Dragon*Con 2007 - Skeptic Events Schedule!

[skepticality]

Here is the 2007 Skeptic Track Schedule for Dragon*Con 2007

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SCIENCE001;Skeptics and Skepticism 101
Meet some of the heavy hitters in the Skeptical Community as they discuss the different types of logical fallacies, how to spot them and why people believe them.;60 minutes;;Dr. Shermer, Derek Colanduno, Swoopy, Benjamin Radford, Jeff Wagg;08/31/07 01:00pm;Henry (Hilton)

SCIENCE002;Cold Reading and the Skeptics Toolbox
How to Fake Psychic Powers for Fun, not Profit;One of the best ways to debunk a fraud is by learning their tricks. This workshop will cover the tools skeptics use to explain and disprove pseudoscience claims.;60 minutes;;Dr. Shermer, Swoopy, Ben Radford, Jeff Wagg;08/31/07 02:30pm;Henry (Hilton)

SCIENCE006;The JREF Million Dollar Challenge
Info on the million dollar challenge, it's impact, the good it does, some problems associated with it, and why no one has won it.;60 minutes;;Jeff Wagg;08/31/07 08:30pm;Henry (Hilton)

SCIENCE007;Bigfoot, Monsters, and Mermaids
A History of Fabulous Hoaxes;A slideshow and talk covering famous and fabulous cryptozoological hoaxes throughout history.;60 minutes;;Ben Radford;08/31/07 10:00pm;Henry (Hilton)

SCIENCE008;Is it a Ghost?
A Skeptic Reviews Paranormal Footage;Compelling footage from an Australian Ghost-hunting group leaves Skeptical Analysis of the Paranormal Society mystified and brings up questions about the nature of skepticism, as well as the power of belief.;60 minutes;;Alison Smith;09/01/07 10:00am;Henry (Hilton)

SCIENCE009;Science, Skepticism and Sleight-of-Hand
Natural phenomena don't try to fool you, but people do. The study of psi phenomena benefits greatly from the assistance of competent magicians, as demonstrations will show. Can you spot the subterfuge, or will you be fooled too?;60 minutes;;Jeff Wagg;09/01/07 11:30am;Henry (Hilton)

SCIENCE010;Mythbusters Team
Tory, Kari and Grant return to Dragon*Con with more tales of mayhem.;60 minutes;;Tory Belleci, Kari Byron, Grant Imahara;09/01/07 01:00pm;Regency 6-7 (Hyatt)

SCIENCE012;Evil Geniuses for a Better Tomorrow
Members of the professional association for the working Evil Genius discuss various methods of taking over the world for fun and profit, avoiding common mistakes and the design of secret lairs. New applicants should bring a resume or a project to demo.;60 minutes;;Richard Altstatt, Steven Howe, Dr. DNA and Michael Laine;09/01/07 4:00pm;Regency 5 (Hyatt)

SCIENCE013;Smackdown! Skeptics vs True Believers
This is the Skeptics/X-Track debate. Moderator: Mike Stackpole - Skeptics: Dr. Micheal Shermer, Ben Radford and/or Alison Smith, X-Track: Patrick Burns and TBA;60 minutes;09/01/07 05:30pm;Hanover CDE (Hyatt)

SCIENCE014;Reflections on a Decade of Paranormal Investigation
Discussing ten years of paranormal investigations, including the nature of the paranormal, case studies of Bigfoot, crop circles, dowsing, etc.;60 minutes;;Ben Radford;09/01/07 07:00pm;Henry (Hilton)

SCIENCE018;Geological Hoaxes and Frauds
How geologists know the world is not 6000 years old, among other things. This may be a musical, which would be interesting.;60 minutes;;George Hrab;09/02/07 11:30am;Henry (Hilton)

SCIENCE019;Weird and Unusual Scientific Studies
Studies of learning in headless cockroaches, MRI imaging of sexual intercourse, and the link between country music and suicide rates. Inspired by the IgNobel Prizes and the Annals of Improbable Research.;60 minutes;;
Jason Schneiderman and one or two others guest scientists/skeptics tba
09/02/07 01:00pm;Henry (Hilton)

SCIENCE021;How to Investigate a Haunted House
Two case studies of how a scientific paranormal investigator goes about investigating a haunting, including the Santa Fe courthouse "ghost" video solved mid-June 2007.;60 minutes;;Ben Radford;09/02/07 04:00pm;Henry (Hilton)

SCIENCE022;The Assault on Science
Why is the US slipping in international rankings for science and engineering? There are a lot of culprits - political, religious, legal, educational and economic just to name a few. So what's the fix?;60 minutes;;Jason Schneiderman, Dr. C. Kevin Barrett, James P. Kinney III;09/02/07 05:30pm;Henry (Hilton)

SCIENCE023;Reflections on a Decade of Paranormal Investigation
Discussing ten years of paranormal investigations, including the nature of the paranormal, case studies of Bigfoot, crop circles, dowsing, etc.;60 minutes;;Ben Radford;09/02/07 07:00pm;Henry (Hilton)

SCIENCE029;Transhumanism: Xerox People
What will happen when you can copy your brain? If you original body dies in an accident, would a "restored you" really be a "you?" Why or why not? What if you restore a physical copy of yourself before you die? What is the potential for abuse?;60 minutes;;
09/03/07 02:30pm;Henry (Hilton)

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ADDITIONS
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POD006;Geologic LIVE!
George Hrab comes to Dragon*Con to do his amazing skeptical/science/entertainment podcast LIVE for everyone to see!;60 minutes;; 8/31/07 7:00 PM;Jackson/Carter (Hilton)

POD012;Astronomy Cast LIVE!
The premere Space and Science Podcast comes LIVE to Dragon*Con. With special guest hosts Derek and Swoopy!;60 minutes;; 09/01/07 04:00pm;Jackson/Carter (Hilton)

POD024;PodSci
Panel about Science Podcasts, the leaders speak about how to present and be aware of the public perception of Science podcasting on the internet.
08:30pm;Jackson/Carter (Hilton)


Also, once I get the time/location for Dr. Shermer's lecture it will be in there as well!

 

[Wowbagger]

Hopefully, I'll be able to squeeze in a little bit of sci-fi/fantasy oriented stuff, between all this reality, at the sci-fi/fantasy convention!

Thanks for posting this in advance, so we can plan our days a wee bit better!

Two Questions:
1. Anyone know when the full schedule will be posted on DragonCon.org?
2. How come George Hrab is still not listed on the home page guest list?

 

[skepticality]

Yes,

It has been a common complaint that the website for Dragon*Con is PAINFULLY slow to update.

They still haven't added George Hrab, OR Pam Gay, or Ben Radford, Jeff Wagg, etc...

I'd love to get my hands on the job of updating that site, AND re-desiging it! But, there will be events with all of them...

George Hrab is waiting to see if they can fit him in on the schedule for the big concert events. This year they are going to have slightly less room for concerts than they did last year... next year they will have more than they ever had before... The Marriott is undergoing MASSIVE upgrades, last year we didn't even have access to it... :|

 

[skepticality]

UPDATE:

Smackdown! Skeptics vs. True Believers

09/01/07 05:30 PM, Hanover CDE (Hyatt)

60 minutes; equipment needs: PA, video projector

Moderator: Mike Stackpole
Skeptics: Dr. Micheal Michael Shermer, Ben Radford, Alison Smith
X-Track: Patrick Burns and others TBA

Additional info on the skeptics:

Dr. Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine (www.skeptic.com), the Executive Director of the Skeptics Society, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, the host of the Skeptics Distinguished Science Lecture Series at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and the co-host and producer of the 13-hour Family Channel television series, Exploring the Unknown.

Benjamin Radford is a science-based paranormal investigator who has spent over ten years examining psychics, ghosts, exorcisms, Bigfoot, crop circles, and other topics. He is the editor of two science magazines and the author of three books.

Alison Smith is the founder of SAPS (Skeptical Analysis of the Paranormal Society). Alison became interested in debunking the paranormal after seeing how such experiences were represented on television. Incensed that only one side was represented, she founded SAPS to express alternate ways of thinking. Alison is a Commissioned Security Officer and licensed Private Investigator.