinger en essä om den eviga frågan: Vilka byggstenar består livet av? Finns det en gräns för vad vi med vetenskapens verktyg kan lära oss förstå om vad som utgör levande organismer? Frågan är fortfarande obesvarad, vetenskapens framgångar till trots, och hur medvetande och materia fungerar är fortsatt ett mysterium. Fri Tanke, Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien och Stiftelsen för Strategisk Forskning är stolta att presentera ett Pi-symposium som utforskar vad liv är. Kommer vi någonsin knäcka livets gåta? Vi har bjudit in världsledande biologer, fysiker, kemister, matematiker, datavetare, psykologer, filosofer och historiker för att försöka förstå liv och diskutera de utmaningar som forskningen står inför. Under kvällen kommer vi diskutera: AI: Kan vi översätta mänsklig intelligens till maskiner? Språk och medvetande: Vad gör oss mänskliga? Människa 2.0: Vad är nästa steg i människans evolution? Vad är liv? Arvet efter Erwin Schrödinger För musiken under kvällen står Isabella Lundgren, jazzsångerska som år 2015 tilldelades Sveriges Radios pris Jazzkatten och år 2017 Monica Zetterlund-stipendiet. Medverkande: Richard Dawkins, författare, evolutionsbiolog och professor emeritus i The Public Understanding of Science vid universitetet i Oxford Ulf Danielsson, professor i teoretisk fysik vid Uppsala universitet Todd Sacktor, professor i fysiologi, farmakologi och neurologi vid State University of New York Downstate Medical Center Robert Goldstone, professor i psykologi och hjärnforskning vid Indiana University Bloomington Abhijit Mahabal, doktor i kognitionsvetenskap och forskare i språkinlärning på Google Ingrid Dunér, doktorand i idéhistoria vid Lunds universitet Ulf Ellervik, professor i organisk kemi vid Lunds universitet Dan Larhammar, professor i molekylär cellbiologi vid Uppsala universitet och preses Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien Karl Sigmund, professor i matematik vid Wiens universitet Torbjörn Elensky, författare Christina Moberg, professor i organisk kemi vid KTH Åsa Nilsonne, professor i medicinsk psykologi vid KI See more details SHEFFIELD: Circular Reasoning: The Rise of Flat Earth Belief, Michael Marshall SHEFFIELD: Circular Reasoning: The Rise of Flat Earth Belief, Michael Marshall 20th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm Farm Road Sports & Social Club Farm Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S2 2TP, , (Press the buzzer to be let in. We are in the back room of the Club.) Link: http://www.sheffield.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/21772/Circular-Reasoning-The-Rise-of-Flat-Earth-Belief In 2013, when Michael Marshall first interviewed the Vice President of the Flat Earth society for his show Be Reasonable, people could scarcely believe that anyone could genuinely think the Earth was flat. Five years later, Flat Earth belief has gone mainstream, spawning thousands of hours of YouTube videos, gaining widespread international media coverage, and attracting countless followers. How did we get here? In this talk, Marshall will talk through his experiences of the Flat Earth movement, take a look at the leaders and some of their reasoning, and report back from the weekend he spent at the UK’s first ever Flat Earth convention. Michael Marshall is the Project Director of the Good Thinking Society and the Vice President of the Merseyside Skeptics Society. He regularly speaks with proponents of pseudoscience for the Be Reasonable podcast. His work has seen him organising international homeopathy protests, going undercover to expose psychics and quack medics, and co-founding the popular QED conference. He has written for the Guardian, The Times and New Statesman. See more details • •	21 SOFIA: Ratio представя: Behind thе Curve [FILM] SOFIA: Ratio представя: Behind thе Curve [FILM] 21st May 2019 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm City Stage НДК основен подлез, вход от Пилоните, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2292268327721217/ На 21 май ви каним да надникнем заедно в живота на плоскоземците и любителите на конспирации с прожекция на документалния филм Behind the Curve и дискусия по темата. Филмът ще бъде излъчен с английско аудио и без субтитри на български. Дискусията ще се проведе на български език. Behind the Curve е документален филм за "плоскоземците" - хора, които смятат, че земята е плоска, въпреки многобройните доказателства за противното. Във филма се срещаме с група от хора, които искрено вярват, че има заговор за прикриване на истината и Земята всъщност е плоска. Ще видите интервюта с привърженици на конспиративната теория, кадри от Международната конференция "Плоска Земя", както и някои от скъпоструващите, но неуспешни експерименти, с които опитват да защитят теорията си (включително и с лазерен жироскоп за 20 000 долара). Но "Behind the Curve" не е просто осмиване на конспиративните теории - филмът показва, че е необходим конструктивен разговор, но без да забравя да ни напомни колко опасни могат да са подобни групи. Освен прожекция на филма, събитието включва и дискусия по темите от филма с няколко участника: Владислав Апостолов е журналист и автор с интереси в сферите на киното, политиката като продукт на културата и уискито като продукт на ечемика. Ценител е на Западната цивилизация, свободата на словото, динозаврите и други изчезващи и изчезнали неща. Негови статии, репортажи, интервюта и коментари са публикувани във всички водещи български вестници (още ги има), в дузина (не мръсна) дигитални медии и са превеждани в англоезични издания. Понякога се явява като говореща глава по национални телевизии в опит да бъде поне малка - но не и като ръст - опозиция на доминиращите ефира политикоректности, лечения с урина, религиозни догми и други фанатизми. Д-р Стефан Митев е лекар-гастроентеролог, защитник на медицината, базирана на доказателства и противник на алтернативните терапии. Съосновател и председател на фондация "Инициатива за българско рационално общество". Вход: 10 лв. Билети на https://ratio.bg/monthly/ratio-predstavya-behind-the-curve-film/ Покупката на билет не гарантира седящо място – препоръчваме ви да дойдете навреме, за да намерите най-удобното за вас. See more details CAMBRIDGE: Circular Reasoning: The Rise of Flat Earth Belief CAMBRIDGE: Circular Reasoning: The Rise of Flat Earth Belief 21st May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 10:15 pm The Blue Moon, 2 Norfolk St, Cambridge CB1 2LF, UK Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2175104242502147/ Circular Reasoning: The Rise of Flat Earth Belief Speaker: Michael Marshall, Good Thinking Society In 2013, when Michael Marshall first interviewed the Vice President of the Flat Earth society for his show Be Reasonable, people could scarcely believe that anyone would genuinely think the Earth was flat. Five years later, Flat Earth belief has gone mainstream, spawning thousands of hours of YouTube videos, gaining widespread international media coverage, and attracting countless followers. How did we get here? In this talk, Marshall will take us through his experiences of the Flat Earth movement, have a look at the leaders and some of their reasoning, and report back from the weekend he spent at the UK's first ever Flat Earth convention. Michael Marshall is the Project Director of the Good Thinking Society and the Vice President of the Merseyside Skeptics Society. He regularly speaks with proponents of pseudoscience for the Be Reasonable podcast. His work has seen him organising international homeopathy protests, going undercover to expose psychics and quack medics, and co-founding the popular QED conference. He has written for the Guardian, The Times and New Statesman. Good Thinking relies on the generosity of our supporters. To make a donation, visit www.goodthinkingsociety.org/about/donate Tickets: £3.00 in advance online (card/paypal) £5.00 on the door (cash/card/contactless) Wheelchair Accessible: Yes (ramp access, 76cm doorway opening) However, please note there is currently no disabled toilet. See more details CHICHESTER: Grasping the Cosmos, Alice Sheppard CHICHESTER: Grasping the Cosmos, Alice Sheppard 21st May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm Chichester Inn 38 West Street, Chichester, PO19 1RP, , Tel: 01243 783185, Email: info@chichesterinn.co.uk, Website: www.chichesterinn.co.uk Link: http://chichester.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/21776/Grasping-the-Cosmos Details to follow See more details LEICESTER: Philosophy, Schools and British Values, Alex Farrow LEICESTER: Philosophy, Schools and British Values, Alex Farrow 21st May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm Brewdog, Leicester 8 Friar Lane, , Leicester, LE1 5RA Link: http://www.leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/Event.aspx/21799/Philosophy-Schools-and-British-Values Alex Farrow is a philosophy teacher and stand-up comedian who will be exploring what he learnt from teaching philosophy in a 6th form college to Muslim and Christian teenagers in East London. The questions he found himself addressing were: What place do philosophy and skepticism have in the school classroom? What is the "British values agenda" and are British values under attack? What is the role of the teacher in creating, challenging and shaping the ethical and social opinions of young people? Alex has been invited to perform stand-up comedy about philosophy everywhere from Mervyn Stutter's pick of the Edinburgh Fringe, the National Museum of Scotland, music festivals, comedy clubs around the UK and the Oxford University Teaching Awards. He was also Farmington Fellow at Harris Manchester College, Oxford in 2015 researching Philosophy in Schools. He is the host of Jericho Comedy Oxford. Jericho Comedy raised £8,700 for the mental health charity Oxfordshire Mind last year for more information about them visit www.tighfive.org/jerichocomedy “witty, positive and talented” – DailyInfo Oxford “An engaging and entertaining pairing of learning and good humour!” – **** The Latest, Brighton See more details • • • •	22 SOFIA: Ratio представя: Тайните в сърцата на галактиките [Пловдив] SOFIA: Ratio представя: Тайните в сърцата на галактиките [Пловдив] 22nd May 2019 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Club VOID Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/654840361616557/ Ratio и Владимир Божилов идват в Пловдив, за да ви пренесат в света на квазарите и блазарите! В сърцето на всяка галактика, включително и на нашия Млечен път, дебне свръхмасивна черна дупка. Това е истинско космическо чудовище, което с лекота би събрало в себе си милиони Слънца. Понякога чудовището огладнява и тогава галактиката може да се превърне в обект, изхвърлящ колосални количества енергия. Добре дошли в света на квазарите и блазарите! Науката открива тези обекти, наречени активни галактични ядра, преди малко повече от 50 години. Ала разкриването на цялата история за тяхната еволюция, механизъм на лъчение и класификация отнемат десетилетия. Дори днес учените активно продължават да ги изследват. Българските специалисти също не правят изключение, а отговорите, които търсят дават представа за развитието на цялата Вселена и нейното минало. За лектора: Д-Р ВЛАДИМИР БОЖИЛОВ е преподавател в катедра „Астрономия“ на Физически факултет на Софийски университет, активен комуникатор на науката и лектор в планетариума на Детски научен център „Музейко“. В периода 2012-2018 г. е бил научен, а след това и главен редактор на сп. ВВС ЗНАНИЕ. Д-р Божилов е активен популяризатор на науката и редовен лектор на Софийския фестивал на науката, Европейска нощ на учените и други. Спечелва второ място в конкурса за комуникация на наука „Лаборатория за слава FameLab“ 2010 и първа награда в международното му издание „Hall of FameLab“ 2014 в Лондон, Великобритания. Чест гост е в радио и телевизионни предавания, където разказва на достъпен език най-новите открития от областта на Космоса. Съавтор е на книгата „Живот и Вселена“ и автор на повече от 30 научни и над 70 научнопопулярни публикации. От февруари 2017 г. е Национално контактно лице по Програма Хоризонт 2020. Входът е свободен. Програма 19:00 Отваряне на врати 20:00 Презентация "Тайните в сърцата на галактиките" 21:00 Дискусионна част и въпроси от публиката Изображение: NASA/JPL-Caltech See more details BRISTOL: Colin Davis - Responding to the Climate Emergency BRISTOL: Colin Davis - Responding to the Climate Emergency 22nd May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm Smoke and Mirrors The UK's Only Boutique Magic Theatre Pub 8 Denmark Street, BS15DQ Bristol, United Kingdom LInk: https://www.facebook.com/events/1077075832480497/ Bristol City Council declared a Climate Emergency in November 2018. Since then over 50 UK councils have followed suit. But how do individuals respond to this emergency? What are the psychological forces that allow us to ignore the facts of climate change? The path we are currently on will lead to catastrophe -- what makes us carry on regardless? Professor Davis will consider these questions from the perspective of psychological studies of obedience and conformity. He'll also discuss the power of disobedience, and why he has embraced civil disobedience as part of the Extinction Rebellion campaign. DOORS: 19:00 START: 19:30 Admission is FREE and there will be a collection during the interval (suggested donation £3-5). Venue: Smoke and Mirrors Professor Davis is a researcher in cognitive psychology and chair in cognitive psychology at the University of Bristol, and a member of the Extinction Rebellion campaign. See more details • •	23 KENT: Myths and Legends of Transylvania KENT: Myths and Legends of Transylvania 23rd May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm The Market House Earl Street Maidstone, ME14 1PS Kent, Kent, United Kingdom Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2584610318471370/ Transylvania is a byword for vampires and gypsy magic – but there is so much more strangeness that makes Dracula look pretty tame. Lore is passed on through fireside tales of demons, underworlds and wicked spirits that exist alongside humans, of a creator God who has long abandoned his world. Transylvania has long been a place of conflict, of cultural clashes and invasion. Within this unique European pressure cooker of faith and war, supernatural beliefs took hold in everyday life. The magical practices of actual Transylvanians from the beginning of the last century up to the present day were about giving reason to a violent world, a way of gaining some agency in the chaos. William Hunter talks about why magic is needed, on what basis it is done, and some of the techniques he has seen performed. He was raised in the Carpathian mountains of Transylvania and spent most of his childhood with monks, fortune tellers and very tall trees. SInce then he has travelled throughout Europe exploring surviving or reimagined native beliefs, partaking in Fire festivals and fertility rites from Scotland to Albania. £5 on the night with proceeds going to charity See more details LISBOA: A falta de cultura científica paga imposto #2: Cosméticos LISBOA: A falta de cultura científica paga imposto #2: Cosméticos 23rd May 2019 @ 8:00 pm - 10:45 pm Pavilhão do Conhecimento - Centro Ciência Viva Link: http://comcept.org/events/event/on/2019/05/23/ Local: Pavilhão do Conhecimento - Centro Ciência Viva Categorias: Eventos COMCEPT Tags: Cosméticos, pseudociência Debate no Pavilhão do Conhecimento sobre os custos da pseudociência nos cosméticos, com a colaboração da COMCEPT. See more details • •	24 PRAHA: Mirko Rokyta: Riemannova hypotéza - jeden z nejtěžších problémů PRAHA: Mirko Rokyta: Riemannova hypotéza - jeden z nejtěžších problémů 24th May 2019 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Viničná 1594/7, 128 00 Praha-Nové Město, Czechia Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/813264799035900/ Rádi bychom Vás pozvali na páteční přednášku, která se uskuteční v Praze na Viničné 7 v budově Přírodovědecké fakulty UK, posluchárna zoologie B7 přímo u hlavního schodiště. Riemannova hypotéza odolává snahám nejlepších matematiků o její důkaz či vyvrácení už téměř 160 let. Tento svatý grál matematiky je jedním ze sedmi takzvaných Problémů milénia, které v roce 2000 byly zformulovány v americkém Clayově matematickém institutu s cílem pojmenovat nejdůležitější výzvy matematiky přelomu tisíciletí. Zdánlivě abstraktní tvrzení o tom, jak by měly být rozloženy kořeny jedné z matematických funkcí, má překvapivé důsledky nejen pro teorii prvočísel, jejich rozložení a odhad jejich počtu, ale zasahuje také do moderních oblastí současné algebry a dokonce i kvantové fyziky. V přednášce se dotkneme všech těchto aspektů Riemannova problému i toho, jak to všechno souvisí se šifrováním, kódováním a internetovou bezpečností, a jaké důsledky pro ni by mohlo vyřešení Riemannovy záhady přinést. See more details OVIEDO: «¿Tenemos un plan? En plan de gobierno frente a las pseudociencias», en EEEP Asturias OVIEDO: «¿Tenemos un plan? En plan de gobierno frente a las pseudociencias», en EEEP Asturias 24th May 2019 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm Pub Rocket, C/Oscura 27, Oviedo Link: http://www.escepticos.es/node/6500 See more details • •	25 CAMBRIDGE: Towel Day 2019 CAMBRIDGE: Towel Day 2019 25th May 2019 @ 1:30 pm - 11:30 pm The Blue Moon, 2 Norfolk St, Cambridge CB1 2LF, UK Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/391970984905025/ "A fantastic evening" - Mostly Harmless, official magazine of ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Towel Day is an annual celebration as a tribute to the late author Douglas Adams (1952-2001). On May 25th each year, fans carry a towel in Douglas's honour. Since 2017 Stand Up for Towel day has provided a place to gather after a long day of towel carrying for stand up comedy, slam poetry, sketches, improv and more in homage to H2G2 and in aid of Save the Rhino. This year we've added a walk and some talks to the day's events in Douglas's birth place, Cambridge, UK. Share and enjoy... 12.30pm Douglas Adams Cambridge walk with David Haddock This event is FREE and unticketed. Just turn up to join in! We'll wait for the 11:42 from King's Cross that is due in at 12:30, unless the train is really late. The walk starts at the railway station. We gather outside between the Marks & Spencer's and The Old Ticket Office pub. See where Douglas Adams was born, where he went to University, where the "biscuit incident" took place, where the TARDIS landed in Shada, and more! We walk about three miles, but stop at various places to point at Douglasy things over a couple of hours. 4pm Talks at the Blue Moon, Cambridge An interview with Martin Smith and Will Adams, the two remaining members of Douglas's sketch troupe, Adams-Smith-Adams. We chat to David Learner, who played Marvin on stage and screen. Talks will finish by 6pm to leave time for food before... 8pm Stand Up for Towel Day 2019! Investigative journalism from Steve Cross The second annual Vogon poetry anti-slam, hosted by our laureate, Cerys Bradley. Towel fighting with Paul Duncan McGarrity. Fan fiction by Declan Kennedy and Jonathan Hearn. One Adams and the Smith of Adams-Smith-Adams perform some of their early sketches. MORE hoopy acts to be announced - PRIZES for the best costumes - if in doubt, wear a dressing gown. - Pan-Galactic Gargle Blasters courtesy of our hosts, the Blue Moon and Andy Mil of the Cocktail Trading Company, who gave us his recipe for the first towel day in 2017. Please gargle responsibly. In partnership with Cambridge Skeptics. All proceeds to Save the Rhino International https://www.savetherhino.org We will be finished in good time for those needing to catch the last train to Kings Cross. Line up subject to change. 18+ No strags. FAQs Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event? Anyone can attend the Douglas Adams Cambridge walk. Talks and Stand Up for Towel Day are 18+ What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event? If you are travelling from London there is a train at 1142 from Kings Cross which gets into Cambridge at 1230 in time for the walk. If you're arriving later on, the Blue Moon pub is a 20 minute slouch from the train station. Post code for sat navs is CB1 2LF. There is plenty of free street parking available around the venue. Please check local signs for applicable restrictions. Alternatively, please use the Grafton Centre multi-storey car park. What can I bring into the event? Fancy dress is strongly encouraged with prizes for the best costumes. Don't forget your towel! How can I contact the organiser with any questions? Contact the team at standupfortowelday@gmail.com What's the refund policy? Refunds are available up to 7 days before the event How accessible is the venue? The venue can provide ramp access and the door opening is 76cm wide. Many wheelchair users have been able to access the venue without problems but if you have any concerns please contact the venue directly moon@cambridge.pub See more details •	26 ROMANIA: Watch Party - Vaccinat - Dragoste, frică si vaccinuri ROMANIA: Watch Party - Vaccinat - Dragoste, frică si vaccinuri 26th May 2019 @ 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/270551547222521 Vom urmari impreuna cel mai bun documentar despre vaccinare din care veti intelege de ce sunt vaccinurile importante, cum se creeaza imunitatea impotriva bolilor prevenibile si de ce este miscarea antivaccinare un pericol. See more details •
27	28 SOFIA: Ratio представя: Индустриални катастрофи SOFIA: Ratio представя: Индустриални катастрофи 28th May 2019 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm City Stage НДК основен подлез, вход от Пилоните, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/391226298400294/ През цялата история от своето развитие човекът се стреми да изучава света около себе си, като използва натрупаното познание за овладяване на природните процеси. Днес ние разполагаме с индустриални конгломерати с невиждани до момента мащаби. Но каква е понякога цената, която трябва да платим? Във “влака” на стремглавия прогрес винаги има място за арогантност, некомпетентност, алчност или случайни обстоятелства. Нека разгледаме заедно едни от най-зрелищните индустриални катастрофи и да разберем какви са били причините те да се случат. Историята познава производствени катастрофи, свързани с изхвърляне на отровни вещества в околната среда, нефтени разливи, експлозии. Кои са едни от най-мащабните индустриални катастрофи, какви са били последствията от тях и могли ли са да бъдат избегнати? Елате на 28 май, за да чуете отговора от Владимир Лютов. === За лектора === Владимир Лютов има две магистърски степени, „Полимери” и „Медицинска и фармацевтичната химия“ от Факултет по Химия и Фармация към Софийски Университет „Св. Климент Охридски“, член е на “Съюза на химиците в България” и понастоящем работи като електрохимик в БАН. Той се запалва по химията още като ученик в Националната Природо-Математическа Гимназия и е участник в много олимпиади и национални състезания. Вход: свободен. See more details MAIDSTONE: What Every Parent Needs To Know About Steiner Schools MAIDSTONE: What Every Parent Needs To Know About Steiner Schools 28th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm The Market House, Wrythe Lane Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2216168775113237/ With Michael Gove and the coalition approving new Steiner Schools to open under the Free School Programme, it is timely to look closely at the origins and beliefs of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of the occult movement of Anthroposophy. Steiner was a mystic who believed he had direct clairvoyant access to cosmic knowledge. As such he developed an esoteric belief system based on karma, reincarnation, astrology, homeopathy and gnomes. His visions gave insights into architecture, art, dance, agriculture, medicine, education, science and diet. His racial hierarchy of spiritual developmental resonated in Germany in the early 20th Century turning a personal belief into a worldwide movement. Today we find hundreds of anthroposphically inspired organisations in the UK alone: everything from Steiner Schools, Biodynamic farms to banks, pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies, charities and cheese makers. Andy Lewis has been trying to lift the veil on the inner secrets of the movement and will discuss how this secretive movement has direct impact on public life. He is the developer of the web site quackometer.net , which explores the pseudo-medical claims of alternative medicine web sites and their impact on society. £5 on the door to cover cost with extra raised going to charity See more details • •	29 GLASGOW: Dave Alnwick: Actual Magic - Ed Fringe Preview for Glasgow Skeps GLASGOW: Dave Alnwick: Actual Magic - Ed Fringe Preview for Glasgow Skeps 29th May 2019 @ 6:15 pm - 10:30 pm The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo St, Glasgow G2 7DA, UK Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/582386202282357/ It's not often that we break our 'Monday nights only' rule, but when we get an offer like this from Dave then we CAN'T say no. You may remember the amazing show he gave for us to mark our 200th event, so it's great to have him back! ===== Dave Alnwick is a Magician. This is a Magic Show. Thirteen full-house Edinburgh Fringe runs. Three national tours. One TV special. New show for 2019. 'Completely f*cking awesome' ★★★★The Skinny 'Genuinely impressive illusions' ★★★★ Fringe Guru 'Ninja wizard' ★★★★★ ThreeWeeks 'Sure to have you in stiches' ★★★★★ The Sphinx 'Incredible… daily queues down the street' ★★★★ World Magic Review 'Exemplary showmanship, funny, quick-witted... mind boggling' ★★★★ Purple Revolver 'Sell-out crowds every year' -North East Theatre Guide 'Mind blowing' Nottingham Live 'They'd burn him 300 years ago' Phil Jupitus Instagram: @davealnwick === Doors at 7.15, kickoff at 7.30 This is event is free to attend, although we will be asking for donations. Dave funds this type of work based on attendee donations - so all money collected on the night will go to him to help cover his travel, accommodation, and other expenses. === Accessibility: As per the policy of the Admiral Bar, access to the venue “can only be provided to patrons who are sufficiently mobile and capable of independently evacuating premises, or with the minimum of assistance”. Unfortunately, this leaves the basement inaccessible to most wheelchair users. See more details •	30 LISBOA: A falta de cultura científica paga imposto #3: À venda em farmácias LISBOA: A falta de cultura científica paga imposto #3: À venda em farmácias 30th May 2019 @ 8:00 pm - 10:45 pm Pavilhão do Conhecimento - Centro Ciência Viva Link: http://comcept.org/events/event/on/2019/05/30/ Local: Pavilhão do Conhecimento - Centro Ciência Viva Categorias: Eventos COMCEPT Tags: Farmácia, homeopatia, Suplementos, Vitaminas Debate no Pavilhão do Conhecimento sobre os custos da pseudociência na farmácia, com a colaboração da COMCEPT. See more details TURINO: Esistono i dischi volanti? TURINO: Esistono i dischi volanti? 30th May 2019 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm Strada Antica per Ciriè, Str. Antica per Ciriè, 10070 San Carlo Canavese TO, Italy Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/442062316584115/ Esistono i dischi volanti? E se esistono, hanno il raggio della morte? Da dove nasce il più grande mito della seconda metà del XX secolo? Venite a scoprirlo, con un approccio razionale e scientifico a cura del CICAP Piemonte. See more details WINCHESTER: Chris Fuller See It/Shoot It WINCHESTER: Chris Fuller See It/Shoot It 30th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm Link: http://www.hampshireskeptics.org/?page_id=1374 This eye-opening talk will uncover the formally classified history of the most important instrument of U.S. counterterrorism today: the armed drone. Drawing upon research conducted for the completion of his recent book, See It/Shoot It, published by Yale University Press, Dr Christopher Fuller will reveal that, contrary to popular belief, the CIA's covert drone program is not a product of 9/11. Rather, it is the result of U.S. counterterrorism practices extending back to an influential group of policy makers within the Reagan administration. Dr Christopher J. Fuller is a lecturer in modern U.S. history at the University of Southampton. His research and teaching focus upon American foreign policy, in particular the origins and conduct of the War on Terror; an exploration of the United States as a post-territorial empire; and the role played by the Internet in both enhancing and undermining American national security. He is a joint U.S./UK citizen, and for the first time in a long time, feels stuck between a rock and a hard place. He tweets at @DrChrisFuller. See more details LIVERPOOL: Skeptics in the Pub Quiz! LIVERPOOL: Skeptics in the Pub Quiz! 30th May 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm The Casa, 29 Hope St, Liverpool L1 9BQ, UK Link: http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/meetup-event/skeptics-in-the-pub-quiz/ On this rare fifth Thursday in May we’re organising a general knowledge pub quiz. Join your host, Dr Tom Williamson, in The Vines for a night of rational enquiry; it’s free to enter and there will be prizes for the best performances on the night! Tom is, of course, excluded from winning a prize, unless you count being carried aloft through the streets of Liverpool on the shoulders of his peers for producing a magnificent quiz. Everyone is welcome, feel free to share and invite your friends… See more details AUGSBURG: SKEPKON 2019 AUGSBURG: SKEPKON 2019 30th May 2019 @ 2:00 pm - 1st June 2019 @ 6:00 pm Kongresszentrum Kongress am Park Augsburg Göggingerstraße 10, 86159 Augsburg, Germany Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2008030212623093/ Save the Date: 30.5.19 - 1.6.19: Die Skepkon 2019 findet in Augsburg statt. See more details • • • • •	31 PRAHA: Jan Votýpka: Nová parazitární onemocnění v Evropě PRAHA: Jan Votýpka: Nová parazitární onemocnění v Evropě 31st May 2019 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Viničná 1594/7, 128 00 Praha-Nové Město, Czechia Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/451471302284101/ Milí přátelé. Dovolte, abychom Vás srdečně pozvali na páteční přednášku, která se uskuteční v budově Přírodovědecké fakulty UK v Praze, Viničná 7, posluchárna B7 zoologie ve druhm patře. Nová a nově se objevující infekční (parazitární) onemocnění (tzv. Emerging Infectious Diseases) jsou stálou hrozbou nejenom v tropických či subtropických oblastech světa, ale mnohdy se dotýkají i obyvatel střední Evropy. Kromě negativního vlivu na lidské zdraví, ale i zdraví domácích či volně žijících živočichů (a případně i rostlin), však představují tato onemocnění i velmi zajímavý biologický fenomén. V neposlední řadě vyžadují tato onemocnění i nový způsob našeho přístupu k nim, což se odráží v tzv. One Health konceptu. See more details •