An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design.
Bradley Monton.
An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design.
Talks to RSS.
Friday 29th March (Good Friday), 5:30pm
Biology Building BLT100
UPDATE: Here is the audio and handouts from the seminar Dr Monton gave:
What is wrong with Intelligent Design?
Tuesday 28th May, 6pm, Arts 1 room 315
One of our members will present a reply or follow on discussion from Bradley Monton’s earlier presentation.
“What is wrong with Intelligent Design” will explore the history of the movement to demonstrate that the reality of Intelligent Design is, what the biological arguments are and why it should not be included in the public (or even private) science education system below the Tertiary level.
The Universe from Nothing
Tuesday 21st May, 5:30pm, Arts 1 room 315
We watch a Lawrence Krauss talk/documentary
Physicist Lawrence Krauss considers that the information recoverable by any civilization over the entire history of our universe is finite in an ever-expanding universe.
Social Event ~ RSS Goes for a Beer
Tuesday 7th May
5:30pm onwards
Shadows Tavern (on Campus)
This week we’re having a social event rather than a seminar. Come for a beer at Shadows after classes. Or coke, or chips, or whatever. If you don’t drink, or don’t know anyone, please still feel welcome to come along anyway. This is a chance to meet others from the group and just socialise a bit rather than having to listen to a presentation and think of smart questions to ask!
Jeff Talon on Science versus Christianity
Sunday 5th May
10:15 am
Shadows Tavern (on campus)
Hosted by Auckland Evangelical Church http://aucklandev.co.nz
Doesn’t science disprove Christianity?
Either way, are you sure? Sure enough to bet your life on it?
At least give one of NZ’s top Physicists a chance to explain how he sees the two as inseparable.
Professor Jeff Tallon is one of New Zealand’s most distinguished physicists, internationally known for research which revolutionised the field of high temperature superconductors.
Current research interests extend to nanotechnology, high pressure physics, and materials science.
Jeff has received numerous awards for his work, including the inaugural Prime Minister’s science prize, the Rutherford medal and the Dan Walls medal for physics. He currently a visiting professor at the Cavendish laboratory, Cambridge University.
He has been a prominent advocate of science education and research in New Zealand and for the compatibility of science and Christian faith.
Here’s a video to watch:
Here’s some reading: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10616394
Logic, Critical Thinking, Reasoning Errors, and other stuff Skeptics should know.
One of our members presented on the difference between deductive, inductive and abductive reasoning and logic; On some of the logical, reasoning, and argument fallacies we often make; A little bit on how philosophy ties in with science, Inference to the best explanation, Philosophy of Science, and the logical forms of scientific methodology; As well as some general critical thinking skills that we should apply not only to evaluating other’s arguments, but also our own.
We hope to have an video of this (and other) talks processed and up here soon. In the mean time:
EDIT: Here it is!
Craig Cormick on Why clever people can believe in dumb things
Auckland University of Technology had Craig Cormick talk to the public on Tuesday 9th April on:
Why clever people can believe in dumb things and how the internet is making us stupider.
Abstract: Addressing societal concerns about contentious new technologies such as GM foods and crops, or issues such as global climate change, has become increasingly difficult with a growing tendency for people to only seek out information that supports their existing values and beliefs rather than challenging them. This enables fringe beliefs to thrive – such as more than half of New Zealanders believing some people have psychic powers, a third believing the earth has been visited by UFOs from other planets, and a quarter believing astrology can predict people’s futures. In this entertaining talk, Dr Craig Cormick looks at the social psychology of how we form our attitudes and then reinforce them, and what role the internet has in attitude formation in the 21st Century.
About the speaker:
Craig Cormick is an award-winning Canberra author and science communicator. He has published over 100 short stories, including eight short story collections, as well as novel and non-fiction, with both independent and mainstream publishers.
Currently employed at the CSIRO, Craig is a regular commentator on public attitudes towards emerging technologies in the media and at conferences in Australia and internationally. He has travelled to all seven continents and his research has been published widely in peer-reviewed journals and conference papers. In 2005 he authored the reports What you really need to know about what the public really thinks about GM foods (2005) and Cloning Goes to the Movies (2006).
A transcript/article of a similar presentation can be found here: http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/features/a-scientific-view-non-science-beliefs/
VIDEO: Dr Craig Cormick in conversation with Dr Di Bowman about the social values that govern much public perception of risk, and how they affect the decisions people make.
http://technyou.edu.au/2011/11/risk-science-unplugged-why-do-smart-people-believe-dumb-things/
Alice on Asexuality
ASEXUALITY: NOT JUST FOR AMOEBAS
On Tuesday 19th April, one of our members, Alice, comes to talk to us about Asexuality. Alice is an asexual woman living with an asexual male partner. She has studied biopsychology and hormones. She will explain all the terminology associated with identifying as asexual, will be taking questions at the end of the talk, and making available printed resources leading to more information about asexuality.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asexuality
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/9651265/The-moment-I-realised-I-was-asexual.html
http://radicalprude.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/link-between-feminism-and-asexuality.html
Peter O’Connor on Charter Schools
CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THE LIES AND MYTHS THAT ARE USED TO JUSTIFY EXPERIMENTING WITH THE POOR
On Tuesday 19th of March we had Peter Connor who came to talk about what has been said about education and charter schools as a solution to a problem that has been created and talk about better solutions.
Debate:
We tried to inviting one of the following to represent the pro charter school side of this issue: John Banks, Act leader and main driving force for charter schools; Catherine Issac, former ACT president; and Stuart Middleton from MIT:
Speaker Profile:
Associate Professor O’Connor is an internationally recognised expert in applied theatre. His research has focused primarily on using applied theatre as a public education medium to address major social issues including public health, gender equity in schools and the development of inclusive, empathetic and critical school cultures. Recent applied theatre research includes national programmes on preventing family violence and child abuse and parenting programmes in Youth Justice Facilities. His work in Christchurch following the February earthquake has lead to UNESCO funded research and programme development. In 2011 he was named a New Zealander of the Year by North and South Magazine for this work. He is currently engaged in the ongoing debates about charter schools and the nature of quality public education. Peter was previously the National Education Manager for the Race Relations Office and the National Project manager for the Like Minds campaign with the Mental Health Foundation. His 2003 PhD on his work in forensic psychiatric units won the 2006 AATE Distinguished Dissertation Award in Washington DC.
