Archive for category Skeptics in the Pub
Robin Ince: Pragmatic Insanity
Posted by Marsh in Skeptics in the Pub on March 17, 2018
When: Thursday, May 3rd 2018, 7.30 – 11.00 PM
Where: The Casa, 29 Hope St, Liverpool
Robin Ince’s first new stand up show in three years is a clash of the two cultures, a joyous romp through his favourite artists and strangest scientific ideas. From the work of Stanley Spencer to Niels Bohr, it is 90 minutes fizzing with ideas about creativity in science and art, as well as asking why we believe we see what we see and why we believe what we believe.
As well as being a prolific stand-up, Robin Ince is the co-host of the award winning BBC Radio 4 show Infinite Monkey Cage and author of several books, including I’m a Joke…and So Are You. He is the winner of the Time Out Outstanding Contribution to Comedy Award, as well as The Francis Crick Science Journalism Award and 3 Chortle awards. He recently finished a 70-date, record-breaking tour with Brian Cox that concluded at Wembley Arena.
As with all MSS events, tickets are free, but entrance will be prioritised to people who reserve a place via Eventbrite:
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Alice Howarth: Cancer cures – are we nearly there yet?
Posted by Marsh in Skeptics in the Pub on January 10, 2018
When: Thursday, February 15th 2018, 7.30 – 11.00 PM
Where: Hus, Tempest Building, Tithebarn Street, Liverpool, L2 2DT
One in two of us will suffer with cancer in our lifetime and almost all of us have some experience of the disease. But do we really know what cancer is and how we can work towards a cure? Is a cure even possible? And how can we arm ourselves with the right information to help us prevent and treat cancer?
Alice is a researcher who has worked in the Institute of Translational Medicine at the University of Liverpool with both non-profit and for-profit organisations. In this talk she will discuss what cancer is, how it works and just how we are working towards understanding and curing the disease. She will talk about the complexities of research and some of the big success stories that relate directly to some of the many types of cancer. Only when we understand the difficulties we face can we discern between bogus cancer treatment claims and genuine scientific advancement in this field
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Edzard Ernst: A Scientist in Wonderland
Posted by Marsh in Skeptics in the Pub on January 10, 2018
When: Thursday, January 18th 2017, 7.30 – 11.00 PM
Where: Hus, Tempest Building, Tithebarn Street, Liverpool, L2 2DT
Edzard Ernst is an academic tour de force within the skeptic movement.
Starting his career as a medical doctor, he became interested in alternative medicine and eventually became Professor of Complementary Medicine at the University of Exeter, conducting a number of studies into the effectiveness and safety of many common alternative approaches. Finding little evidence supporting the claims made, he has become an outspoken critic of the alternative medicine industry.
As well as over 700 scholarly articles, he co-wrote the bestselling book “Trick or Treatment” with Simon Singh. He retired from academia in 2013, following a dispute with Prince Charles’ Foundation for Integrated Health. Through blogs, newspaper columns and public lectures, he remains actively involved in combatting medical misinformation to the present day.
In 2015, he was awarded the John Maddox Prize for “standing up for science”.
#Dave: Literally the Best Magician
Posted by Marsh in Skeptics in the Pub on September 29, 2017
When: Thursday, November 16th 2017, 7.30 – 11.00 PM
Where: The Vines, 81 Lime St, Liverpool
After a sell-out run at Edinburgh Fringe and fresh off the back of hosting QED 2017, Skeptic regular Dave Alnwick tours his new show ‘Literally the Best Magician’.
Is Dave Literally the Best Magician? He certainly thinks so and intends to spend an hour proving it. Working through every genre of Magic, Dave hopes to ‘one up’ the classics of conjuring.
Ok, enough of this third person charade. I’m doing a Magic show. It’ll be really good, you should totally come. In the past I’ve focused on mentalism (y’know that Derren Brown mind reading business) but I thought I’d step away from that and have a go at old school stuff. It’s not easy making tricks with rope, tissues and post-it notes interesting but I’m pretty sure I’ve smashed it.
“He is the kind of performer who could probably make reading the dictionary into an entertaining show” – WorldMagicReview.com
I’ll even do a talk after the show about Magic. I’ll teach you a trick. We’ll do a Q&A. Maybe have a drink. It’ll be dope. See you there.
Our events have wheelchair access, via a portable ramp which can be installed on-demand. If possible, please let us know you’re coming through contact@merseysideskeptics
Chris Coltrane: Make Love and Smash Fascism
Posted by Marsh in Skeptics in the Pub on September 12, 2017
When: Thursday, September 28th 2017, 7.30 – 11.00 PM
Where: The Vines, 81 Lime St, Liverpool
Donald Trump. Poverty. Brexit. Piers Morgan. Yep: the entire planet has turned to garbage. Well, lucky for society then that Chris Coltrane has the solution to LITERALLY all the world’s problems, with his 6th solo stand-up comedy show: Make Love and Smash Fascism!
A new hour of hilarious, passionate political comedy to soothe your heart and kick-start your spirit. In his new stand-up special, Coltrane makes the case for optimism in a world filled with hate. He defends refugees against far-right Christians who turn them away (you know: like Jesus would have); he calls out Theresa May (the Waffle-Iron Lady); and he defends social justice using the most powerful and deadly weapon known to humanity: punchlines. And as for the election result: for the first time in years, it feels like the left could win – and Chris offers hope on where we can go from here. Coltrane says: “This year, more than ever, we need cheering up. In a world determined to crush your spirit, laughter is a radical act. And thus, coming to see me do comedy counts as activism.”
Never too earnest, and always playful, fans of alternative comedy, intelligent nonsense and engaging storytelling will adore Coltrane’s new hour. Mark Thomas says “Chris Coltrane is the future of British political comedy. He is funny, smart, and often right!”
PRAISE FOR PREVIOUS SHOWS:
★★★★★ Three Weeks: “An exciting, exuberant performance which is as informative as it is funny.”
★★★★ Chortle ★★★★ The Skinny ★★★★ The Scotsman
The Guardian: “Likeable, upbeat, and an attractive cheekiness… By Coltrane’s account, protest is getting funnier – which can only be good news for political comedy.”
Our events have wheelchair access, via a portable ramp which can be installed on-demand. If possible, please let us know you’re coming through contact@merseysideskeptics
Cancelled: Tamasin Cave: Does Lobbying Distort Our Democracy?
Posted by Marsh in Skeptics in the Pub on February 7, 2017
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CANCELLED EVENT
Unfortunately for reasons beyond our control we have to reschedule this event. There will be NO talk taking place on Thursday 21st September. HOWEVER: please join us in DR DUNCAN’S for a drink instead!
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When: Thursday, September 21st 2016, 7.30 – 11.00 PM
Where: Dr Duncan’s, St John’s Lane, L1 1HF
Tamasin Cave
Tamasin Cave will talk about the UK’s £2bn lobbying industry and the tactics they use to bend government to their will: how lobbyists build relationships with government; their manipulation of the media; the way that they use academics, scientists, think-tanks, front groups and others to spread their messages; and their attacks on opposition groups. She will talk about how the private healthcare industry has lobbied to open up the NHS to more private operators – and how schools are going the same way; how energy companies have hired a small army of lobbyists to persuade government and local communities to support fracking; how the ‘revolving door’ works to support the arms industry; and more.
Tamasin is a writer, campaigner and commentator. Her new book, A Quiet Word: Lobbying, Crony Capitalism and Broken Politics in Britain, co-authored by Andy Rowell, shines a light into one of the darkest and least-understood corners of our political culture: the UK’s £2 billion commercial lobbying industry. She is a director of Spinwatch, which investigates corporate PR and lobbying, as well as government spin. Since 2007, she has also led the campaign for transparency regulations for lobbyists.
Our speaker events have wheelchair access, via a portable ramp which can be installed on-demand. If possible, please let us know you’re coming through contact@merseysideskeptics