Shadow
of a Doubt Bulletins for Coming and Past NCAS Events
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Browse our calendar of NCAS events and other noteworthy activities.
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On the day of the event, you may call 301 587-3827 to hear whether there are any last minute program changes, due to weather, etc.
Coming NCAS Events -- Please Mark your Calendar Now
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Shadow
of a Doubt
Archives & Past NCAS Events
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Shadow |
Event |
May
2011 |
Saturday,
May 7, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Surviving the Age of Bad Information: A Skeptic's Reflections Joel Achenbach, Washington Post Staff Writer At this event NCAS honors Joel Achenback with the 2011 Philip J. Klass Award for outstanding contributions in promoting critical thinking and scientific understanding. National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) (Flyer) (Program Brochure) Refreshments & Socializing until 3:45 pm |
Apr 2011 |
Saturday, April 2, 1:30 pm - 3:00
pm
Dr. Alan Peel, Ph.D.,
Co-Director, Department of AstronomyTeaching Critical Thinking Skills -- In the Trenches 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD Near Bethesda metro (map) (directions) Refreshments & Socializing after the talk |
Mar 2011 |
Saturday, Mar 12, 1:30 pm - 3:00
pm
Elisabeth
Cornwell, Ph.D., Who Invented Beauty -- Madison Avenue or Darwin? Executive Director of the U.S. branch of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Science and Reason (RDFRS) National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) (Flyer) Refreshments & Socializing until 3:45 pm |
Saturday, Feb 12, 1:30 pm - 3:00
pm
Bruce A. Fuchs, Ph.D.U.S. Science Education and Global Competiveness Director of the NIH Office of Science Education National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) (Flyer) Refreshments & Socializing until 3:45 pm |
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Jan 2011 |
Bob
Hirshon, Senior Project Director in the
Directorate for Education and Human Resources
Programs at the American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Principal
Investigator for the NSF-supported Kinetic City
project National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) (Flyer) Refreshments & Socializing until 3:45 pm |
Dec 2010 |
Saturday, Dec 11, 1:30 pm - 3:00
pm
Arboreal
Mind: Finding Self in Nerve Cell BranchingGiorgio Ascoli, Ph.D., Computational Neuroanatomy Group Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study George Mason University, VA National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) (Flyer) Refreshments & Socializing until 3:45 pm |
Nov 2010 |
Saturday,
Nov 20, 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm Nov 20 Physicist John Mather NCAS Talk at NSF: Big Bang, Webb Space Telescope & Alien Life John C. Mather, Nobel Laureate Physicist NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Observational Cosmology Laboratory National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) (Flyer) |
Oct 2010 |
Saturday,
Oct 9,
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm Making Informed Decisions about Dietary Supplements: Efficacy, Safety and Quality Paul Thomas, Ed.D. Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD Near Bethesda metro (map) (directions) (flyer) |
Sep 2010 |
Saturday,
Sep 18,
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm Is the Radiation From Your Cell Phone a Health Hazard? Risk vs. Reality Prof. Christopher Davis, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD Near Bethesda metro (map) (directions) Flyer (Video) |
May 2010 |
Saturday,
May 8,
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm Quantum Mechanics & "Spooky Action at a Distance" Prof. Allen Stairs, University of Maryland, Philosophy Department, Associate Chair Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD Near Bethesda metro (map) (directions) |
Apr 2010 |
Saturday,
April 24 ,
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm A Conversation with Ray Hyman, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Oregon Prof. Hyman received the NCAS Philip J. Klass Award 2010 Special Guest D.J. Grothe, President, James Randi Education Foundation National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) |
Mar 2010 |
Saturday,
March 20,
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm Hearing Through the Smoke and Mirrors Poppy Crum, Ph.D., Research Scientist in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins Medical School National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) |
Feb 2010 |
Saturday, February 20, 1:30 pm - 4:00
pm
Neuroscience -- Brains, Minds, and Selves: What is it like to be a bat, and what does it matter? James Giordano PH.D, M.Phil., Director of the Center for Neurotechnology Studies, and chair of Academic Programs at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, Arlington, VA |
Jan 2010 |
Saturday,
Jan 9, 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm Faith-based Initiatives and Charitable Choice Toni Van Pelt Vice President, Center for Inquiry and Director, Office of Public Policy National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) |
Dec 2009 | Saturday, December 12, 1:30 pm -
4:00 pm Best Available Science: A Process for Evaluating the Validity & Applicability of Scientific Findings to Decision Making Dennis K. McBride, Ph.D. Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, Georgetown University Medical School Public Policy Institute National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) |
Nov 2009 | Saturday,
November 14, 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm The Art of Science: Scientific Methods vs Pseudoscience Marvin Zelkowitz, Professor Emeritus and Research Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Maryland National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) |
Oct 2009 |
Saturday,
October 24, 1 pm - 5:30 pm - Public - Tickets online or at Door Science, Magic and Skepticisim - Workshops Lead by Jamy Ian Swiss, D.J. Grothe, Chip Denman AAAS Auditorium 1200 New York Avenue NW Washington, DC Near Metro Center (map) |
Oct 2009 |
Saturday,
October 24, 7:30 pm
- Public - Tickets online or at Door Jamy Ian Swiss - Heavy Mental - One Night Only AAAS Auditorium 1200 New York Avenue NW Washington, DC Near Metro Center (map) |
Oct 2009 |
Saturday, October 10, 1:30 pm -
Public &
Free The Cosmos in Your Pocket William T. Bridgman, Ph.D., Physics & Astronomy from Clemson University Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD Near Bethesda metro (map) (directions) |
Sep 2009 |
Saturday, September 19, 1:30 pm -
Public &
Free Superstition: Belief in the Age of Science Robert Park, Ph.D., Professor of Physics, University of Maryland Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD Near Bethesda metro (map) (directions) (flyer) |
May 2009 |
Saturday, May 9,
1:30 pm - Public
& Free Therapeutic Touch: Fifth Force or Myth? Professor Eugenie V. Mielczarek, Emeritus Department of Physics, George Mason University Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD Near Bethesda metro (map) (directions) |
Apr 2009 |
Friday, Apr 10 - 11:30 am
Luncheon (Flyer) NCAS 2009 Philip J. Klass Award Presentation to CFI's Paul Kurtz, Ph.D. At the Center For Inquiry's 12th World Congress, Bethesda, MD Luncheon registration was at www.centerforinquiry. Award Memorabilia: Program, Flyer, Photos, Video, Poster, Transcript Tuesday, April 14, 7:30 pm - Public & Free (Flyer) The Truth About Psychic Detectives Benjamin Radford, Skeptical Inquirer Managing Editor Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD (near Bethesda metro) |
Mar 2009 |
Saturday,
Mar 21, 1:30 pm Public & FREE Myths (and Realities!) About Hydrogen Fuel Rene Carlos, Advanced Composites Group, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) |
Feb 2009 |
Saturday,
Feb 14, 1:30 pm Public & FREE Darwin at 200 Years, Human Nature at a Few Million Years, and a socio-legal myth undermined at 40 Years Dennis K. McBride, Ph.D. Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, Georgetown University Medical School Public Policy Institute National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) |
Jan 2009 |
Saturday, Jan 10, 1:30 pm Public & FREE How Statistics are Misunderstood in the Media and Society Rebecca Goldin, Ph.D., STATS.org National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) |
Dec 2008 |
Saturday,
Dec 13, 1:30 pm Public & FREE Understanding Creationism Mary McCutcheon, Ph.D., George Mason University (Retired) National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) |
Nov 2008 |
Saturday,
Nov 8, 1:30 pm Public
& FREE Autism & Vaccines: How Bad Science Confuses the Press & Harms the Public Steven Salzberg, Ph.D., University of Maryland, Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) |
Oct 2008 |
Saturday,
Oct 11, 1:30 pm Public & FREE Defining Normal: Sex and Gender Misconceptions Karen North (Handouts) Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD (near Bethesda metro) |
Sep 2008 |
Saturday, Sep 13, 1:30 pm Public & FREE The Alien Grey: An Unnatural History Richard Dengrove Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD (near Bethesda metro) |
May 2008 | Saturday,
May 10, 2 - 4 pm Global Warming: An Update Stuart Jordan, Ph.D. Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD (near Bethesda metro) |
Apr 2008 | Friday,
April 18, 1 - 3 pm Public & FREE Framing Science: Conflict & Consensus in Public Communication Matthew Nisbet, Ph.D. (Prior Registration Required -- It's Easy) National Science Foundation, Room 375 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (map) |
Mar 2008 | Saturday, March 8, 2 - 4
pm Public
& FREE
(Flyer) The Lingering Death of Superstition Robert L. Park, Ph.D. Former University of Maryland Department of Physics Chair Will receive the 2008 NCAS Philip J. Klass Award National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (Map) |
Feb 2008 | Saturday, February 9, 2 - 4 pm Public & FREE (Flyer) Postmodernism vs. Science vs. Fundamentalism Stephen Brush, D. Phil. National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (map) |
Jan 2008 | Saturday, January 12, 2 - 4 pm
(Flyer) Michael Shermer, Ph.D. "The Mind of the Market" (irrationalities in economics), his coming book National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (map) |
Dec 2007 | Saturday, December 8, 2 - 4 pm Examining the Culture of Free Energy Claimants Eric Krieg, Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT) National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (map) |
Nov 2007 | Saturday, November 10, 2 - 4 pm From Noah’s Ark to the Ark of the Covenant and Beyond: Junk Science, Amateur Enthusiasts, and Irresponsible Documentary Film-makers Eric Cline, Ph.D. National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA (map) |
Oct 2007 | Saturday, October 20, 2 - 4
pm Beamed Aboard a UFO by a Psychic Sasquatch ... Understanding Paranormal Belief in the 21st Century Rick Wood, host of Audiomartini.com (Curious Paranormal Radio) Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD (near Bethesda metro) |
Sep 2007 |
Too Good to Be False: Memorandum 46 and Other Race-based Urban Legends Casey Lartigue, Jr. Saturday, September 8, 2 - 4 pm FREE Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD (near Metro) |
June 2007 |
The Comprehensible Cosmos: Where
Do the Laws of Physics Come From? Victor J. Stenger, PhD (Details) Thursday, June 14 7:30 pm Bethesda Library |
May 2007 |
Applying the Scientific Method to
Testing CAM Modalities Robert Clarke, PhD, DSc (Details) Saturday, May 12, 2:00 - 4:00 pm Bethesda Library |
Apr 2007 |
The Moon: A New Destination for
Humanity? Answers for Skeptics Paul D. Spudis, PhD Saturday, Apr 14, 2:00 - 4:00 pm Bethesda Library, Bethesda, MD |
Mar 2007 |
NCAS
20th Anniversary Celebration Speaker: James Randi -- "Beware: Skeptic on the Loose!" MC: Jamy Ian Swiss Sunday, Mar 18 1:00 pm - Aiton Auditorium, National Conference Center 7100 Connecticut Ave, Chevy Chase, MD (map) Brunch with James Randi & NCAS -- $30 Admission Sunday, Mar 18 11 am - 1230 pm Jackie's Restaurant , Silver Spring |
Feb 2007 |
Imaginary Weapons: A Journey Through the
Pentagon's Scientific Underworld Sat, Feb 10, 2:30- 4:30 pm - Sharon Weinberger Tysons-Pimmit Library, Falls Church, VA Veteran defense reporter Sharon Weinberger will discuss and sign her book about the Pentagon's latest new levels of fringe-science wackiness: antimatter weapons, psychics, telepathy, nuclear hand grenades, and more. Attendees get a Free NCAS 20th Anniversary "Prove It!" button |
Jan 2007 |
Restoring Science Integrity in
Washington Sat, Jan 13 2:00 - 3:30 pm - Mike Stebbins, Ph.D. Bethesda Library, Bethesda, MD (flyer) Dr. Stebbins will explain the mission of the newly formed Scientists and Engineers for America to promote the proper role of science and evidence-based debate and decision making in American government and our political process. |
Dec 2006 |
Germ
Frenzy! - Hype and Reality (Flyer) Sat, Dec 9, 2:30- 4:30 pm - Karl Roberts, Ph.D., P.G. Community College Tysons-Pimmit Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA (Map & Directions) |
Nov 2006 |
Objectivism & Skepticism:
A Good Match? Sat, Nov 11, 2:30- 4:30 pm - Dr. Ed Hudgins, Objectivist Center Exec Director Tysons-Pimmit Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA (Map & Directions) Free NCAS 20th Anniversary That's Nice, Prove It! button to all at this event. Read full item |
Oct 2006 |
Why
Darwin Matters: The Case
Against Intelligent Design Talk & book signing by Michael Shermer, Exec Director of the Skeptics Society Thu, Oct 12, 7 pm Oakton High School, Vienna, VA (event flyer) Book sale and signing is 7 :00 pm to 7:30 pm. Program starts at 7:30 pm. Co-sponsored with the Alliance for Science |
Sep 2006 |
Veritas
Vioxx: Looking at Junk
Science & Junk Justice Roberta Shaffer, Executive Director, Federal Library and Information Center, Library of Congress Sat, Sep 9, 2:30- 4:30 pm Tysons-Pimmit Library, Falls Church, VA New location and time. |
May 2006 | Junk
Science / Junk Justice (Rescheduled for Sep
9, 2006) Roberta Shaffer, Executive Director, Federal Library and Information Center, Library of Congress |
Apr 2006 | Psi
Perceptions and the Sensitive Personality Michael Jawer, Independent Researcher |
Mar 2006 | Positively
Skeptical: A Way of Knowing Prof. Marv Zelkowitz, Computer Science, University of Maryland |
Feb 2006 | Positively
Skeptical: A Way of Knowing (rescheduled due to
weather) Prof. Marv Zelkowitz, Computer Science, University of Maryland |
Jan 2006 | The
Evolution of Creationism: What's Next in the Debate Over Intelligent Design Rob Boston, Assistant Director of Communications, Americans United for Separation of Church and State |
Dec 2005 | The
Great
Moon Hoax of 1835: A New Take Richard Dengrove, Librarian, U.S. Department of Agriculture |
Nov 2005 | "We
Died
at Such a Place" -- The Interaction of Battlefield Archaeology and
Forensic Science Walter Rowe, PhD., Department of Forensic Sciences, George Washington University |
Oct 2005 |
Teaching
Skepticism
in a Physical Science
Class for Non-Science Majors Mike Epstein, Chemist, Mt Saint Mary's University |
Sep 2005 | A
Modest Tribute to Philip J.
Klass Scott Snell, NCAS board member, with Chip Denman and Jim Giglio, in a remembrance of the role of Phil Klass in starting NCAS, as well as a reprise of some of the best examples of his skeptical investigative work. |
Jun 2005 | The
American Flag in History and
Myth,
June 11, 2005 Peter Ansoff, President, American Vexilological Association |
Apr 2005 |
APRIL
ANTI-FOOLS (Special Event) A day-long seminar with: Jamy Ian Swiss, magician: "The Honest Liar"; Todd Robbins, sideshow historian and performer; James Taylor, sideshow historian/curator; Brian Morton, Baltimore City Paper columnist and magician; Dr. Eileen Abels, University of MD, Information Studies And an evening of magic and psychic power illusions by Jamy Ian Siwss |
Mar 2005 | Looks
Like NEW: Advertising Cosmetics to Teens Sonia Velasco, University of Maryland Honors Program. Looks Like NEWS: Panel discussion of Peter Jennings UFO special Marv Zelkowitz and Scott Snell, NCAS Board Members |
Feb 2005 | The
Bible Code Josh Fixler, University of Maryland Honors Program Imaginary Companions Mari Elise-Gates, University of Maryland Honors Program |
Jan 2005 | MICHAEL
SERVETUS: Death by Fire! Neil Inglis, NCAS Board Member |
Dec 2004 | Crazy
Ideas in Science Robert Ehrlich, physicist, George Mason University |
Nov 2004 | Mysterious
Delusions:
Witchcraft in Salem Village Walter Rowe, forensic scientist, George Washington University; NCAS Board Member |
Oct 2004 | The
Universe on a
T-shirt: The quest for
the Theory of Everything Dan Falk, Science Journalist |
Sep 2004 | Trauma
Society:
Meaning and Uses of
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sally Satel, M.D., Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute |
May 2004 | Malaria
& AIDS Countermeasures in the
Developing World: Policies that work,
policies that don’t, and why Roger Bate, PhD., American Enterprise Institute |
Apr 2004 | Good
News &
Bad News: What the public
knows and believes about science Melissa Pollak, National Science Foundation |
Mar 2004 | Art
Becomes Reality
(Weekend Workshop) Hands-on activities & presentations |
Feb 2004 | Pseudoscience
& Skepticism in Journalism Heather Keels, University of Maryland Honors Program Cold Fusion John Mularski, University of Maryland Honors Program |
Jan 2004 | Exhumations:
The
Good, the Bad, and the Ugly James Starrs, PhD, George Washington University |
Dec 2003 | A
hard
look at the
DC sniper investigation On the series of random murders in the Washington DC area in 2002. Susan R. Paisner, criminologist and free-lance journalist |
Nov 2003 | Understanding
Biblical (In)Accuracy Explains a theory based on current archaeological evidence that the bible is incorrect and that kings David and Solomon never existed Marvin Zelkowitz, Professor of Computer Science, University of Maryland |
Oct 2003 | The
case of the
Tichborne Heir An interesting case study in the persistence of a false belief system in the face of overwhelming contrary evidence. Walter Rowe, Professor of Forensic Science, George Washington University |
Jun 2003 | Lucky
Day: National
Capital Area Skeptics
Friday the 13th Superstition-Free
Celebration featuring close-up magic by Brian "The
Lies of Brian" Morton.
Informal get together from 6 - 8 pm at the Mayorga coffee bar in Silver
Spring, Maryland.
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May 2003 | Bad
Medicine: Health Myths and Quack Alternative Medicine Chris Wanjek, Science Journalist |
A list of prior NCAS lectures and events back to March 1987 is at this page.