Skeptics in the Pub Winchester hosts a guest speaker on the last Thursday of every month. Skeptics in the Pub exists to provide an opportunity for people who are interested in science, skepticism, rationalism and critical thinking to socialise and discuss matters of interest.
The meetings are open to all regardless of beliefs and each month’s talk will be followed up with a challenging Q&A session. Winchester SitP is part of a national and global network of SitP events and is organised by the Hampshire Skeptics Society. The Hampshire Skeptics Society is a non-profit organisation for the promotion of science, reason and critical thinking, humanism and a secular life.
When?
Thursday, March 25 at 7:30PM
Where?
The Roebuck Inn57 Stockbridge Road,
Winchester,
SO22 6RP
http://www.roebuckwinchester.com/about_reobuck.php
Who?
Deborah Hyde
What's the talk about?
Cultural & Physiological aspects of the religious and superstitious experience.
- When do the dead chew in their graves?
- Why do vampires strike in autumn?
- Why do ghosts live in electric clocks?
As we move into Spring we are delighted to be hosting Deborah Hyde who has been writing about the folklore of the macabre for eighteen years. Her book, ‘Unnatural Predators’ will be published this year. She blogs on belief in the supernatural as ‘Jourdemayne’, but often suffers from mission creep. Her daytime, grown-up job is a makeup effects coordinator in the film industry – more vampires and zombies, then.
When?
Thursday, April 29 at 7:30PM
Where?
The Roebuck Inn57 Stockbridge Road,
Winchester,
SO22 6RP
http://www.roebuckwinchester.com/about_reobuck.php
Who?
Martin Robbins et al
What's the talk about?
For our April meeting the inestimable Martin Robins, researcher, science writer and author of The Lay Scientist blog will be hosting a panel group giving short talks and then taking questions from the audience.
When?
Thursday, May 27 at 7:30PM
Where?
The Roebuck Inn57 Stockbridge Road,
Winchester,
SO22 6RP
http://www.roebuckwinchester.com/about_reobuck.php
Who?
Simon Perry
What's the talk about?
Simon is an active campaigner against nonsense. Using the ASA, Trading Standards, other regulatory bodies and even gaining help from MPs, his campaigns have helped shut down dodgy allergy test services, prevented traditional chinese medicine salesmen from claiming to cure cancer and exposed psychic scams.
His largest involvement in a campaign, coined the "Quacklash" by Jack of Kent involved almost 600 separate letters being sent to trading standards to report claims to treat childhood diseases with a back rub. 60 of the letters gained 500 signatories. Further complaints were issued with the General Chiropractic Council.
Simon will be explaining the techniques he's used to fight woo, what works and what doesn't and tell stories about some of the crazy nonsense he's encountered along the way.
Simon runs Leicester Skeptics in the Pub, blogs at http://adventuresinnonsense.blogspot.com and writes a skeptical column in the Leicester Mercury. You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Simon_Perry.