Talks

Join members of the Merseyside Skeptics Society in attending QEDcon, the UK's leading science and skepticism convention, which takes place in Manchester each year.

For those who aren't familiar, QEDcon is a two-day celebration of science, reason and critical thinking. It's an event where 500 skeptics from around the world gather in a hotel in Manchester to enjoy a mix of fascinating speakers, lively panel discussions, interactive workshops, and live podcast recordings. It’s a great social event, and it’s always a huge amount of fun.

Whether this is your first QED or your tenth, we’re sure you’ll enjoy attending – it’s a great opportunity to learn, share ideas, and foster discussions, in a fun, social environment.

Speakers at QED will include: magician and psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman; journalist and investigator of wellness culture Rina Raphael; archaeologist and ‘ancient aliens’ debunker Dr Flint Dibble; health tech and wearables expert Professor Bola Grace; medical doctor and social media health myth debunker Idrees “Dr Idz” Mughal; open-source intelligence investigator and disinformation specialist Joe Ondrak; and security expert and ‘people hacker’ Jenny Radcliffe, and much more.

Alongside the mainstage line-up of speakers, there will be lively panel discussions, interactive workshops, and live podcast recordings, plus an evening of comedy and entertainment.

Tickets for QED are available at qedcon.org/tickets, at an early bird price of £164 (or £189 after September 2nd).

There will also be a FREE one-day Skepticamp event taking place at the hotel on Friday 18th October, where speakers from the audience will present a series of short talks on a wide variety of subjects. For more details visit sitp.online/skepticamp.

There will be plenty of Merseyside Skeptics Society members there, so we look forward to you joining us!

Join us for our monthly talk with our exciting guest speaker.

We haven't announced who will be joining us yet, but please look back at our previous events for examples of our excellent previous speakers.

If there's anyone you'd like to see speak for us, or any topic you'd like covered, why not contact us (https://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/contact) to let us know.

There are numerous well documented instances of coincidences occurring that seem to be so unlikely that many people are tempted into concluding that something more than the blind laws of probability is at work. In many contexts, including ostensibly precognitive dreams and so-called telephone telepathy, explanations involving paranormal abilities are invoked. This talk will address the question of whether or not it is reasonable for sceptics to explain away such instances as nothing more than “mere coincidences”. This will involve consideration of both the mathematics and the psychology of coincidences as well as addressing the issue of why coincidences have such powerful emotional impact.

Alcohol is something of a national obsession - deeply ingrained in many aspects of British culture and available on almost every street corner. Yet we are regularly faced with conflicting messages about the impact alcohol has on our health - will a glass of wine a day keep the doctor away, or give you cancer? Deaths caused by alcohol have increased sharply in recent years, yet young people are drinking less than ever. In this talk Colin will examine the data behind the health impacts of alcohol, the evidence behind drinking guidelines and try and make sense of recent changes in our relationship with the demon drink.

Join BBC journalist Alistair Coleman as He guides us through the world of fake news and its consequences, and how the corporation separates fact from fiction. And hear about countries where the news is so tightly controlled at the whim of ruling dictators that citizens only ever hear one voice, be they North Korea's Kim, Turkmenistan's Berdimuhamedovs or - of course- Russia's Putin.

As skeptics, it's easy for us to warn people about the harms of alternative medicine at an individual level, but what can we do when quackery is being pushed by authorities, or when the problem is to widespread for a one-on-one approach? From NHS homeopathy to midwifery alt-med, via quack charities and dubious overseas cancer clinics, professional skeptical investigator Michael Marshall will explain how a dogged approach to analysing publicly-available data can help us understand what we're up against, and provide the media with the evidence they need to publish stories that make a difference.

Join us for another of our annual multiple speaker events, featuring some people you may have heard talk before (about different subjects), some you will have never heard speak.

How to Be Insufferable – Robert Green and His Guide to Being Obnoxious Bob Brady Have you ever wished you could command the awe and respect of your lessers? Wield the power of nations and have women swoon at the mention of your name? Then Robert Greene has the answers for you, and all you need to do... is buy his books, apparently.

AC/DC History Ian Harrison For over 100 years AC won the battle of the currents, but with newer technology is that now changing? How an understanding the history of AC vs DC might help guide our future.

Phineas Gage - The lesser known facts of a well known case Kat Ford The story of Phineas Gage is one of the most well known medical case studies, taught the world over to students of psychology and neuroscience, but the story of Phineas' injury and subsequent recovery is often told full of myths and inaccuracies. So what really happened to Phineas, and what can his story tell us about the human brain?

#Triggered? Lana Donaghy Buckle up snowflakes, we're delving into the complexities surrounding PTSD and online culture wars. From one side the appropiation of 'triggered' has rendered a serious condition a joke, while from the other is the dismissal of PTSD by those who prioritize 'facts over feelings'. Let's explore the scientific approach to PTSD, the efficacy of content warnings, and other methods of managing the condition.

Why we love to hate Liz Shaw Oxytocin is colloquially known as the love hormone, bringing us bonding, a love of cuddles, not wanting to eat our children, and a sense of belonging in a community. So why does it also make us despise one another?

A Boney M to pick: debunking Rasputin Tom Williamson In 1978, Boney M. released their single Rasputin. Finally, their lies and propaganda will get a thorough debunking, and the true story of Grigory Rasputin and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna will be told.

The Actual Dangers of AI Phil Armstrong When we talk about the dangers of AI, you're likely to picture Skynet, but there are far more pressing and immediate dangers we should be more concerned with.

Mystery Talk Alice Howarth ???