Skeptics in the Pub
Apr. 15th, 2004 02:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lproven... is tonight.
Thursday 15th April 2004
DJ Grothe, magician and mentalist from the Center for Inquiry
As a Program Director for the Center for Inquiry, DJ Grothe serves as director of the CFI-On Campus, a secular, pro-science alternative to organizations such as Campus Crusade for Christ and fringe-science and paranormal movements at colleges and universities. Mr. Grothe has travelled and lectured widely throughout North America, speaking on secular ethics, religious-political extremism, church-state separation, the paranormal and science advocacy. His writings have been published in newspapers throughout the United States, and he has spoken on numerous radio and television programs. He is currently finishing a book on the need for public argument in a secular democracy.
Before completing graduate studies in philosophy and intellectual history at Washington University at St. Louis, DJ worked as a corporate magical entertainer and public speaker for companies such as IBM, Southwestern Bell, Esteé Lauder and Ralston Purina.
The Science of Fooling Scientists: The History of Psychic Charlatanry in the Sciences
Exactly how do occultists fool scientists? DJ will perform his award-winning demonstrations of seeming "psychic abilities," while showing how easy it is for even the most ardent scientific thinker to be duped. With a witty style that astonishes audiences with inconceivable results, DJ "shakes people's understanding of reality," while showing that deception is more pervasive in society than you may think.
Come watch him demonstrate and detail the case histories of the scams that have fooled even Nobel Prize winners. He'll use your rational strengths to destabilize your skepticism.
Not you? Prepare to be surprised. You'll see a performance you won't soon forget, one that promotes critical thinking and the scientific outlook.
How to get there
The address of the pub is:
The Old Kings Head
Kings Head Yard
45 Borough High Street
London SE1 1NA
Tel. (020) 7407 1550
Inside the pub, the meeting room is behind the door to your right as you come in. Go along the corridor, and then through the last door on your left. The room is at the top of the stairs on the first floor.
By train
The nearest station is London Bridge. Turn left past the taxi rank as you leave the main station entrance and follow the station approach road (London Bridge Street) down to the traffic lights at Borough High Street. Turn left and walk along Borough High Street across St Thomas Street to Kings Head Yard on your left. The pub is about 10 meters down this little alley, on the right.
Alternatively (shorter but less salubrious), descend the escalator following signs for the underground and Guy's Hospital. At St Thomas Street turn right and follow the street up to Borough High Street. Turn left into Borough High Street and then left into King's Head Yard.
In other news, am back from Eastercon, which I enjoyed very much, as I did Blackpool, excepting some of the rides. More on this anon!
Thursday 15th April 2004
DJ Grothe, magician and mentalist from the Center for Inquiry
As a Program Director for the Center for Inquiry, DJ Grothe serves as director of the CFI-On Campus, a secular, pro-science alternative to organizations such as Campus Crusade for Christ and fringe-science and paranormal movements at colleges and universities. Mr. Grothe has travelled and lectured widely throughout North America, speaking on secular ethics, religious-political extremism, church-state separation, the paranormal and science advocacy. His writings have been published in newspapers throughout the United States, and he has spoken on numerous radio and television programs. He is currently finishing a book on the need for public argument in a secular democracy.
Before completing graduate studies in philosophy and intellectual history at Washington University at St. Louis, DJ worked as a corporate magical entertainer and public speaker for companies such as IBM, Southwestern Bell, Esteé Lauder and Ralston Purina.
The Science of Fooling Scientists: The History of Psychic Charlatanry in the Sciences
Exactly how do occultists fool scientists? DJ will perform his award-winning demonstrations of seeming "psychic abilities," while showing how easy it is for even the most ardent scientific thinker to be duped. With a witty style that astonishes audiences with inconceivable results, DJ "shakes people's understanding of reality," while showing that deception is more pervasive in society than you may think.
Come watch him demonstrate and detail the case histories of the scams that have fooled even Nobel Prize winners. He'll use your rational strengths to destabilize your skepticism.
Not you? Prepare to be surprised. You'll see a performance you won't soon forget, one that promotes critical thinking and the scientific outlook.
How to get there
The address of the pub is:
The Old Kings Head
Kings Head Yard
45 Borough High Street
London SE1 1NA
Tel. (020) 7407 1550
Inside the pub, the meeting room is behind the door to your right as you come in. Go along the corridor, and then through the last door on your left. The room is at the top of the stairs on the first floor.
By train
The nearest station is London Bridge. Turn left past the taxi rank as you leave the main station entrance and follow the station approach road (London Bridge Street) down to the traffic lights at Borough High Street. Turn left and walk along Borough High Street across St Thomas Street to Kings Head Yard on your left. The pub is about 10 meters down this little alley, on the right.
Alternatively (shorter but less salubrious), descend the escalator following signs for the underground and Guy's Hospital. At St Thomas Street turn right and follow the street up to Borough High Street. Turn left into Borough High Street and then left into King's Head Yard.
In other news, am back from Eastercon, which I enjoyed very much, as I did Blackpool, excepting some of the rides. More on this anon!
