Board of Directors

Treasurer

Işil Arican
Yalansavar

Directors

Bill Patterson

Herb Masters
Bay Area Science, SciSchmooze Newsletter, ExplOratorium

Steven Newton
College of Marin

12 December: SkepTalk, Berkeley
17 December: North Bay Skeptics, Santa Rosa
22 December: East Bay Skeptics, Berkeley
2 January: Café Inquiry, Menlo Park
3 January: Skeptics in the Pub, Sunnyvale
22 January: Skeptics in the Pub, Millbrae

SkepTalk: Berkeley

Kayla Katiraee, Ph.D.

WHAT: Are you sure that sippy-cup is safe?
Parents face overwhelming amounts of information about the safety and welfare of their children. With social media, every seemingly small decision seems impossible as the internet provides conflicting information on every topic ranging from sippy-cup safety to vaccines and medication. Most people do not assess risk correctly. They tend to overinflate small risks while ignoring large risks. But parents are particularly prone to misinformation as their risk assessment is highly skewed because the stakes seem much higher when it comes to their children. Consequently, stories and articles highlighting the dangers or risks of foods and children’s items gain a lot of traction. When these stories tap into different values or belief systems that the audience may hold, then they become part of one’s identity and worldview, and Parenting Wars are born. Throughout this presentation, Dr. Katiraee will highlight how SciMoms have tried to break through the silos in Parenting Wars. She will highlight the importance of understanding the fears that parents have, and that facts can only go so far in swaying or convincing one’s audience.

WHO: Dr. Layla Katiraee
is a product development scientist in the DNA sequencing space. She holds a Bachelors (HBSc) in Biochemistry from the University of Western Ontario, a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Molecular Genetics from the University of Toronto, and a certificate in Applied Bioinformatics from Penn State. Layla is also one of the directors at SciMoms, an educational non-profit dedicated to helping parents navigate through the overwhelming amounts of (mis)information and marketing claims they encounter. SciMoms strives to frame all topics through the appropriate definitions of hazard and risk, and to use nuance and relevant evidence in the topics they discuss. Established in 2017, SciMoms has written about topics as varied as gun safety, breastfeeding, trampoline safety, vaccines, and GMOs. Disclaimer: Layla’s views and opinions as expressed on SciMoms are hers alone and may not represent the views of her past or present employers.

WHEN: 7:30PM Thursday 12 December

WHERE: La Peña Lounge, 3105 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley [Map]

HOW: This event is presented FREE by the Bay Area Skeptics.

WHY: Because we’re curious creatures.

North Bay Skeptics: Santa Rosa

What: Join the North Bay Skeptics celebrating the scientific method while discussing current topics and consuming non-homeopathic liquids.

When: 7PM Tuesday 17 December

Where: Ranch 7 Creative, Six West Ninth St., Santa Rosa

East Bay Skeptics Dinner: Berkeley

WHAT: Meet for dinner and discussion. Sometimes there is a topic and sometimes there is just open discussion of whatever is on people’s minds. Ordering dinner starts at 6pm, discussion starts after eating is finished.

WHEN: 6PM Sunday 22 December

WHERE: Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers, 1600 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley [Map]

HOW: Hosted by the East Bay Skeptics.

Café Inquiry: Menlo Park

WHAT: A great gathering of nerds!

WHEN: 6PM Thursday 2 January

WHERE: Café Barrone, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. A 2-minute walk from Menlo Park Caltrain. [Map]

HOW: Hosted by Center for Inquiry, SF and Bay Area Skeptics.

Skeptics in the Pub: Sunnyvale

WHAT: Upholding the tradition of skeptics groups: good free-flowing discussions with food and ale.

WHEN: 7PM Friday 3 January

WHERE: Firehouse Grill, 111 S. Murphy Avenue, Sunnyvale [Map]

HOW: Hosted by the Silicon Valley Skeptics.

Skeptics in the Pub: Millbrae

Join lads & lassies from hill & dale
discussing pseudoscience & science
over good eats & ale.

WHEN: 7PM Wednesday 22 January (4th Wednesday) (No gatherings in November & December)

WHERE: Fiddlers Green, 333 El Camino Real, Millbrae. A 10 minute stroll from the Millbrae BART & Caltrain station. [Map]

HOW: Hosted by the Bay Area Skeptics and Center for Inquiry, SF.

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