… bet you thought I forgot. No, I was just waiting for my copy of the Australian Skeptics Magazine to reach me, so I can do the goofy pose with me as cover-girl:
… goofy pose over. Back to business.
After the brilliant dinner the night before -- which was a lot like this, with Pigasus stealing the show…
… day two of the Australian Skeptics 2007 conference in Hobart began!
Since I was up fairly early (don’t ask me how I manage these things; I’ve always been the sort to do six impossible things before breakfast -- it’s after lunch that you’ve got Buckley’s chance of my doing anything coherently) I trotted down the road to get the newspaper, a bunch of postcards and safely put into the bank the cheque I got.
Then it began at the University of Tasmania -- starting with Dr Keven Bonham and the Tasmanian forestry conflict, an issue that was highly relevant to the overall theme of ‘The Use and Abuse of Scientific Data in the Environment Debate’, which was also discussed by Bob Gordon and Peter Stevenson later that day.
I also enjoyed Mr Gary Bakker’s presentation on ‘Skeptical Clinical Psychology’ -- my notes for his speech are mostly exclamation marks about how he was confirming studies from my Psychology lectures -- humans are hard wired for cognitive dissonance; confirmation bias affirmed by our need for social interaction; the importance of bonding and familial interaction that leads us to these credulous attitudes towards the paranormal. He also presented a ‘spectrum of psychotherapies’, with a range from ‘Proven -- we know it works, beyond placebo or suggestion’ -- ‘Unproven -- might not work’ -- ‘Loopy -- defies the laws of Physics and / or Psychology’.
Sarah Wilks with ‘Where Science and Environmental Activism Meet’ -- I must admit -- not only did I take copious notes on her presentation, but I went out and brought the same cute ‘Bye Bye Kitty’ cat-eared Goth jacket she wore… sorry, I was hooked.
She presented on the different types of environmental activism that she has investigated, from awareness-arisers to lobby groups, facilitators to direct action groups; how we also can ‘learn from the enemy’ in terms of marketing, promote communicating science correctly and improve the status and prestige of teachers. It really led me to think about the ramifications for skeptical groups in that regard, especially the damage that was created by the koalas on Kangaroo Island due to unchecked activism.
Throughout, Richard Saunders worked diligently. Guarded by Piggy Pigasus and entourage.
One thing that you can see profiled on the front cover of the Australian Skeptic -- for the first time all the major awards were won by women! I was very proud to be there along with Dr Krissie Wilson and the Skeptic of the Year, Loretta Marron.
As the winner for 2007, she was recognised for using her considerable communication skills (you SHOULD have heard her presentation, it was just excellent! ‘Pharmacies: Feasting on Fat’; -- don’t forget to read this article online from the Sydney Morning Herald) to use the media to counter the claims made about dodgy health claims. A persistent advocate for the regulation of dubious claims and treatments, her site is found at www.healthinformation.com.au -- here she is with Darwin the skeptic bear!
I, in the meantime, sneaked an hour off during lunch to finish grading the very last lot of Year 9 papers on Romeo and Juliet on the floor outside a very kind Law professor’s office. Thankfully now I’m no longer teaching high school English and have become a full-time university student, it’ll be the last time I have to work weekends and do a conference!
You also shouldn’t miss the presentation by anomalistic psychologist Dr Krissie Wilson, which has been written up in the most recent Australian Skeptic and my interview with her here, around thirty minutes into the TANK vodcast:
Finally -- a short YouTube video I made of some of the footage -- especially note the alternative medicine-packed street where I stayed! If you want more of the actual lectures and presentations, I highly recommend the DVD that was made by Richard Saunders and is available through the Australian Skeptics website.
It was a brilliant weekend. Just ask Pigasus:
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