National Capital Area Skeptics Public Lecture Series

Magazine Overview

Title: National Capital Area Skeptics Public Lecture Series
Issue: April 2003
Publisher: National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Document Type: Magazine Issue (Monthly Calendar)

Lecture Announcement: How to Convince a Skeptic

The central feature of this issue is the announcement of a public lecture by Tom Napier, affiliated with the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT). The lecture, titled "How to convince a skeptic," is scheduled for Saturday, April 5th, from 2-4 pm at the B-CC Services Center in Bethesda, MD. Admission is free.

Napier's lecture will address the common claim that paranormal abilities are not demonstrable under experimental conditions because skeptics' tests are too difficult or unfair. He intends to explain how calculating odds can help distinguish between genuine abilities and mere chance. The announcement highlights Napier's background, including a BS in Physics and MS in Electronics from Aberdeen University, Scotland. His early career involved designing a cosmic ray experiment for the ESRO II satellite and working at the European Space Technology Center and CERN. He later transitioned to commercial technology, managing the development of radiation detectors and medical research equipment. Since moving to the USA in 1981, he has worked as an electronics consultant and writer. Napier has a long-standing interest in fringe science, co-founded PhACT in 1994, edited its newsletter for five years, and remains on its Council.

The lecture venue is located in downtown Bethesda, near the Bethesda Metro station, and offers free parking on weekends.

News and Events from the Skeptical Community

This issue also serves as a calendar of various events, publications, and news relevant to the skeptical community:

Science and the Media

A new monthly web column by Matthew Nisbet is available on the CSICOP website, focusing on topics like "The Skeptical Environmentalist" and the manufacture of news.

Publications

• The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience: A two-volume work edited by Michael Shermer and Pat Linse, available at a special price for skeptics.

Conferences and Meetings

• One Nation Without God? Secularism, Society, and Justice: A conference sponsored by the Council on Secular Humanism from April 11-13 at the Capitol Hilton in Washington DC. It features speakers like Paul Kurtz (CSICOP), Massimo Pigliucci, and Eugenie Scott.
• Alternative Realities Conference: Held by the United States UFO Information and Research Center on the last weekend of June in Elizabethton, Tennessee.

Travel Opportunities

• Galapagos Islands Trip: A custom expedition from July 3-17, 2003, led by William McComas, focusing on evolution and natural history. The trip is limited to 20 participants.

NCAS Elections and Membership

Spring is the time for NCAS annual board elections. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact the NCAS board. Members are also reminded to renew their subscriptions; renewal fees are $30 for individuals and $40 for households.

Diversity and UFO Legislation

State Rep. Daniel R. Foley (R) introduced a bill in the New Mexico Legislature to designate an annual Extraterrestrial Culture Day in Roswell, aimed at recognizing the cultural and economic contributions of space aliens.

Contact Information

Contact details for the National Capital Area Skeptics are provided, including a P.O. Box in Silver Spring, Maryland, a phone number for information, an email address ([email protected]), a submission email for the "Skeptical Eye," and the organization's website.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around promoting critical thinking, scientific understanding, and skepticism towards paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. The NCAS positions itself as an organization dedicated to these principles, as indicated by its lecture series, its support for skeptical publications, and its participation in events that challenge unsubstantiated beliefs. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and the scientific method, as demonstrated by the focus on lectures and events that scrutinize extraordinary claims and promote rational inquiry. The mention of NCAS as a 501(c)3 organization further emphasizes its commitment to public education in these areas.