The detailed program for the upcoming National Convention has been released.
Updated, 12 Nov
Australian Skeptics
Convention 2012, Program
Thursday, 29 Nov
6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Fund Raising Dinner
Venue: Royal Society of Victoria: 9 Victoria Street, Melbourne (entrance from 8 La Trobe Street)
MC: Matt Kippen
Guests of Honour: James Randi, DJ Grothe, Brian Thompson, Rebecca Watson
Limit: 25 people (tickets sold separately)
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Friday, 30 Nov
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Meet and Greet
Venue: Melbourne Immigration Museum, Old Customs House, 400 Flinders St, Melbourne (Between Queen and William Sts.)
Early convention registration will be followed by the official convention welcome and a cocktail party.
What a great opportunity to socialise, mingle, chat and catch up with fellow skeptics. We will even throw in a little live music.
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Saturday, 1 Dec
Venue: Spot Theatre, University of Melbourne, Building of Economics and Commerce, 198 Berkeley Street, Carlton
8:00 am Registration (for those who have not registered the previous day at the Meet & Greet)
Morning MC: Terry Kelly (President, Victorian Skeptics)
9:00 am Welcome: Don Hyatt (Convention Convenor)
9:05 am James Randi My Skeptical World
9:50 am Adam vanLangenberg Teenagers, Lunchtime and Scepticism
10:20 am Morning Tea
11:00 am Active Skepticism: An Evidence-Based Approach to Medical Treatment
Panel discussion chaired by Richard Saunders
Panel members: Dr Ken Harvey, Dr Mick Vagg, Dr Steve Basser, Loretta Marron
12:20 pm Dr Krissy Wilson SOAP – The Science of Anomalistic Phenomena
1:00 pm Science Drama Award winning students from Lyndale Greens Primary School performance.
1.10 pm Lunch
Afternoon MC: Paulie Stehlik (Convention Planning Committee)
2:10 pm Lynne Kelly A Skeptic Tackles Stonehenge
2.50 pm Paul Gallagher Case Study: Active Skepticism: Using Social Media Effectively
3:00 pm Afternoon Tea
3:30 pm Loretta Marron (Friends of Science in Medicine) Exposing CAM as a Sham
4.15 pm Rebecca Watson Effectively Using Social Media to Promote Skepticism
5:00 pm Finish
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Saturday Evening
Convention Gala Dinner
Venue: The Arts Centre Melbourne
Arrive at 7.00 pm for a 7.30 pm start – until 11.30 pm
MC: Simon Taylor
Presentation by Brian Thompson Skeptical Observations of a Downunder Nature
Awards:
Skeptic of the Year
Bent Spoon Award
Thornett Award (“The Fred”) for the Promotion of Reason
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Sunday, 2 Dec
Venue: Spot Theatre, University of Melbourne, Building of Economics and Commerce, 198 Berkeley Street, Carlton
Morning MC: Brad Kendall (Mordi Skeptics)
9:00 am Welcome to Day Two
9.05 am DJ Grothe Active Skepticism Around The World
9:50 am Lawrence Leung The Unbelievable Truth: Comedy and Scepticism in Life and on Television
10:50 am Morning Tea
11.20 am So You Want to be an Active Skeptic? Effectively Spreading the Message.
Panel discussion chaired by Richard Saunders
Panel members: Dr Meredith Doig (Australian President, Rationalists Assn. of Australia), Stephen Mayne (Media Commentator), Dr Krissy Wilson (psychologist), Brian Thompson (Outreach Coordinator, JREF)
12:40 pm Lunch – Young Skeptics Lunch with Rebecca and DJ
Afternoon MC: Matt Kippen (Convention Planning Committee)
1.40 pm Dr Ken Harvey Confessions of a Serial Complainant: Why Take On the Therapeutic Goods Industry?
2.20 pm Dr Rachael Dunlop Skepticism in Science: A Help or a Hindrance?
3:00 pm Afternoon Tea
3:30 pm Randi With Friends: Reflections on the Importance of Being an Active Skeptic.
Mal Vickers (Chair, Vic. Skeptics) and Friends: Jack Scanlan (Young Australian Skeptics), Russell Kelly (Borderline Skeptics), Don Hyatt (Skeptic Groups of Victoria).
4.10 pm Shane Greenup rbutr – Enhancing the Quality of Internet Conversation
4.20 pm Rebecca Watson Twitter Quiz
4:50 pm Closing
5:00 pm Finish
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Please note, the program is subject to change.
Victorian Skeptics 