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Hello Science Fans! It's definitely summer in the Bay Area. The weather is hot and the science is even hotter. The Bay Area Science Festival is just a month away! Our schedule is out and look for official announcement later today. It will run from Oct. 27 to Nov. 5. Some of your favorites have returned, alongside some new additions. More events are being added in the coming days as well. And We’d love to have your help as a volunteer. While most of the conversation this week will revolve around the presidential debate, there are plenty of other options to keep you intellectually stimulated. My top 3 for this week: |
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(The following is unabashedly stolen from The Center For Inquiry.) Susan Gerbic The seventh SkeptiCal was held Sunday, May 15, 2016, at the Oakland, CA, Asian Cultural Center. I’ve attended all seven, each is unique and I always leave feeling that I’ve had a great experience. This is billed as the Northern California Science and Skepticism Conference, and as usual for this specific event, is heavy on the science. The speakers are varied enough to keep the audience interested as you will soon see. The hosts are the Bay Area Skeptics led by Eugenie Scott and Sacramento Area Skeptics, Frank Mosher. I attend as many skeptic conferences as I can, and each one has its own “flavor” and style. SkeptiCal differs from others by being a no-frills event, but without you noticing that those frills are missing. Many of the speakers are working scientists talking about their... |
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During the holiday season, we usually start receiving messages about good cheer, Have you ever wondered what makes people "do good"? |
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...and our board president is giving a talk there!!! Please welcome the Silicon Valley Skeptics to our extended community. They have a Meetup page HERE. If possible, attend the talk on December 4th by Dr. Eugenie Scott, board president of the Bay Area Skeptics. What if 'Intelligent Design' Had Won? Reflecting on 10 Years Since Kitzmiller v. Dover Ten years ago, the decision in Kitzmiller v Dover determined that |
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New BAS Channel Announced
Good news for SkeptiCal fans! (Of course you know SkeptiCal – it’s the northern California conference of science and critical thinking, sponsored by the Bay Area Skeptics and the Sacramento Skeptics. You knew that, didn’t you? Good). BAS now has a Youtube channel and the first PLAYLIST presents... |
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By Carol and Ben Baumgartner
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Dear Fellow Skeptics: I'm happy to announce that I've started a new podcast on science and skepticism called ShelShocked. |
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Hey, all! The JREF announced yesterday the publication of a new critical thinking resource in the form of "Magic in the Classroom - Using Extraordinary Claims to Teach Critical Thinking," a FREE e-book. |
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Here's a good piece on Bay Area vaccination statistics, from this morning's SF Chronicle. One of the few articles I've seen that explores the nuances of refusal -- it goes beyond "gee, unvaccinating parents are all ignorant/selfish/health nut/California hippies/[insert pejorative of choice here]". |
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One of the most annoying parts of the "world of woo" is people who claim to have psychic powers. Although none has ever actually shown evidence of this ability under strict observation, it's a multi-million dollar business, with some in the field becoming quite prominent. Chip Coffey may not be one of the biggest players, but he's had his 15 minutes of fame with A&E's "Psychic Kids" program and a few other television appearances. |
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