1 00:00:09,110 --> 00:00:05,920 [Music] 2 00:00:13,890 --> 00:00:09,120 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 3 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:13,900 from Australia for science and reason 4 00:00:23,090 --> 00:00:16,890 [Applause] 5 00:00:25,679 --> 00:00:23,100 [Music] 6 00:00:29,130 --> 00:00:25,689 yes it's the skeptic zone podcast 7 00:00:32,549 --> 00:00:29,140 episode number 470 Oh another milestone 8 00:00:34,770 --> 00:00:32,559 for the 22nd of October 2017 9 00:00:36,780 --> 00:00:34,780 richardsaunders here with you coming to 10 00:00:38,790 --> 00:00:36,790 you this week from the Bay Area San 11 00:00:41,549 --> 00:00:38,800 Francisco I'm in this neck of the woods 12 00:00:43,710 --> 00:00:41,559 to recover from jet lag a little bit see 13 00:00:47,030 --> 00:00:43,720 some family and friends before heading 14 00:00:50,130 --> 00:00:47,040 off to Las Vegas in a few days to attend 15 00:00:52,470 --> 00:00:50,140 saikhan and I'm really looking forward 16 00:00:54,750 --> 00:00:52,480 to that if you're attending saikhan 17 00:00:57,330 --> 00:00:54,760 please come up and say hello I'd love to 18 00:01:00,049 --> 00:00:57,340 meet as many people as possible and the 19 00:01:03,180 --> 00:01:00,059 exciting news is with some late 20 00:01:06,630 --> 00:01:03,190 revamping and rescheduling that I'm 21 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:06,640 hosting a panel on Sunday Sunday morning 22 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:10,690 of the convention and I'm thrilled to be 23 00:01:16,499 --> 00:01:13,450 in the company of dr. Rachel very own 24 00:01:18,210 --> 00:01:16,509 reporter dr. Rachel Dunlop Cara Santa 25 00:01:22,130 --> 00:01:18,220 Maria from the skeptics guide to the 26 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:22,140 universe and Britt Hermes and Wow I 27 00:01:29,999 --> 00:01:25,810 shall be the odd man out indeed in that 28 00:01:32,180 --> 00:01:30,009 company three exceptional women of 29 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:32,190 science and it will be my honor to 30 00:01:36,990 --> 00:01:35,050 moderate a panel with those women so if 31 00:01:38,730 --> 00:01:37,000 you're coming along that's will it'll be 32 00:01:40,859 --> 00:01:38,740 a highlight for me and I'm sure it'll be 33 00:01:43,830 --> 00:01:40,869 a highlight for you too and if you'd 34 00:01:47,669 --> 00:01:43,840 like to ask a question of any of those 35 00:01:49,620 --> 00:01:47,679 women or maybe someone from the skeptics 36 00:01:51,229 --> 00:01:49,630 guide to the universe I'll tell you how 37 00:01:53,339 --> 00:01:51,239 you can do that at the end of the show 38 00:01:57,150 --> 00:01:53,349 but what's coming up on this week's 39 00:02:00,600 --> 00:01:57,160 episode another of the continuing series 40 00:02:03,270 --> 00:02:00,610 of interviews from runce again on his 41 00:02:07,260 --> 00:02:03,280 worldwide tour this week he talks with 42 00:02:10,859 --> 00:02:07,270 yelena levin Pontus bachmann and undress 43 00:02:13,650 --> 00:02:10,869 Pinter from the ESP the European 44 00:02:18,690 --> 00:02:13,660 skeptics podcast and I'm thrilled to say 45 00:02:22,410 --> 00:02:18,700 that the ESP recently won a an ahkam 46 00:02:24,270 --> 00:02:22,420 award in the UK and it's good timing 47 00:02:26,130 --> 00:02:24,280 because we also have later on in the 48 00:02:29,010 --> 00:02:26,140 show an interview with Deborah Hyde the 49 00:02:31,260 --> 00:02:29,020 editor of the British skeptic magazine 50 00:02:32,230 --> 00:02:31,270 and she's going to be telling us all 51 00:02:34,330 --> 00:02:32,240 about the 52 00:02:36,580 --> 00:02:34,340 the QED in what a great talent was and 53 00:02:39,370 --> 00:02:36,590 the awards the akhom Awards in general 54 00:02:41,590 --> 00:02:39,380 what other prizes were given out also on 55 00:02:43,660 --> 00:02:41,600 this week's show a follow-up to 56 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:43,670 something we mentioned last week where 57 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:46,370 the Australian Government have handed 58 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:48,890 down a plan by the Health Minister to 59 00:02:53,770 --> 00:02:52,130 end subsidies for certain unproven 60 00:02:56,590 --> 00:02:53,780 alternative therapies like homeopathy 61 00:02:59,770 --> 00:02:56,600 iridology and so on we're going to bring 62 00:03:02,710 --> 00:02:59,780 you the story as reported at sceptics 63 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:02,720 calm dot au we also have another 64 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:04,130 contribution from our good friend 65 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:07,130 professor Paul Willis with his a piece 66 00:03:11,860 --> 00:03:10,010 of his mind segment and this week Paul's 67 00:03:16,030 --> 00:03:11,870 gonna give us his thoughts and opinions 68 00:03:18,430 --> 00:03:16,040 on the way science is funded in 69 00:03:20,850 --> 00:03:18,440 Australia could we be doing more in 70 00:03:25,030 --> 00:03:20,860 Australia to promote and fund science 71 00:03:27,340 --> 00:03:25,040 well yes yes we could and professor Paul 72 00:03:29,290 --> 00:03:27,350 Willis will tell you all about that that 73 00:03:30,850 --> 00:03:29,300 towards the end of the show then to 74 00:03:33,220 --> 00:03:30,860 round off the show another special 75 00:03:35,620 --> 00:03:33,230 report from susan gerbic on her world 76 00:03:38,970 --> 00:03:35,630 trip this time it's from Sofia in 77 00:03:41,410 --> 00:03:38,980 Bulgaria so yes 78 00:03:44,110 --> 00:03:41,420 reports from all around the world on the 79 00:03:47,050 --> 00:03:44,120 skeptic zone I had a an enjoyable flight 80 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:47,060 over the Pacific a few days ago 81 00:03:52,990 --> 00:03:50,450 oddly enough the plane was only 1/3 for 82 00:03:55,330 --> 00:03:53,000 now there's a tip if you want to come to 83 00:03:57,490 --> 00:03:55,340 the United States from Australia and you 84 00:04:01,630 --> 00:03:57,500 leave in October apparently if you leave 85 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:01,640 on a Thursday the planes virtually empty 86 00:04:07,420 --> 00:04:04,730 I most people had a whole three seats to 87 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:07,430 themselves including me it was rather 88 00:04:12,370 --> 00:04:10,010 nice I stretched out a little bit didn't 89 00:04:15,010 --> 00:04:12,380 get so much sleep because it's always 90 00:04:18,849 --> 00:04:15,020 tough to sleep coming that way around 91 00:04:21,190 --> 00:04:18,859 the world from west to east but I'm not 92 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:21,200 complaining but now it's time for me to 93 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:23,210 run upstairs see if there is some clam 94 00:04:28,510 --> 00:04:26,210 chowder in the fridge famous San 95 00:04:30,610 --> 00:04:28,520 Francisco clam chowder while I'm 96 00:04:31,470 --> 00:04:30,620 enjoying that I hope you enjoy the 97 00:04:47,370 --> 00:04:31,480 skeptic zone 98 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:47,380 [Music] 99 00:04:59,190 --> 00:04:50,170 let's all take this with a grain of salt 100 00:05:20,470 --> 00:04:59,200 is around second I've interrupted a 101 00:05:24,340 --> 00:05:20,480 board meeting hunters you're supposed to 102 00:05:27,550 --> 00:05:24,350 say hello now see our stock haisa haisa 103 00:05:29,530 --> 00:05:27,560 jimping it okay so now everybody feels 104 00:05:31,390 --> 00:05:29,540 at home yeah yeah 105 00:05:33,340 --> 00:05:31,400 so obviously we're here in Graz love for 106 00:05:37,390 --> 00:05:33,350 the Europe the European skeptics 107 00:05:38,840 --> 00:05:37,400 Congress and tell me your experiences so 108 00:05:40,790 --> 00:05:38,850 far 109 00:05:42,620 --> 00:05:40,800 it's been it's been fantastic it's a 110 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:42,630 very controversial first day I played 111 00:05:48,460 --> 00:05:46,050 with lots of exorcisms we've had priests 112 00:05:51,530 --> 00:05:48,470 and we've had people not necessarily 113 00:05:54,190 --> 00:05:51,540 agreeing with a sceptical point of view 114 00:05:56,210 --> 00:05:54,200 and that's always refreshing and 115 00:05:57,890 --> 00:05:56,220 frustrating it's not the kind of thing 116 00:06:01,750 --> 00:05:57,900 that we usually have in skeptical maybe 117 00:06:04,070 --> 00:06:01,760 it may be too little all back yeah not 118 00:06:07,280 --> 00:06:04,080 squared opinion in that because I forget 119 00:06:10,850 --> 00:06:07,290 I do think that the skeptic a skeptic 120 00:06:12,890 --> 00:06:10,860 Congress is for others to meet up other 121 00:06:15,590 --> 00:06:12,900 skeptics to meet up with one another and 122 00:06:18,770 --> 00:06:15,600 only exchange experiences and ideas and 123 00:06:20,930 --> 00:06:18,780 that kind of stuff and not for that 124 00:06:23,510 --> 00:06:20,940 intellectual exercise kind of thing that 125 00:06:27,130 --> 00:06:23,520 we we experienced today with that with 126 00:06:31,430 --> 00:06:27,140 that guy who was promoting exorcism 127 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:31,440 related ideas massively religious and 128 00:06:37,070 --> 00:06:34,050 biased ideas and denying the fact that 129 00:06:40,280 --> 00:06:37,080 science actually works and it is the way 130 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:40,290 to find out if something is true and no 131 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:42,450 no he didn't deny that he just denied 132 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:44,970 that science can discover anything about 133 00:06:57,260 --> 00:06:51,330 God and other things so he did not 134 00:06:59,300 --> 00:06:57,270 specifically to God he applied it to a 135 00:07:01,850 --> 00:06:59,310 lot of other things as well so he 136 00:07:04,580 --> 00:07:01,860 basically denied that science science is 137 00:07:05,660 --> 00:07:04,590 the way to go and now show so what 138 00:07:11,060 --> 00:07:05,670 you're saying basically it's been a 139 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:11,070 fantastic experience so far meeting all 140 00:07:16,670 --> 00:07:12,810 these people is always a fantastic 141 00:07:20,990 --> 00:07:16,680 experience and we joined one another in 142 00:07:24,020 --> 00:07:21,000 our disappointment with this guy being 143 00:07:28,460 --> 00:07:24,030 present because it was a terrible 144 00:07:31,730 --> 00:07:28,470 experience to go through when we when we 145 00:07:33,890 --> 00:07:31,740 had to look at ourselves not necessarily 146 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:33,900 being nice people in terms of you know 147 00:07:37,190 --> 00:07:35,970 our reactions to wars I think this is 148 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:37,200 what 149 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:39,610 and a skeptical movement and skeptics 150 00:07:46,830 --> 00:07:43,210 lacking will like this ability to debate 151 00:07:49,260 --> 00:07:46,840 in a nice way when picking and making 152 00:07:50,730 --> 00:07:49,270 jokes and making fun which few people in 153 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:50,740 the audience did and it tried to be 154 00:07:56,130 --> 00:07:52,210 clever okay so I wanted to ask you about 155 00:07:57,750 --> 00:07:56,140 this so it was I only noticed - okay one 156 00:07:59,790 --> 00:07:57,760 or two people yeah so generally I 157 00:08:02,610 --> 00:07:59,800 thought most people even those who had 158 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:02,620 strong argument yeah I thought the 159 00:08:06,660 --> 00:08:04,930 arguments were respectful I mean there 160 00:08:08,490 --> 00:08:06,670 was a little bit of kind of it you know 161 00:08:10,170 --> 00:08:08,500 giggles in the audience so but yeah 162 00:08:12,930 --> 00:08:10,180 that's very difficult to avoid that 163 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:12,940 completely but it's only with the people 164 00:08:17,310 --> 00:08:15,250 who actually spoke to him I felt were 165 00:08:19,890 --> 00:08:17,320 mostly respect for a meeting I would 166 00:08:22,590 --> 00:08:19,900 have hoped that everybody would be 100% 167 00:08:25,290 --> 00:08:22,600 respectful yeah however I think that 168 00:08:28,740 --> 00:08:25,300 maybe a little bit too much to ask I 169 00:08:30,630 --> 00:08:28,750 mean I picked up on those who weren't 170 00:08:32,670 --> 00:08:30,640 maybe and I may be concentrating more on 171 00:08:34,529 --> 00:08:32,680 those people and I was I kept thinking 172 00:08:38,550 --> 00:08:34,539 yeah we need to be better and we need to 173 00:08:41,339 --> 00:08:38,560 be maybe yeah more articulate and I 174 00:08:43,710 --> 00:08:41,349 don't know if there is a way for us to 175 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:43,720 communicate with those people so that 176 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:46,090 they can go AHA and they head in they 177 00:08:49,140 --> 00:08:47,770 will have this aha moment where they go 178 00:08:50,820 --> 00:08:49,150 or actually I don't know and maybe 179 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:50,830 you're right and none of these speakers 180 00:08:54,690 --> 00:08:52,930 did have that moment they were all you 181 00:08:56,730 --> 00:08:54,700 know very much still on their side of 182 00:08:58,290 --> 00:08:56,740 the fence and maybe I'm missing the 183 00:08:59,580 --> 00:08:58,300 point but maybe that's not but that's 184 00:09:04,410 --> 00:08:59,590 not why they're there 185 00:09:06,660 --> 00:09:04,420 and you know for me for me I know I'd 186 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:06,670 sell them not enough I I take the time 187 00:09:11,250 --> 00:09:08,890 to really listen to people who disagree 188 00:09:15,150 --> 00:09:11,260 because it's upfront so frustrating to 189 00:09:17,700 --> 00:09:15,160 hear and making those logical fallacies 190 00:09:20,670 --> 00:09:17,710 and jumping to conclusions and ignoring 191 00:09:23,370 --> 00:09:20,680 certain things so for me it was a very 192 00:09:25,830 --> 00:09:23,380 good exercise to actually force myself 193 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:25,840 to listen through all of that I think we 194 00:09:29,670 --> 00:09:28,330 should do that sometimes and then but 195 00:09:31,410 --> 00:09:29,680 then you can say well what's that what's 196 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:31,420 the point of having this debate we were 197 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:33,890 never going to persuade this guy 198 00:09:38,139 --> 00:09:36,290 and there was nobody else listening 199 00:09:39,610 --> 00:09:38,149 because normally I would say it's worth 200 00:09:41,560 --> 00:09:39,620 having that conversation with somebody 201 00:09:43,269 --> 00:09:41,570 is really true believer because you're 202 00:09:44,889 --> 00:09:43,279 not talking only to him you're talking 203 00:09:46,930 --> 00:09:44,899 to the others who are listening who may 204 00:09:48,940 --> 00:09:46,940 call us yeah but here was nobody on the 205 00:09:50,829 --> 00:09:48,950 fence what will you say we were never 206 00:09:53,860 --> 00:09:50,839 gonna persuade this guy but I secretly 207 00:09:56,949 --> 00:09:53,870 hoped we could make a difference and and 208 00:09:59,440 --> 00:09:56,959 make that crack in his thinking the way 209 00:10:02,259 --> 00:09:59,450 he'd gone ok now I see what he's saying 210 00:10:04,319 --> 00:10:02,269 but at no point did we maybe propose a 211 00:10:06,579 --> 00:10:04,329 question that was good enough for 212 00:10:10,900 --> 00:10:06,589 something you know what I mean and maybe 213 00:10:14,410 --> 00:10:10,910 that's the wishful thinking I want to 214 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:14,420 change the topic because it's the three 215 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:16,490 of you yeah hmm and I want to talk about 216 00:10:22,090 --> 00:10:19,610 the European skeptics podcast you're 217 00:10:25,810 --> 00:10:22,100 very very close to your 100th episode 218 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:25,820 aren't you it was a way yeah yeah so 219 00:10:35,889 --> 00:10:28,250 that's that's quite an achievement 220 00:10:49,150 --> 00:10:35,899 yeah you sing and editing and all that 221 00:10:51,310 --> 00:10:49,160 he's not very good at counting Forte I 222 00:10:52,780 --> 00:10:51,320 want you to tell me a bit huh okay it's 223 00:10:53,230 --> 00:10:52,790 a while you know it's it's about two 224 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:53,240 years 225 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:55,010 - no you you you've been working on it 226 00:10:59,819 --> 00:10:57,290 you've been in changing you mean no 227 00:11:02,860 --> 00:10:59,829 you haven't changed much but you 228 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:02,870 developed how do you feel about about 229 00:11:06,579 --> 00:11:04,370 this how do you feel about the past how 230 00:11:09,069 --> 00:11:06,589 do you feel about the future I think I 231 00:11:10,540 --> 00:11:09,079 think in what we've proved so far with 232 00:11:12,639 --> 00:11:10,550 that with the modifications we've done 233 00:11:15,430 --> 00:11:12,649 over the years we proved that the 234 00:11:18,009 --> 00:11:15,440 initial idea it was good I mean we do 235 00:11:21,309 --> 00:11:18,019 have a message we do have a format that 236 00:11:24,999 --> 00:11:21,319 works and then we've improved it a 237 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:25,009 little bit I personally think is our 238 00:11:27,670 --> 00:11:26,569 biggest achievement is all the 239 00:11:33,939 --> 00:11:27,680 interviews with that I mean we've 240 00:11:36,430 --> 00:11:33,949 interviewed like 50 people that's been 241 00:11:37,900 --> 00:11:36,440 very very stimulating at least for me I 242 00:11:40,860 --> 00:11:37,910 don't know how the listeners feel but I 243 00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:40,870 had for me it's been a fantastic journey 244 00:11:46,900 --> 00:11:44,690 for me I loved every episode and of 245 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:46,910 course from my selfish point of view 246 00:11:52,660 --> 00:11:49,610 I'll go a little bit you know from the 247 00:11:54,249 --> 00:11:52,670 same point of view as fun to it every 248 00:11:56,230 --> 00:11:54,259 time we do an episode I learn so much 249 00:11:57,970 --> 00:11:56,240 whether it's an interview or whether we 250 00:12:00,069 --> 00:11:57,980 discussing news because I have to make 251 00:12:02,590 --> 00:12:00,079 myself to go out and do a research and 252 00:12:04,569 --> 00:12:02,600 then present it and I learn constantly 253 00:12:07,090 --> 00:12:04,579 all the time so that's that's my 254 00:12:08,949 --> 00:12:07,100 personal selfish perspective and I'm 255 00:12:10,090 --> 00:12:08,959 also hoping that with us our listeners 256 00:12:11,350 --> 00:12:10,100 learn as well not just from the 257 00:12:15,910 --> 00:12:11,360 interviews but from other things that's 258 00:12:18,579 --> 00:12:15,920 happening in Europe you know I'm really 259 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:18,589 proud of what we've achieved so far we 260 00:12:24,340 --> 00:12:21,050 could have achieved more of course in 261 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:24,350 terms of a larger listener base so we 262 00:12:31,059 --> 00:12:27,410 limited ourselves to this gap that the 263 00:12:34,540 --> 00:12:31,069 skeptic community in but the feedback 264 00:12:38,530 --> 00:12:34,550 that we've got so far is is amazing we 265 00:12:41,319 --> 00:12:38,540 love / and you know we already had a 266 00:12:43,329 --> 00:12:41,329 couple of people approaching us telling 267 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:43,339 us that the reason why they're here at 268 00:12:46,389 --> 00:12:44,689 the conference that they're this 269 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:46,399 European skeptics Congress is because 270 00:12:51,610 --> 00:12:48,290 they heard of it Wow on the European 271 00:12:54,850 --> 00:12:51,620 skeptics podcast which is which which 272 00:12:57,970 --> 00:12:54,860 makes us realise that it's worth doing 273 00:12:59,530 --> 00:12:57,980 it and and just recently I don't know if 274 00:13:03,309 --> 00:12:59,540 you've heard that we've been nominated 275 00:13:07,420 --> 00:13:03,319 for you by many many people for the 276 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:07,430 outcomes Awards again finalists 277 00:13:14,650 --> 00:13:10,850 finalists for the outcomes Awards so we 278 00:13:16,629 --> 00:13:14,660 are really looking forward to being at 279 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:16,639 QED not only for the for this reason of 280 00:13:22,389 --> 00:13:19,970 course because it's a lot of fun and I'm 281 00:13:24,340 --> 00:13:22,399 very happy that I'm gonna get to see 282 00:13:27,460 --> 00:13:24,350 these guys again in person because it 283 00:13:30,910 --> 00:13:27,470 rarely happens but even if you don't if 284 00:13:33,549 --> 00:13:30,920 we don't win this year having been 285 00:13:38,799 --> 00:13:33,559 nominated twice that's something that we 286 00:13:41,250 --> 00:13:38,809 are very proud of you have only been 287 00:13:42,579 --> 00:13:41,260 around for two years this yeah 288 00:13:45,730 --> 00:13:42,589 absolutely 289 00:13:46,910 --> 00:13:45,740 now what what what next for you as a 290 00:14:04,760 --> 00:13:46,920 podcast 291 00:14:08,870 --> 00:14:04,770 because we don't look far ahead too far 292 00:14:11,690 --> 00:14:08,880 ahead what we would like to do now is to 293 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:11,700 find the way to produce the next episode 294 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:23,010 because yeah 295 00:14:31,550 --> 00:14:27,410 Susan Mark and Luke Bo power from from 296 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:31,560 Bulgaria from Sofia and yeah they're 297 00:14:36,260 --> 00:14:33,330 looking forward to that and and and that 298 00:14:40,340 --> 00:14:36,270 keeps developing as well so we keep 299 00:14:42,170 --> 00:14:40,350 adding new stops and new events as I was 300 00:14:43,670 --> 00:14:42,180 going along and our even our 301 00:14:47,030 --> 00:14:43,680 crowdfunding has been very very 302 00:14:49,850 --> 00:14:47,040 successful so far thanks to some some 303 00:14:53,660 --> 00:14:49,860 people who donated even large sums of 304 00:14:56,930 --> 00:14:53,670 money yeah I cannot thank them enough 305 00:15:01,040 --> 00:14:56,940 for that but yeah so we are hoping to 306 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:01,050 get the board meeting going and 307 00:15:07,820 --> 00:15:04,650 successful in terms of coming up with 308 00:15:10,190 --> 00:15:07,830 something for the next but in the long 309 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:10,200 run we will just keep down we will just 310 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:13,050 keep going and we we still have a lot we 311 00:15:17,570 --> 00:15:15,450 we have a list of people we would like 312 00:15:20,420 --> 00:15:17,580 to interview because there's so much 313 00:15:23,180 --> 00:15:20,430 going on in Europe and and we would like 314 00:15:26,390 --> 00:15:23,190 to cover all that and there might be a 315 00:15:28,340 --> 00:15:26,400 possibility for us to to collaborate a 316 00:15:31,540 --> 00:15:28,350 bit more closely with the European 317 00:15:33,770 --> 00:15:31,550 Council of sceptical organizations EXO 318 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:33,780 there's going to be a board meeting this 319 00:15:42,020 --> 00:15:38,730 Sunday and we are hoping to to see some 320 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:42,030 changes for the future and who knows 321 00:15:48,650 --> 00:15:44,370 this that that might be might be an 322 00:15:50,510 --> 00:15:48,660 opportunity for us to to play a larger 323 00:15:51,830 --> 00:15:50,520 part in in the European move there so 324 00:15:53,810 --> 00:15:51,840 that was actually going to be my next 325 00:15:55,340 --> 00:15:53,820 question about how do you see yourselves 326 00:15:56,810 --> 00:15:55,350 and that is something I would probably 327 00:15:59,000 --> 00:15:56,820 want to ask you individually as well as 328 00:16:02,120 --> 00:15:59,010 as a group how do you see yourself in 329 00:16:08,930 --> 00:16:02,130 terms of your position and your role in 330 00:16:15,110 --> 00:16:08,940 this category that's a very broad and 331 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:15,120 deep question come on yeah I feel like 332 00:16:20,060 --> 00:16:16,770 we're doing our little part in in a 333 00:16:21,890 --> 00:16:20,070 skeptical movement and I hope that in 334 00:16:23,420 --> 00:16:21,900 the future we will collaborate and me 335 00:16:25,730 --> 00:16:23,430 personally I'm sure the guys will join 336 00:16:27,500 --> 00:16:25,740 me collaborate more with European 337 00:16:29,690 --> 00:16:27,510 skeptic organizations because this so 338 00:16:30,980 --> 00:16:29,700 scattered and they so kind of not 339 00:16:32,450 --> 00:16:30,990 connected and then sometimes it feels 340 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:32,460 like herding cats sometimes when you try 341 00:16:39,020 --> 00:16:35,250 to maybe has the knowledge to each other 342 00:16:41,540 --> 00:16:39,030 or experiences and I hope we'll learn to 343 00:16:43,190 --> 00:16:41,550 be better and I'll hope will help people 344 00:16:45,830 --> 00:16:43,200 to be better in collaborating as well 345 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:45,840 and I know it's a big task to take on 346 00:16:50,030 --> 00:16:47,730 but I think that's how the whole idea of 347 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:50,040 the podcast started in the first place I 348 00:16:53,210 --> 00:16:51,810 know there's a bit of a problem in the 349 00:16:55,970 --> 00:16:53,220 language terms because if we obviously 350 00:16:57,650 --> 00:16:55,980 do our podcast in English and only those 351 00:17:00,530 --> 00:16:57,660 people who understand English can listen 352 00:17:03,530 --> 00:17:00,540 to it but still you know that's that's 353 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:03,540 how I see our input or my input and I'll 354 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:05,970 keep doing this thing with the guys and 355 00:17:11,780 --> 00:17:10,050 recording podcasts yeah absolutely see 356 00:17:14,870 --> 00:17:11,790 us as part of a grassroots movement 357 00:17:17,449 --> 00:17:14,880 really are we trying to get the network 358 00:17:20,059 --> 00:17:17,459 of European skeptics to work better to 359 00:17:22,579 --> 00:17:20,069 get an awareness of among other people 360 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:22,589 among skeptics that there are things 361 00:17:26,540 --> 00:17:24,810 happening all over the place that there 362 00:17:29,030 --> 00:17:26,550 are skeptical groups in almost every 363 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:29,040 city has something and that's why we 364 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:31,050 have the calendar on on on the web page 365 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:32,730 where you'll be putting all the skeptics 366 00:17:37,230 --> 00:17:34,570 in the pub things that we can find 367 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:37,240 and you know typically that's like 15 to 368 00:17:43,500 --> 00:17:40,810 sometimes 20 events every week all year 369 00:17:45,090 --> 00:17:43,510 round and I don't think anybody knew 370 00:17:48,210 --> 00:17:45,100 that before we started to call that 371 00:17:53,310 --> 00:17:48,220 together I like just like to emphasize 372 00:17:55,860 --> 00:17:53,320 that we we are trying to to be a bit of 373 00:17:57,510 --> 00:17:55,870 a communication or hub for for for the 374 00:18:00,990 --> 00:17:57,520 European skeptics movement so we'd like 375 00:18:04,190 --> 00:18:01,000 to like to be the the meeting place for 376 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:04,200 for all these different organizations or 377 00:18:11,460 --> 00:18:08,290 for at least how power with with with 378 00:18:13,500 --> 00:18:11,470 providing such a meeting place and if we 379 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:13,510 can do that we're going to be more than 380 00:18:25,260 --> 00:18:17,170 happy and we're gonna try our best to to 381 00:18:27,420 --> 00:18:25,270 be useful and yeah it's just now we're 382 00:18:30,930 --> 00:18:27,430 getting to the point that even editing 383 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:30,940 the show is not only a huge amount of 384 00:18:35,940 --> 00:18:33,250 work but also a lot of fun because 385 00:18:38,490 --> 00:18:35,950 because we can t we shouted a lot 386 00:18:40,530 --> 00:18:38,500 because my voice family was very 387 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:40,540 heartened by my favorite part of editing 388 00:18:45,540 --> 00:18:42,250 the show I'm pretty sure when when the 389 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:45,550 voltage does it he has a similar feeling 390 00:18:53,550 --> 00:18:49,570 that adding the the outtakes at the end 391 00:18:55,590 --> 00:18:53,560 the the small bloopers that is that is 392 00:18:57,660 --> 00:18:55,600 the funniest moment ever yes I just have 393 00:19:03,420 --> 00:18:57,670 to ask something I'm Malcolm Richard may 394 00:19:05,820 --> 00:19:03,430 edit this out your voice no no and rich 395 00:19:13,020 --> 00:19:05,830 finds that sometimes when I speak I do a 396 00:19:15,300 --> 00:19:13,030 lot of when he edits it is like oh my 397 00:19:18,990 --> 00:19:15,310 god you use so many like certain things 398 00:19:21,570 --> 00:19:19,000 like not parricide words but like sounds 399 00:19:25,170 --> 00:19:21,580 and you yeah and you become really aware 400 00:19:28,430 --> 00:19:25,180 of how you talk no the reason I asked 401 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:28,440 it's a good reason why I ask you this 402 00:19:34,700 --> 00:19:32,970 it turns out that female podcasters get 403 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:34,710 lots of complaints about their voice 404 00:19:41,990 --> 00:19:39,090 which I find a stunning but it's a thing 405 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:42,000 I mean look we know in general we know 406 00:19:45,830 --> 00:19:43,890 in general in society we know that when 407 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:45,840 people are women are much more likely to 408 00:19:56,210 --> 00:19:53,090 be called shrill we know we know that 409 00:19:58,910 --> 00:19:56,220 eqy point but specifically with female 410 00:20:00,500 --> 00:19:58,920 podcasters apparently there's a lot more 411 00:20:02,270 --> 00:20:00,510 complaints about female podcasters about 412 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:02,280 the voice I know from the SGU for 413 00:20:06,020 --> 00:20:04,410 example that they've often you know when 414 00:20:07,970 --> 00:20:06,030 Rebecca was around they received lots of 415 00:20:09,770 --> 00:20:07,980 complaints about Rebecca's voice and now 416 00:20:14,860 --> 00:20:09,780 they receive complaints about Cara's 417 00:20:17,390 --> 00:20:16,760 clearly it's not something that's 418 00:20:21,260 --> 00:20:17,400 rational 419 00:20:23,860 --> 00:20:21,270 or me buddy nobody does happen it's just 420 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:23,870 it's it's it's terrible that it happens 421 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:26,970 which is why I kind of opened my mouth 422 00:20:29,120 --> 00:20:28,410 when you said it and I because I know 423 00:20:32,750 --> 00:20:29,130 that's what you meant 424 00:20:34,790 --> 00:20:32,760 anyway the Elena Pontus and Andres it's 425 00:20:37,730 --> 00:20:34,800 always lovely to be with you and I look 426 00:20:39,170 --> 00:20:37,740 forward to first of all obviously spend 427 00:20:44,250 --> 00:20:39,180 more time with you over the next couple 428 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:44,260 of days thank you so much thank you 429 00:20:51,490 --> 00:20:57,310 [Music] 430 00:21:01,129 --> 00:20:58,669 yes 431 00:21:03,349 --> 00:21:01,139 simple idiot hey Sal you guys guys I 432 00:21:05,269 --> 00:21:03,359 just had the most amazing experience 433 00:21:06,919 --> 00:21:05,279 what experience on dress under Chevy 434 00:21:09,049 --> 00:21:06,929 been to the pub children nuts hang out 435 00:21:11,479 --> 00:21:09,059 with mash you know he was blessed by 436 00:21:14,329 --> 00:21:11,489 peter Popoff no Yellin I'm not talking 437 00:21:16,310 --> 00:21:14,339 about psychics it was a really SP 438 00:21:18,049 --> 00:21:16,320 experience now you have been to the pub 439 00:21:18,529 --> 00:21:18,059 either that or you've been smoking 440 00:21:21,049 --> 00:21:18,539 something 441 00:21:23,479 --> 00:21:21,059 no punters the ESB is the European 442 00:21:25,430 --> 00:21:23,489 sceptics podcast it's the most amazing 443 00:21:27,229 --> 00:21:25,440 thing you get to know so much about 444 00:21:30,169 --> 00:21:27,239 sceptics and their activities across 445 00:21:31,940 --> 00:21:30,179 Europe you know events hot topics and 446 00:21:34,159 --> 00:21:31,950 interviews with lots of interesting 447 00:21:35,479 --> 00:21:34,169 people oh wow cool by the way punters 448 00:21:38,149 --> 00:21:35,489 you just come into the false dichotomy 449 00:21:39,859 --> 00:21:38,159 fallacy I guess that means I'm really 450 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:39,869 wrong yep 451 00:21:43,310 --> 00:21:41,369 and you can even learn about those 452 00:21:45,709 --> 00:21:43,320 fallacies in the show and hear about 453 00:21:48,409 --> 00:21:45,719 people spreading silly ideas you should 454 00:21:51,319 --> 00:21:48,419 really check it out it's the ESP the 455 00:21:54,199 --> 00:21:51,329 European sceptics podcast it's on never 456 00:21:56,569 --> 00:21:54,209 weak alright so where can I get this is 457 00:21:59,719 --> 00:21:56,579 the experience it sounds good you can go 458 00:22:03,259 --> 00:21:59,729 online at the ESP do - you follow it on 459 00:22:06,019 --> 00:22:03,269 twitter at es podcast underscore EU or 460 00:22:07,639 --> 00:22:06,029 like the podcast on Facebook oh and you 461 00:22:12,409 --> 00:22:07,649 can also contact the show by sending 462 00:22:14,899 --> 00:22:12,419 them an email to info at the ESPE you 463 00:22:17,569 --> 00:22:14,909 and if you want to subscribe do a quick 464 00:22:23,959 --> 00:22:17,579 search for the European skeptic podcast 465 00:22:29,250 --> 00:22:23,969 on soundcloud iTunes or stitcher I don't 466 00:22:44,820 --> 00:22:39,530 [Music] 467 00:22:46,860 --> 00:22:44,830 now last week we alluded to a very very 468 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:46,870 new story sort of a breaking story last 469 00:22:51,540 --> 00:22:50,170 week about the government withdrawing 470 00:22:54,900 --> 00:22:51,550 support for various alternative 471 00:22:56,250 --> 00:22:54,910 therapies via eliminating subsidies for 472 00:22:58,230 --> 00:22:56,260 private health insurance 473 00:22:59,520 --> 00:22:58,240 well the update to this story comes to 474 00:23:02,490 --> 00:22:59,530 us from the website of Australian 475 00:23:04,020 --> 00:23:02,500 skeptics skeptics calm today you and if 476 00:23:05,580 --> 00:23:04,030 you want to keep up with skeptical 477 00:23:07,530 --> 00:23:05,590 things in Australia that's the website 478 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:07,540 to go to published on the 17th of 479 00:23:15,230 --> 00:23:13,090 October by Tim Mendham quote illegal and 480 00:23:17,830 --> 00:23:15,240 quote for health funds to support some 481 00:23:20,490 --> 00:23:17,840 natural therapies 482 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:20,500 [Music] 483 00:23:24,810 --> 00:23:22,930 as part of its overhaul of private 484 00:23:26,670 --> 00:23:24,820 health insurance the federal government 485 00:23:29,220 --> 00:23:26,680 has decided to remove the insurance 486 00:23:31,650 --> 00:23:29,230 subsidy from a range of natural 487 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:31,660 therapies a statement from the 488 00:23:35,940 --> 00:23:33,970 Department of Health says that consumers 489 00:23:38,220 --> 00:23:35,950 can still choose to access these 490 00:23:41,250 --> 00:23:38,230 services but they will not be able to 491 00:23:44,190 --> 00:23:41,260 claim benefits from their insurer in 492 00:23:46,260 --> 00:23:44,200 fact it will be illegal for health funds 493 00:23:49,260 --> 00:23:46,270 to include the therapies in their 494 00:23:53,100 --> 00:23:49,270 coverage which is generally found in the 495 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:53,110 extras package however a spokesman for 496 00:23:57,150 --> 00:23:55,450 the department told Australian skeptics 497 00:24:00,120 --> 00:23:57,160 that funds might end up offering 498 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:00,130 vouchers for such therapies but they 499 00:24:05,310 --> 00:24:02,050 cannot include them in health insurance 500 00:24:08,220 --> 00:24:05,320 coverage packages the therapies involved 501 00:24:12,270 --> 00:24:08,230 are Alexander Technique aromatherapy 502 00:24:15,420 --> 00:24:12,280 bowen therapy Buteyko which is a 503 00:24:19,230 --> 00:24:15,430 breathing therapy Feldenkrais herbalism 504 00:24:21,750 --> 00:24:19,240 homeopathy iridology kinesiology which 505 00:24:25,940 --> 00:24:21,760 is applied kinesiology in this case 506 00:24:30,510 --> 00:24:25,950 naturopathy pilates reflexology Rolfing 507 00:24:34,020 --> 00:24:30,520 Rolfing shiatsu Tai Chi and yoga now as 508 00:24:36,570 --> 00:24:34,030 an aside Rolfing is something to do with 509 00:24:39,060 --> 00:24:36,580 the Earth's magnetic field there was 510 00:24:42,180 --> 00:24:39,070 some confusion over the fact that Reiki 511 00:24:44,130 --> 00:24:42,190 the energy removal service was not 512 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:44,140 included in the list particularly as 513 00:24:48,060 --> 00:24:46,690 Health Minister Gary Hunt had mentioned 514 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:48,070 it in the press interviews 515 00:24:52,770 --> 00:24:50,290 however the spokesman said that that was 516 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:52,780 probably due to an oversight and Reiki 517 00:24:57,860 --> 00:24:55,330 should have been included chiropractic 518 00:25:00,420 --> 00:24:57,870 and acupuncture are not listed among the 519 00:25:02,970 --> 00:25:00,430 binded therapies the change will take 520 00:25:05,430 --> 00:25:02,980 effect from the 1st of April 2019 and 521 00:25:07,950 --> 00:25:05,440 while the government says quote it will 522 00:25:10,770 --> 00:25:07,960 contribute to reducing private health 523 00:25:11,550 --> 00:25:10,780 insurance premium price increases end 524 00:25:13,980 --> 00:25:11,560 quote 525 00:25:17,070 --> 00:25:13,990 the amount actually paid out in health 526 00:25:19,410 --> 00:25:17,080 benefits for these altmed therapies is 527 00:25:21,990 --> 00:25:19,420 only a small component of the billions 528 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:22,000 of funds issued as benefits according to 529 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:24,250 a review undertaken some years ago by 530 00:25:29,930 --> 00:25:26,530 Australian sceptics the amount paid by 531 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:29,940 health insurance funds in benefits in 532 00:25:34,930 --> 00:25:32,330 2010-2011 and 533 00:25:38,500 --> 00:25:34,940 to twelve point four billion dollars 534 00:25:40,930 --> 00:25:38,510 with the subsidy the pH I rebate package 535 00:25:42,370 --> 00:25:40,940 valued at around four point seven 536 00:25:45,340 --> 00:25:42,380 billion dollars 537 00:25:47,139 --> 00:25:45,350 this included taxation revenue for gone 538 00:25:49,509 --> 00:25:47,149 through exemption of the Medicare levy 539 00:25:52,149 --> 00:25:49,519 surcharge funding the thirty percent 540 00:25:54,340 --> 00:25:52,159 rebate itself and several hundred 541 00:25:56,230 --> 00:25:54,350 million in extra Medicare payments for 542 00:25:58,930 --> 00:25:56,240 medical and pharmaceutical services 543 00:26:01,509 --> 00:25:58,940 associated with higher private hospital 544 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:01,519 use most of the health funds benefits 545 00:26:07,740 --> 00:26:04,610 and thus indirectly the subsidy went to 546 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:07,750 hospital and general medical treatments 547 00:26:13,120 --> 00:26:11,330 the quote contribution and quote that 548 00:26:15,759 --> 00:26:13,130 this change will make to the quote 549 00:26:19,090 --> 00:26:15,769 reducing premium price increases 550 00:26:21,100 --> 00:26:19,100 end quote may not be that exciting the 551 00:26:23,259 --> 00:26:21,110 government undertook a review of the 552 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:23,269 rebate on natural therapies for private 553 00:26:29,110 --> 00:26:26,210 health insurance in 2015 which found 554 00:26:31,750 --> 00:26:29,120 that overall there was a paucity of 555 00:26:33,759 --> 00:26:31,760 rebate evidence identified for natural 556 00:26:36,279 --> 00:26:33,769 therapy studied the findings were not 557 00:26:38,980 --> 00:26:36,289 acted upon at the time however the 558 00:26:40,930 --> 00:26:38,990 Australian Labor Party included dropping 559 00:26:43,389 --> 00:26:40,940 these subsidies to natural therapies as 560 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:43,399 part of its policy platform at the last 561 00:26:47,950 --> 00:26:46,250 federal election despite some false 562 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:47,960 steps along the way the government has 563 00:26:53,950 --> 00:26:49,850 now decided to bite the bullet and 564 00:27:09,399 --> 00:26:56,230 again you can see this story and much 565 00:27:12,039 --> 00:27:09,409 more at skeptics comm dot a you hollow 566 00:27:13,749 --> 00:27:12,049 on allah needle on solo scoffs of dick 567 00:27:16,269 --> 00:27:13,759 mermans been to an atlas burn out a 568 00:27:21,220 --> 00:27:16,279 skeptic zone for way to stop and kiti's 569 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:21,230 not incur a meeting for Marcy fauna we 570 00:27:35,220 --> 00:27:29,600 [Applause] 571 00:27:37,259 --> 00:27:35,230 [Music] 572 00:27:39,450 --> 00:27:37,269 and joining me now all the way from 573 00:27:39,930 --> 00:27:39,460 London haven't been to London for a few 574 00:27:42,930 --> 00:27:39,940 years 575 00:27:45,509 --> 00:27:42,940 it's the editor of the UK skeptic 576 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:45,519 magazine Debra Hyde hello Debra Hanza 577 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:46,090 hello 578 00:27:50,159 --> 00:27:48,250 it's so lovely to catch up with you I 579 00:27:53,220 --> 00:27:50,169 haven't seen you for quite a few years 580 00:27:55,919 --> 00:27:53,230 in fact 2014 the last time I did QED and 581 00:27:57,750 --> 00:27:55,929 we had a wonderful chat over a cup of 582 00:28:01,110 --> 00:27:57,760 tea and I remember you gave some 583 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:01,120 excellent talks revolving witchcraft or 584 00:28:05,250 --> 00:28:03,010 wills at werewolf's if I'm remembering 585 00:28:07,500 --> 00:28:05,260 correctly yes I think it was that year 586 00:28:10,049 --> 00:28:07,510 that I did I did either werewolves or 587 00:28:11,549 --> 00:28:10,059 vampires I can't remember which I think 588 00:28:13,649 --> 00:28:11,559 it might have been werewolf's that that 589 00:28:16,769 --> 00:28:13,659 rings a bell what a great talk that was 590 00:28:18,450 --> 00:28:16,779 that was really fascinating and it was 591 00:28:20,399 --> 00:28:18,460 so interesting but I think oh thank you 592 00:28:22,019 --> 00:28:20,409 I'm glad you enjoyed I really did but I 593 00:28:25,580 --> 00:28:22,029 think that is an indication of the 594 00:28:29,100 --> 00:28:25,590 flavor of a QED itself QED is just over 595 00:28:31,289 --> 00:28:29,110 we've had some nice reports from Iran so 596 00:28:33,389 --> 00:28:31,299 give over the past little while some of 597 00:28:33,899 --> 00:28:33,399 those from QED how was it from your 598 00:28:37,799 --> 00:28:33,909 point of view 599 00:28:40,860 --> 00:28:37,809 I love QED I think it's fantastic there 600 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:40,870 are several elements to it that make it 601 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:43,570 so wonderful the first is that it is 602 00:28:47,070 --> 00:28:45,370 superbly well organized 603 00:28:50,970 --> 00:28:47,080 there's nothing clunky or wrong with it 604 00:28:52,889 --> 00:28:50,980 and that is quite a feat for people who 605 00:28:55,769 --> 00:28:52,899 have full-time jobs and that this is 606 00:28:58,649 --> 00:28:55,779 their part-time free second-string so 607 00:29:01,110 --> 00:28:58,659 for something to be so competently 608 00:29:02,279 --> 00:29:01,120 organized is stunning and the second 609 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:02,289 thing is that there are there are 610 00:29:07,230 --> 00:29:04,690 several strands to it so you know you 611 00:29:09,330 --> 00:29:07,240 haven't just got one lecture going on 612 00:29:11,220 --> 00:29:09,340 there are panels going on there's now 613 00:29:13,409 --> 00:29:11,230 from this year there's a workshop track 614 00:29:16,950 --> 00:29:13,419 going on to help people who are running 615 00:29:19,169 --> 00:29:16,960 their own events there's a video podcast 616 00:29:23,370 --> 00:29:19,179 track so you have lots and lots to 617 00:29:25,139 --> 00:29:23,380 choose from and fantastic you know it's 618 00:29:28,259 --> 00:29:25,149 just it's just a load of people who get 619 00:29:31,500 --> 00:29:28,269 on in a hotel together for a weekend 620 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:31,510 which is is is really superb I think 621 00:29:36,289 --> 00:29:34,090 it's the other thing actually is I think 622 00:29:39,899 --> 00:29:36,299 that QUT bring in an awful lot of I 623 00:29:41,759 --> 00:29:39,909 suppose oblique subjects you know very 624 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:41,769 traditionally if you were talking about 625 00:29:47,430 --> 00:29:45,010 skepticism you'd have a ghost hunter a 626 00:29:50,310 --> 00:29:47,440 homeopath campaign 627 00:29:54,690 --> 00:29:50,320 and somebody who's failed to find 628 00:29:56,610 --> 00:29:54,700 Bigfoot for 20 years whereas really what 629 00:29:58,379 --> 00:29:56,620 what they do is they bring in people who 630 00:30:00,720 --> 00:29:58,389 they bring in straight science 631 00:30:02,879 --> 00:30:00,730 communicators so the last the last 632 00:30:05,310 --> 00:30:02,889 lecture was about how we can perceive 633 00:30:06,779 --> 00:30:05,320 the universe through make means other 634 00:30:08,940 --> 00:30:06,789 than our senses we've been talking about 635 00:30:11,009 --> 00:30:08,950 gravitational waves using radio 636 00:30:12,659 --> 00:30:11,019 telescopes and things so you know we've 637 00:30:15,180 --> 00:30:12,669 got some pretty straightforward physics 638 00:30:17,430 --> 00:30:15,190 there but also just other subjects and 639 00:30:19,499 --> 00:30:17,440 how they were lay each to evidence based 640 00:30:21,990 --> 00:30:19,509 thinking in critical thinking there was 641 00:30:23,759 --> 00:30:22,000 Carroll Tavarez who is a great fan of 642 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:23,769 she's a social psychologist and she was 643 00:30:27,659 --> 00:30:24,970 just talking about changing people's 644 00:30:29,159 --> 00:30:27,669 minds and how people become so very 645 00:30:31,860 --> 00:30:29,169 attached to their prejudices in the 646 00:30:33,629 --> 00:30:31,870 first place and about her one of the 647 00:30:37,019 --> 00:30:33,639 finest things you can do when given the 648 00:30:37,860 --> 00:30:37,029 evidence is say I'm I was wrong I've 649 00:30:41,639 --> 00:30:37,870 changed my mind 650 00:30:44,549 --> 00:30:41,649 so it's sort of a they don't they don't 651 00:30:46,110 --> 00:30:44,559 hit the nail so squarely on the head 652 00:30:47,759 --> 00:30:46,120 they're coming at these things from 653 00:30:50,999 --> 00:30:47,769 oblique angles with their choices of 654 00:30:53,850 --> 00:30:51,009 guests and I absolutely love that yes I 655 00:30:55,350 --> 00:30:53,860 mean you're just reminding me whetting 656 00:30:57,450 --> 00:30:55,360 my appetite maybe I could make it there 657 00:30:59,460 --> 00:30:57,460 next year I don't know but I I was lucky 658 00:31:01,759 --> 00:30:59,470 enough to be there two years running and 659 00:31:05,340 --> 00:31:01,769 for two years I gave talks which was a 660 00:31:07,230 --> 00:31:05,350 fantastic opportunity for me and it's 661 00:31:09,210 --> 00:31:07,240 quite it's quite interesting giving a 662 00:31:10,919 --> 00:31:09,220 presentation to a British audience as 663 00:31:12,060 --> 00:31:10,929 compared to an American audience they're 664 00:31:16,289 --> 00:31:12,070 both wonderful but they're both 665 00:31:17,820 --> 00:31:16,299 different and I think in some respects I 666 00:31:19,470 --> 00:31:17,830 think I can truly know they can tune 667 00:31:23,100 --> 00:31:19,480 into my sense of humor a bit better in 668 00:31:25,350 --> 00:31:23,110 the UK than in America yeah I think 669 00:31:26,789 --> 00:31:25,360 Australians and Brits do have do you 670 00:31:28,889 --> 00:31:26,799 have a very similar sense of humor and 671 00:31:31,139 --> 00:31:28,899 that sort of brings me back to sometimes 672 00:31:32,909 --> 00:31:31,149 the you know sometimes some of the most 673 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:32,919 pleasant experiences are in the bar 674 00:31:35,820 --> 00:31:34,450 after all the sessions or the evenings 675 00:31:38,940 --> 00:31:35,830 we do all get together and have a good 676 00:31:41,070 --> 00:31:38,950 laugh it is so well I can't speak highly 677 00:31:43,919 --> 00:31:41,080 enough of QED folks it's it's going to 678 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:43,929 be on again next year undoubtedly and in 679 00:31:47,340 --> 00:31:45,490 the lead-up to that we'll be letting you 680 00:31:49,710 --> 00:31:47,350 know if something to look forward to but 681 00:31:53,430 --> 00:31:49,720 for now let's keep concentrating on the 682 00:31:56,789 --> 00:31:53,440 recent event where I noticed you gave 683 00:32:00,330 --> 00:31:56,799 out the annual awesome awards for the 684 00:32:01,170 --> 00:32:00,340 excellence in sceptical at yes now and 685 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:01,180 that's a highlight of 686 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:04,810 QED isn't it oh I certainly hope so yes 687 00:32:09,660 --> 00:32:07,450 we do it's they have a gala dinner and 688 00:32:11,910 --> 00:32:09,670 you can pay to go to the gala dinner but 689 00:32:14,130 --> 00:32:11,920 if you don't want to then you can go and 690 00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:14,140 eat elsewhere I frequently do but after 691 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:15,910 that it's open to everyone they have an 692 00:32:21,540 --> 00:32:18,130 evenings entertainment with some really 693 00:32:24,510 --> 00:32:21,550 good comedians and performer and the 694 00:32:27,750 --> 00:32:24,520 that opens up with the Yoakum ceremony 695 00:32:30,150 --> 00:32:27,760 every year yes I remember it well from 696 00:32:32,040 --> 00:32:30,160 the the times I was there so let's have 697 00:32:34,740 --> 00:32:32,050 it the cast and I will cast an eye over 698 00:32:36,540 --> 00:32:34,750 the the winners for this year and and 699 00:32:38,340 --> 00:32:36,550 what we'll do is we'll cover the the 700 00:32:41,970 --> 00:32:38,350 outstanding Awards and then we'll get to 701 00:32:45,180 --> 00:32:41,980 what you've dubbed the rusty razor which 702 00:32:47,420 --> 00:32:45,190 is the equivalent to our our bent spoon 703 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:47,430 so we'll get to that in a moment 704 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:49,930 it's a great day my love I love and 705 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:51,490 there's a picture I'm looking at the 706 00:32:56,820 --> 00:32:54,450 website now of a like a disposable 707 00:32:59,520 --> 00:32:56,830 old-fashioned razor blade it looks quite 708 00:33:02,490 --> 00:32:59,530 rusty let's let's have a look at some of 709 00:33:14,670 --> 00:33:02,500 the it's nothing you'd actually really 710 00:33:16,260 --> 00:33:14,680 want to use to shave no I I would I can 711 00:33:18,810 --> 00:33:16,270 only agree having a look at this razor 712 00:33:20,550 --> 00:33:18,820 so we have a couple of categories we 713 00:33:23,010 --> 00:33:20,560 have a number of categories here we have 714 00:33:25,980 --> 00:33:23,020 blogs so there was some short listing 715 00:33:28,170 --> 00:33:25,990 for the blog's and can you tell me who 716 00:33:30,570 --> 00:33:28,180 the eventual winner for blogging was the 717 00:33:33,030 --> 00:33:30,580 eventual winner this year was Chris P&J 718 00:33:35,970 --> 00:33:33,040 go if you haven't been keeping up with 719 00:33:38,310 --> 00:33:35,980 his blog he's been writing he's been 720 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:38,320 writing a blog called always look on the 721 00:33:44,010 --> 00:33:40,810 bright side of death now Crispian will 722 00:33:46,350 --> 00:33:44,020 be familiar to our readers Kansas a 723 00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:46,360 tourist and a humorist he's very funny 724 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:48,130 and he's contributed a lot of our 725 00:33:54,660 --> 00:33:51,130 centerfold posters over the years he was 726 00:33:57,390 --> 00:33:54,670 diagnosed with kidney cancer a couple of 727 00:33:59,100 --> 00:33:57,400 years ago he had radical surgery and we 728 00:34:01,500 --> 00:33:59,110 all hoped very much that it had gone 729 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:01,510 away forever but it turns out that it 730 00:34:09,090 --> 00:34:06,970 hasn't and he's received a diagnosis of 731 00:34:11,850 --> 00:34:09,100 final diagnosis and he isn't going to 732 00:34:15,369 --> 00:34:11,860 make it so anybody else would feel sorry 733 00:34:18,460 --> 00:34:15,379 for themselves and kind of disappear 734 00:34:20,350 --> 00:34:18,470 retire in misery instead crispy and has 735 00:34:24,310 --> 00:34:20,360 started to write an absolutely 736 00:34:26,980 --> 00:34:24,320 inspirational blog about how how how 737 00:34:29,350 --> 00:34:26,990 atheists and people with an 738 00:34:33,850 --> 00:34:29,360 evidence-based and reason reason based 739 00:34:37,540 --> 00:34:33,860 approached to life faced death and it's 740 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:37,550 incredibly it's incredibly affirming I 741 00:34:42,159 --> 00:34:40,010 mean it's funny as it's as funny as you 742 00:34:44,980 --> 00:34:42,169 would expect from Christian but to 743 00:34:46,629 --> 00:34:44,990 follow him through this journey is and 744 00:34:48,460 --> 00:34:46,639 he's a good writer as well I mean it's 745 00:34:53,350 --> 00:34:48,470 not like we just sort of sings contact 746 00:34:56,590 --> 00:34:53,360 content so I think I think the judges 747 00:34:58,180 --> 00:34:56,600 were incredibly moved by that there's 748 00:35:00,040 --> 00:34:58,190 always always very very stiff 749 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:00,050 competition and it is all whether 750 00:35:04,510 --> 00:35:02,570 there's any incredibly hard job I mean I 751 00:35:06,790 --> 00:35:04,520 I write to all of the short Lister's 752 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:06,800 afterwards and say I do hope that you 753 00:35:10,510 --> 00:35:09,290 realize what a credit it was just to get 754 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:10,520 to the shortness because it's it's hard 755 00:35:18,730 --> 00:35:12,770 to choose the winners from such a good 756 00:35:21,340 --> 00:35:18,740 list of categories and in this case we 757 00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:21,350 really really felt that crispian's blog 758 00:35:25,990 --> 00:35:23,570 was incredibly positive for people who 759 00:35:27,070 --> 00:35:26,000 take an evidence-based approach to life 760 00:35:29,950 --> 00:35:27,080 going through a very very difficult 761 00:35:32,349 --> 00:35:29,960 situation you're absolutely right now 762 00:35:34,599 --> 00:35:32,359 folks what I'll do is I'll link to the 763 00:35:36,220 --> 00:35:34,609 the page about the outcomes in this 764 00:35:39,030 --> 00:35:36,230 week's show notes so you can cast an eye 765 00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:39,040 over the other the other shortlisted 766 00:35:43,870 --> 00:35:41,450 podcasts and events and so on but 767 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:43,880 speaking about the other areas let's 768 00:35:48,910 --> 00:35:46,490 move to events and I noticed that this 769 00:35:53,880 --> 00:35:48,920 year are the Edinburgh skeptics scored 770 00:35:58,150 --> 00:35:53,890 an ahkam they date yes they did they 771 00:36:00,430 --> 00:35:58,160 they run every year they run an event 772 00:36:02,890 --> 00:36:00,440 called skeptics on the fringe and you 773 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:02,900 may know Edinburgh as an extremely 774 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:06,290 cultural City they have an arts festival 775 00:36:10,900 --> 00:36:09,050 every year and you've got lots of people 776 00:36:12,550 --> 00:36:10,910 lots of very talented people sort of 777 00:36:15,430 --> 00:36:12,560 trap and break their careers in effect 778 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:15,440 at this place I went up there this 779 00:36:19,270 --> 00:36:17,810 summer and it the I mean it's marvelous 780 00:36:21,609 --> 00:36:19,280 the streets such as it's rolling with 781 00:36:23,500 --> 00:36:21,619 with people doing performances and you 782 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:23,510 can go to lots of little performances 783 00:36:28,450 --> 00:36:26,650 for comedy whatever Edinburgh skeptics 784 00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:28,460 put on and 785 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:32,890 intense months of programming about 786 00:36:38,020 --> 00:36:36,170 science and evidence-based stuff on the 787 00:36:40,660 --> 00:36:38,030 Edinburgh Fringe so one of the things 788 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:40,670 that they managed to do with this really 789 00:36:45,130 --> 00:36:42,770 is that they they're not just talking to 790 00:36:46,990 --> 00:36:45,140 the traditional audience they're 791 00:36:49,390 --> 00:36:47,000 managing to really outreach that they're 792 00:36:51,820 --> 00:36:49,400 making skepticism just a part of normal 793 00:36:53,260 --> 00:36:51,830 culture and outreaching to people who 794 00:36:56,980 --> 00:36:53,270 are just turning up for comedy or 795 00:36:59,260 --> 00:36:56,990 dancing or juggling or whatever it is so 796 00:37:02,770 --> 00:36:59,270 it's just such a huge amount of work to 797 00:37:06,310 --> 00:37:02,780 have a Daily Show pretty much over the 798 00:37:09,370 --> 00:37:06,320 course of the month and they've they've 799 00:37:10,660 --> 00:37:09,380 been nominated before and we were just 800 00:37:13,570 --> 00:37:10,670 really impressed with the volume of work 801 00:37:16,089 --> 00:37:13,580 that they do yes and I again I well 802 00:37:18,370 --> 00:37:16,099 remember my time in Edinburgh in 2013 803 00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:18,380 and I was very lucky to give a talk 804 00:37:23,079 --> 00:37:21,050 there to sceptics skeptics in the pub 805 00:37:24,250 --> 00:37:23,089 and Edinburgh City very close to my 806 00:37:25,930 --> 00:37:24,260 heart I think it's it's a beautiful 807 00:37:28,540 --> 00:37:25,940 place you know and again I wish I could 808 00:37:30,730 --> 00:37:28,550 go there more often now earlier on in 809 00:37:32,829 --> 00:37:30,740 this week's episode of the podcast the 810 00:37:36,099 --> 00:37:32,839 skeptic zone we interviewed Arase gave 811 00:37:38,230 --> 00:37:36,109 interviewed the winners in fact of the 812 00:37:41,380 --> 00:37:38,240 podcasting award which is of course the 813 00:37:43,720 --> 00:37:41,390 European sceptics podcast the ESP and 814 00:37:45,970 --> 00:37:43,730 what I would have a great podcast that's 815 00:37:48,099 --> 00:37:45,980 turned out to be it is it's fantastic 816 00:37:50,020 --> 00:37:48,109 again this is a category where it's it 817 00:37:52,180 --> 00:37:50,030 really was it's hard to choose because 818 00:37:54,460 --> 00:37:52,190 the finalists a brilliant those prism 819 00:37:56,650 --> 00:37:54,470 podcast which is just brilliant science 820 00:37:58,990 --> 00:37:56,660 podcasting the para pod 821 00:38:00,490 --> 00:37:59,000 wit has a very very good dynamic it's 822 00:38:04,030 --> 00:38:00,500 very funny sceptics with a k' who are 823 00:38:06,910 --> 00:38:04,040 always so popular I mean you know it's 824 00:38:09,640 --> 00:38:06,920 hard to choose the judges felt that 825 00:38:12,460 --> 00:38:09,650 European skeptics podcast was was really 826 00:38:14,349 --> 00:38:12,470 fresh and it was it had you know it has 827 00:38:16,599 --> 00:38:14,359 an agenda trying to unite people across 828 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:16,609 Europe and they worked so hard getting 829 00:38:21,490 --> 00:38:20,330 different people every week so I you 830 00:38:24,579 --> 00:38:21,500 know though they were deserving winner 831 00:38:26,430 --> 00:38:24,589 oh absolutely I enjoy their podcast very 832 00:38:29,560 --> 00:38:26,440 well I remember when it started and 833 00:38:31,570 --> 00:38:29,570 there they bring such warmth to 834 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:31,580 podcasting and their different points of 835 00:38:34,359 --> 00:38:32,810 view from their different cultures I 836 00:38:36,579 --> 00:38:34,369 think it's a wonderful thing now let's 837 00:38:38,859 --> 00:38:36,589 get on to the fun one I guess you'd have 838 00:38:40,870 --> 00:38:38,869 to say the fun one the rusty razor we 839 00:38:44,530 --> 00:38:40,880 were talking about before 840 00:38:47,590 --> 00:38:44,540 and yes yeah winner we won by a 841 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:47,600 landslide and I'll leave it to you to 842 00:38:53,530 --> 00:38:50,810 tell us who won that award well I think 843 00:38:56,950 --> 00:38:53,540 I think it was a deserving when I think 844 00:38:59,020 --> 00:38:56,960 an awful lot of people were rooting for 845 00:39:01,000 --> 00:38:59,030 this company to win and they certainly 846 00:39:04,060 --> 00:39:01,010 voted for this company the most 847 00:39:05,290 --> 00:39:04,070 audacious pseudoscience to be able to 848 00:39:08,740 --> 00:39:05,300 spread this much pseudoscience 849 00:39:09,970 --> 00:39:08,750 throughout the whole world really is is 850 00:39:13,810 --> 00:39:09,980 quite an achievement 851 00:39:16,060 --> 00:39:13,820 it was GUP it's a great name isn't it it 852 00:39:18,070 --> 00:39:16,070 sums about perfectly GUP well it's 853 00:39:20,740 --> 00:39:18,080 fantastic and also I think if basically 854 00:39:22,720 --> 00:39:20,750 I'd never thought in my lifetime that I 855 00:39:25,980 --> 00:39:22,730 would be able to buy psychic vampire 856 00:39:29,890 --> 00:39:25,990 repellent I always thought that if I was 857 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:29,900 attracting that many that many 858 00:39:33,910 --> 00:39:31,970 unpleasant people basically I'd be 859 00:39:35,380 --> 00:39:33,920 better off going to a therapist or 860 00:39:37,570 --> 00:39:35,390 taking a good hard look at my own 861 00:39:40,330 --> 00:39:37,580 personal dynamics I didn't think a 862 00:39:43,750 --> 00:39:40,340 perfume would do it but you can buy one 863 00:39:46,420 --> 00:39:43,760 from from goop there's the idea of 864 00:39:49,690 --> 00:39:46,430 steaming your vagina which as far as I 865 00:39:52,630 --> 00:39:49,700 know isn't before it I mean that that's 866 00:39:56,620 --> 00:39:52,640 the kind of thing I you know you did you 867 00:39:57,700 --> 00:39:56,630 do to food or I really I mean hopefully 868 00:40:01,450 --> 00:39:57,710 don't get three degree burns in the 869 00:40:05,020 --> 00:40:01,460 process it's just so crackpot it's also 870 00:40:06,970 --> 00:40:05,030 kind of I I don't know why our voters 871 00:40:08,770 --> 00:40:06,980 specifically voted for this they must 872 00:40:11,560 --> 00:40:08,780 all have their different angles on it 873 00:40:16,150 --> 00:40:11,570 but for me I kind of wonder I I worry 874 00:40:18,370 --> 00:40:16,160 about the level of neuroticism that this 875 00:40:21,250 --> 00:40:18,380 demonstrates that we can live in a 876 00:40:24,100 --> 00:40:21,260 society where there's no more cholera 877 00:40:26,440 --> 00:40:24,110 there's no more black death there's no 878 00:40:29,490 --> 00:40:26,450 more regularly dying in childbirth 879 00:40:32,860 --> 00:40:29,500 there's no more tuberculosis to speak of 880 00:40:35,560 --> 00:40:32,870 we live astonishingly privileged lives 881 00:40:39,190 --> 00:40:35,570 and you would think that perhaps we 882 00:40:42,310 --> 00:40:39,200 would take a chance to look and think 883 00:40:43,840 --> 00:40:42,320 okay what else can we improve instead of 884 00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:43,850 to just be even more high maintenance 885 00:40:48,820 --> 00:40:46,570 about the problems that we don't have 886 00:40:51,160 --> 00:40:48,830 yes I think it's what would probably 887 00:40:54,690 --> 00:40:51,170 have to closer control of first world 888 00:40:56,790 --> 00:40:54,700 problem or inventing perhaps 889 00:40:58,380 --> 00:40:56,800 we don't really need to have and selling 890 00:41:00,000 --> 00:40:58,390 us things to solve the problems that we 891 00:41:03,510 --> 00:41:00,010 didn't quite really have in the first 892 00:41:04,620 --> 00:41:03,520 place it's a deserving winner absolutely 893 00:41:07,980 --> 00:41:04,630 an international winner 894 00:41:10,380 --> 00:41:07,990 I noticed the goop it's it's slightly 895 00:41:12,440 --> 00:41:10,390 different from the the bent spoon in 896 00:41:14,880 --> 00:41:12,450 Australia we try to keep it 897 00:41:16,589 --> 00:41:14,890 Australia centric but hey the more 898 00:41:18,329 --> 00:41:16,599 Awards like this around the world the 899 00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:18,339 better I think it is for everybody well 900 00:41:22,380 --> 00:41:20,170 Debra thank you so much for telling our 901 00:41:24,690 --> 00:41:22,390 audience about QED and the winners and 902 00:41:28,770 --> 00:41:24,700 the sort of loser of the this year's 903 00:41:30,900 --> 00:41:28,780 ahkam Awards and I love the the rusty 904 00:41:34,829 --> 00:41:30,910 razor but I do like the the true Awards 905 00:41:38,099 --> 00:41:34,839 which is a lovely sort of gift you give 906 00:41:41,010 --> 00:41:38,109 to the winners it's etched acrylic and 907 00:41:43,470 --> 00:41:41,020 it's under lit with an LED so yeah you 908 00:41:45,839 --> 00:41:43,480 can it's on a solid wood wooden base so 909 00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:45,849 it looks kind of well it's yes it's a 910 00:41:50,069 --> 00:41:48,010 lighting effect yes I think it's very 911 00:41:53,640 --> 00:41:50,079 attractive and certainly something 912 00:41:56,280 --> 00:41:53,650 people would be proud to put on display 913 00:42:00,390 --> 00:41:56,290 Deborah hide from the skeptic magazine 914 00:42:02,400 --> 00:42:00,400 which is skeptic dot o-r-g dot uk' all 915 00:42:04,570 --> 00:42:02,410 the way from London thank you very much 916 00:42:23,309 --> 00:42:04,580 thank you very much bye bye 917 00:42:27,370 --> 00:42:25,809 today this is dr. Karl Karl Chris must 918 00:42:29,559 --> 00:42:27,380 be proud to be skeptic and you can find 919 00:42:34,550 --> 00:42:29,569 out more about me at dr. Karl calm and 920 00:42:55,170 --> 00:42:48,810 [Music] 921 00:42:57,430 --> 00:42:55,180 a piece of his mind with Professor Paul 922 00:43:05,140 --> 00:42:57,440 Willis 923 00:43:08,780 --> 00:43:05,150 [Music] 924 00:43:11,120 --> 00:43:08,790 I've attended the last half dozen Prime 925 00:43:14,600 --> 00:43:11,130 Minister's science prizes in Canberra 926 00:43:17,900 --> 00:43:14,610 but not this year I stayed at home and 927 00:43:20,720 --> 00:43:17,910 followed the action on social media and 928 00:43:23,320 --> 00:43:20,730 as the various feeds of the glittering 929 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:23,330 event flashed across my small screen I 930 00:43:30,200 --> 00:43:27,450 became increasingly depressed my Twitter 931 00:43:32,660 --> 00:43:30,210 and Facebook feeds were also laced with 932 00:43:34,790 --> 00:43:32,670 yet more reports from Australian 933 00:43:37,970 --> 00:43:34,800 researchers getting out of research 934 00:43:40,370 --> 00:43:37,980 because they can see no future there 935 00:43:42,320 --> 00:43:40,380 were also laments from colleagues who 936 00:43:44,900 --> 00:43:42,330 are reviewing grant applications and 937 00:43:47,980 --> 00:43:44,910 their despair that so many good 938 00:43:50,750 --> 00:43:47,990 researchers cannot find a basic income 939 00:43:54,410 --> 00:43:50,760 appropriate to their skills talents and 940 00:43:57,740 --> 00:43:54,420 experience research in Australia is in 941 00:43:59,990 --> 00:43:57,750 chaos and deeply troubled there is a 942 00:44:02,810 --> 00:44:00,000 dire need for a coordinated 943 00:44:06,530 --> 00:44:02,820 comprehensive and supportive national 944 00:44:09,800 --> 00:44:06,540 science policy what we get instead is a 945 00:44:12,920 --> 00:44:09,810 bunch of tawdry baubles covering just a 946 00:44:15,170 --> 00:44:12,930 lucky few awarded annually the Prime 947 00:44:17,510 --> 00:44:15,180 Minister's Science Prizes a reflection 948 00:44:20,480 --> 00:44:17,520 of seven awards covering science and 949 00:44:23,300 --> 00:44:20,490 science teaching straight away here we 950 00:44:25,220 --> 00:44:23,310 have the picking winners problem seen in 951 00:44:28,730 --> 00:44:25,230 other science prizes such as the no 952 00:44:31,340 --> 00:44:28,740 bells there are many areas of scientific 953 00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:31,350 research which deserve our attention and 954 00:44:36,800 --> 00:44:34,410 accolades but only a few that are bought 955 00:44:41,450 --> 00:44:36,810 before the Australian public via the 956 00:44:43,670 --> 00:44:41,460 PM's annual science bash the 2006 Prime 957 00:44:45,680 --> 00:44:43,680 Minister's Science Prize winner was 958 00:44:46,670 --> 00:44:45,690 Professor rich I'm from the University 959 00:44:49,640 --> 00:44:46,680 of Sydney 960 00:44:52,280 --> 00:44:49,650 he started his acceptance speech at the 961 00:44:54,460 --> 00:44:52,290 glitzy dinner at Parliament House by 962 00:44:57,410 --> 00:44:54,470 saying that the best way to celebrate 963 00:45:00,800 --> 00:44:57,420 Australian science is to fund it 964 00:45:02,990 --> 00:45:00,810 properly that observation digs deep into 965 00:45:05,960 --> 00:45:03,000 the problems of the prime minister's 966 00:45:09,620 --> 00:45:05,970 science prizes they give the appearance 967 00:45:13,040 --> 00:45:09,630 this is a pro science government for one 968 00:45:15,510 --> 00:45:13,050 day of the year but their actions for 969 00:45:19,620 --> 00:45:15,520 the other 364 points 970 00:45:21,870 --> 00:45:19,630 five days contradict this image most of 971 00:45:24,570 --> 00:45:21,880 that time is spent cutting funding and 972 00:45:28,050 --> 00:45:24,580 support to research or ignoring 973 00:45:30,090 --> 00:45:28,060 scientific advice all together at the 974 00:45:32,820 --> 00:45:30,100 heart of the problems rampant in 975 00:45:35,010 --> 00:45:32,830 Australian research is the federal 976 00:45:38,790 --> 00:45:35,020 government's lack of genuine commitment 977 00:45:41,580 --> 00:45:38,800 to the national research endeavor there 978 00:45:44,430 --> 00:45:41,590 is no meaningful science policy and 979 00:45:48,840 --> 00:45:44,440 there is extremely poor representation 980 00:45:51,090 --> 00:45:48,850 of science across all federal MPs the 981 00:45:53,970 --> 00:45:51,100 feds just don't seem to understand what 982 00:45:57,510 --> 00:45:53,980 science and research are and what they 983 00:45:59,490 --> 00:45:57,520 have to offer to our society the federal 984 00:46:01,980 --> 00:45:59,500 government's lack of respect for science 985 00:46:04,620 --> 00:46:01,990 is no better Illustrated than in the 986 00:46:07,260 --> 00:46:04,630 revolving door of science ministers that 987 00:46:08,970 --> 00:46:07,270 we've had over the last five years I've 988 00:46:11,640 --> 00:46:08,980 actually lost count of how many have 989 00:46:15,000 --> 00:46:11,650 been appointed some for as little as a 990 00:46:17,460 --> 00:46:15,010 couple of months this seemingly unwanted 991 00:46:20,280 --> 00:46:17,470 portfolio is passed around like a turd 992 00:46:23,670 --> 00:46:20,290 in a brown paper bag no ownership of the 993 00:46:26,970 --> 00:46:23,680 science portfolio means no science 994 00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:26,980 policy the closest that the federal 995 00:46:31,530 --> 00:46:28,810 government has come to announcing a 996 00:46:34,740 --> 00:46:31,540 science policy is their innovation 997 00:46:38,040 --> 00:46:34,750 agenda there is a lot of criticism in 998 00:46:40,380 --> 00:46:38,050 the way that agenda is being run in a 999 00:46:43,800 --> 00:46:40,390 nutshell the federal government has a 1000 00:46:46,830 --> 00:46:43,810 rather idiosyncratic definition of what 1001 00:46:49,050 --> 00:46:46,840 innovation is and all research 1002 00:46:53,010 --> 00:46:49,060 activities are viewed through that 1003 00:46:55,740 --> 00:46:53,020 misaligned prism it is only the Applied 1004 00:46:59,040 --> 00:46:55,750 Sciences that could generate an economic 1005 00:47:01,830 --> 00:46:59,050 return that get any attention science 1006 00:47:05,010 --> 00:47:01,840 has many more important stories to share 1007 00:47:07,500 --> 00:47:05,020 with Australians than simply how to make 1008 00:47:10,970 --> 00:47:07,510 a new widget to make some corporation a 1009 00:47:13,380 --> 00:47:10,980 few more dollars and grow the economy 1010 00:47:16,340 --> 00:47:13,390 what are the problems that need to be 1011 00:47:19,320 --> 00:47:16,350 addressed by a national science policy 1012 00:47:22,470 --> 00:47:19,330 from what I've seen such a policy would 1013 00:47:24,120 --> 00:47:22,480 address the under spend on research the 1014 00:47:26,970 --> 00:47:24,130 lack of career structures for 1015 00:47:29,670 --> 00:47:26,980 researchers and look towards clearing 1016 00:47:33,210 --> 00:47:29,680 out other roadblocks to the conduct 1017 00:47:36,870 --> 00:47:33,220 of research in this country our national 1018 00:47:39,900 --> 00:47:36,880 spend on research is well below the OECD 1019 00:47:42,690 --> 00:47:39,910 average but there is a qualifier here in 1020 00:47:45,359 --> 00:47:42,700 Australia 80% of the funding for 1021 00:47:47,579 --> 00:47:45,369 research comes from government and 20% 1022 00:47:50,819 --> 00:47:47,589 comes from industry and the private 1023 00:47:53,549 --> 00:47:50,829 sector in many cases overseas those 1024 00:47:56,250 --> 00:47:53,559 numbers are reversed with industry and 1025 00:47:59,250 --> 00:47:56,260 business carrying the can for conducting 1026 00:48:01,650 --> 00:47:59,260 research tax breaks in support of 1027 00:48:03,930 --> 00:48:01,660 research could be reinvestigated 1028 00:48:06,990 --> 00:48:03,940 to see if business and industry can be 1029 00:48:08,849 --> 00:48:07,000 encouraged to do more perhaps there are 1030 00:48:11,309 --> 00:48:08,859 other mechanisms that the government's 1031 00:48:14,069 --> 00:48:11,319 disposal to encourage business and 1032 00:48:18,029 --> 00:48:14,079 industry to carry their share of the 1033 00:48:20,760 --> 00:48:18,039 national research effort yes there is an 1034 00:48:23,730 --> 00:48:20,770 option of simply pumping more money into 1035 00:48:26,940 --> 00:48:23,740 research but there's also a problem in 1036 00:48:28,890 --> 00:48:26,950 the way that funding is distributed the 1037 00:48:31,289 --> 00:48:28,900 main mechanisms for distributing 1038 00:48:34,529 --> 00:48:31,299 research funding in Australia are the 1039 00:48:36,359 --> 00:48:34,539 Australian Research Council or IRC and 1040 00:48:40,529 --> 00:48:36,369 the National Health and Medical Research 1041 00:48:44,490 --> 00:48:40,539 Council or NH and MRC they have a 1042 00:48:47,460 --> 00:48:44,500 success rate of just under 20% that is 1043 00:48:51,870 --> 00:48:47,470 less than one in five applications for 1044 00:48:55,099 --> 00:48:51,880 funding end up receiving it thus 80% of 1045 00:48:58,200 --> 00:48:55,109 grant applications are a waste of time 1046 00:49:02,339 --> 00:48:58,210 applicants will not receive any funding 1047 00:49:05,099 --> 00:49:02,349 towards their research for the lucky 20% 1048 00:49:07,470 --> 00:49:05,109 many will not receive all of the funding 1049 00:49:10,230 --> 00:49:07,480 they request the Assumption on the 1050 00:49:12,450 --> 00:49:10,240 behalf of the AR C and the NH and MRC 1051 00:49:15,089 --> 00:49:12,460 is that the researchers can find the 1052 00:49:18,839 --> 00:49:15,099 missing funds elsewhere all too often 1053 00:49:22,049 --> 00:49:18,849 that is not the case the limited funding 1054 00:49:26,370 --> 00:49:22,059 is handed back and the research project 1055 00:49:29,220 --> 00:49:26,380 does not go ahead a national science 1056 00:49:31,920 --> 00:49:29,230 policy would encourage the creation of 1057 00:49:34,019 --> 00:49:31,930 job structures and career paths for 1058 00:49:36,319 --> 00:49:34,029 researchers over the last couple of 1059 00:49:39,390 --> 00:49:36,329 decades there has been a move away from 1060 00:49:42,120 --> 00:49:39,400 permanent employment for researchers to 1061 00:49:43,230 --> 00:49:42,130 rolling contracts earlier this week I 1062 00:49:45,510 --> 00:49:43,240 had a disturbing 1063 00:49:48,420 --> 00:49:45,520 message from a long-term friend they've 1064 00:49:51,630 --> 00:49:48,430 just been given their fourth five-year 1065 00:49:54,990 --> 00:49:51,640 contract by their university people 1066 00:49:58,080 --> 00:49:55,000 cannot create a meaningful financial 1067 00:50:01,220 --> 00:49:58,090 life with such uncertainty around their 1068 00:50:03,810 --> 00:50:01,230 employment with such an unstable 1069 00:50:06,510 --> 00:50:03,820 employment environment it's no wonder 1070 00:50:09,000 --> 00:50:06,520 that students do not look to stem that 1071 00:50:12,450 --> 00:50:09,010 is science technology engineering and 1072 00:50:14,340 --> 00:50:12,460 math subjects as a career choice if you 1073 00:50:15,690 --> 00:50:14,350 have the smarts to complete a stem 1074 00:50:18,150 --> 00:50:15,700 course at University 1075 00:50:21,390 --> 00:50:18,160 you're probably capable of completing a 1076 00:50:23,550 --> 00:50:21,400 degree in law economics or medicine with 1077 00:50:27,030 --> 00:50:23,560 a much clearer and well renew marae 1078 00:50:28,770 --> 00:50:27,040 today path after you graduate if the 1079 00:50:31,920 --> 00:50:28,780 federal government is serious about 1080 00:50:34,620 --> 00:50:31,930 supporting STEM education they could do 1081 00:50:39,420 --> 00:50:34,630 no better than to create well-structured 1082 00:50:41,940 --> 00:50:39,430 STEM careers for graduates I remember 1083 00:50:44,370 --> 00:50:41,950 sitting next to a bigwig of a large 1084 00:50:47,460 --> 00:50:44,380 international pharmaceutical company at 1085 00:50:49,320 --> 00:50:47,470 a business lunch I asked him how much 1086 00:50:51,870 --> 00:50:49,330 research his company conducted in 1087 00:50:54,570 --> 00:50:51,880 Australia and he responded not as much 1088 00:50:57,359 --> 00:50:54,580 as he would like I asked what would be 1089 00:50:59,640 --> 00:50:57,369 the one thing he would change in order 1090 00:51:00,570 --> 00:50:59,650 to encourage his company to conduct more 1091 00:51:03,750 --> 00:51:00,580 research here 1092 00:51:05,880 --> 00:51:03,760 and his response surprised me he would 1093 00:51:08,910 --> 00:51:05,890 do something to streamline the otherwise 1094 00:51:11,940 --> 00:51:08,920 onerous responsibilities from ethics 1095 00:51:14,060 --> 00:51:11,950 committees all too often particularly 1096 00:51:17,190 --> 00:51:14,070 when dealing with human research 1097 00:51:20,250 --> 00:51:17,200 researchers have to deal with three for 1098 00:51:22,730 --> 00:51:20,260 sometimes more ethics committees these 1099 00:51:25,050 --> 00:51:22,740 can be at the federal state local and 1100 00:51:26,940 --> 00:51:25,060 institutional level and they're not 1101 00:51:29,580 --> 00:51:26,950 necessarily in sync with each other 1102 00:51:32,099 --> 00:51:29,590 often these ethics committees are 1103 00:51:34,890 --> 00:51:32,109 stacked with ethicists from backgrounds 1104 00:51:37,170 --> 00:51:34,900 other than science research so they have 1105 00:51:38,940 --> 00:51:37,180 little appreciation of the science 1106 00:51:41,700 --> 00:51:38,950 behind the research that they are 1107 00:51:44,370 --> 00:51:41,710 assessing and this all adds up to a lot 1108 00:51:46,410 --> 00:51:44,380 of researchers time spent dealing with 1109 00:51:49,170 --> 00:51:46,420 paperwork for different ethics 1110 00:51:52,470 --> 00:51:49,180 committees just to be able to meet their 1111 00:51:55,740 --> 00:51:52,480 requirements while ethical oversight of 1112 00:51:57,090 --> 00:51:55,750 research is important a national science 1113 00:52:00,030 --> 00:51:57,100 policy could 1114 00:52:02,670 --> 00:52:00,040 Greenline the ethics processes and make 1115 00:52:05,160 --> 00:52:02,680 it much easier for researchers to comply 1116 00:52:07,230 --> 00:52:05,170 with not only with this free up 1117 00:52:09,930 --> 00:52:07,240 researchers time to get on with their 1118 00:52:12,120 --> 00:52:09,940 day job it would also encourage the 1119 00:52:16,350 --> 00:52:12,130 private sector to invest more in 1120 00:52:19,320 --> 00:52:16,360 research in Australia the federal 1121 00:52:21,960 --> 00:52:19,330 government must embrace science and 1122 00:52:23,610 --> 00:52:21,970 research they must broaden their 1123 00:52:26,730 --> 00:52:23,620 understanding of what science and 1124 00:52:29,400 --> 00:52:26,740 research are and what they offer for the 1125 00:52:31,470 --> 00:52:29,410 betterment of our society they must 1126 00:52:33,900 --> 00:52:31,480 accept the findings of science into 1127 00:52:35,580 --> 00:52:33,910 policy debates and demonstrate their 1128 00:52:38,520 --> 00:52:35,590 commitment to the national research 1129 00:52:41,480 --> 00:52:38,530 endeavor by appointing a Minister for 1130 00:52:44,430 --> 00:52:41,490 science who is committed to the job 1131 00:52:46,650 --> 00:52:44,440 above all they must produce a 1132 00:52:49,710 --> 00:52:46,660 comprehensive science and research 1133 00:52:52,200 --> 00:52:49,720 policy instead of this passionate 1134 00:52:54,480 --> 00:52:52,210 embrace for science and research what we 1135 00:52:57,480 --> 00:52:54,490 get from the feds and a prime minister's 1136 00:52:59,460 --> 00:52:57,490 Science Prizes recognition of a few 1137 00:53:01,800 --> 00:52:59,470 scientists among a community that 1138 00:53:06,150 --> 00:53:01,810 numbers in the tens of thousands is 1139 00:53:08,010 --> 00:53:06,160 meaningless I mean no disrespect to the 1140 00:53:10,260 --> 00:53:08,020 winners of this year's prime ministers 1141 00:53:13,230 --> 00:53:10,270 science prizes or any other from the 1142 00:53:15,090 --> 00:53:13,240 past for that matter I extend my hearty 1143 00:53:17,700 --> 00:53:15,100 congratulations to Professor Jenny 1144 00:53:20,280 --> 00:53:17,710 graves this year's winner of the major 1145 00:53:21,930 --> 00:53:20,290 Gong I've watched her work in genetics 1146 00:53:25,140 --> 00:53:21,940 develop over the last couple of decades 1147 00:53:28,350 --> 00:53:25,150 and she is a truly worthy recipient of 1148 00:53:30,390 --> 00:53:28,360 this prize congratulations also to all 1149 00:53:33,000 --> 00:53:30,400 the other winners Eric Reynolds 1150 00:53:36,900 --> 00:53:33,010 jian-yang Dae young Jin 1151 00:53:39,300 --> 00:53:36,910 Neil Branson and Brett McKay yes it is 1152 00:53:42,300 --> 00:53:39,310 important that we celebrate the best of 1153 00:53:45,930 --> 00:53:42,310 Australian science this should be a 1154 00:53:49,080 --> 00:53:45,940 compliment to and not a substitute for a 1155 00:53:51,780 --> 00:53:49,090 comprehensive cohesive and supportive 1156 00:53:54,450 --> 00:53:51,790 national science policy wouldn't some 1157 00:53:57,090 --> 00:53:54,460 recognition of the breadth of genius and 1158 00:54:00,200 --> 00:53:57,100 hard work from our researchers be a fine 1159 00:54:03,510 --> 00:54:00,210 thing isn't it time that we as a nation 1160 00:54:07,040 --> 00:54:03,520 supported all our scientists instead of 1161 00:54:10,120 --> 00:54:07,050 showcasing just a lucky few 1162 00:54:15,800 --> 00:54:12,830 Richard's asked me to say a few words 1163 00:54:18,080 --> 00:54:15,810 about what I'm up to now as you may know 1164 00:54:20,750 --> 00:54:18,090 I used to be a reporter on catalyst and 1165 00:54:23,000 --> 00:54:20,760 I spent the last six years as director 1166 00:54:25,340 --> 00:54:23,010 of the Royal Institution of Australia 1167 00:54:28,090 --> 00:54:25,350 well now I've set up my own company 1168 00:54:31,460 --> 00:54:28,100 media engagement services which 1169 00:54:34,280 --> 00:54:31,470 specializes in teaching researchers how 1170 00:54:36,500 --> 00:54:34,290 they can sell their message to the world 1171 00:54:39,700 --> 00:54:36,510 if this sounds of any interest to you 1172 00:54:48,940 --> 00:54:39,710 check out our website media engagement 1173 00:54:48,950 --> 00:54:54,840 [Music] 1174 00:55:10,450 --> 00:55:07,300 on Maynard comm don't you hey you we are 1175 00:55:11,350 --> 00:55:10,460 doing a live bunga bunga at the Herald 1176 00:55:11,560 --> 00:55:11,360 Park Hotel 1177 00:55:18,329 --> 00:55:11,570 [Applause] 1178 00:55:20,849 --> 00:55:18,339 [Music] 1179 00:55:23,309 --> 00:55:20,859 oh my god oh my god I know bunga bunga 1180 00:55:26,099 --> 00:55:23,319 live if you want to be part of us 1181 00:55:27,989 --> 00:55:26,109 recording an entire episode of bunga 1182 00:55:29,670 --> 00:55:27,999 bunga where you'll be invited to make 1183 00:55:32,219 --> 00:55:29,680 your own comments you'll be invited to 1184 00:55:33,839 --> 00:55:32,229 ask us questions they're the crank mail 1185 00:55:35,370 --> 00:55:33,849 section we're throwing it over to you 1186 00:55:37,140 --> 00:55:35,380 we're gonna be doing it live in front of 1187 00:55:38,819 --> 00:55:37,150 people there'll be special guests we've 1188 00:55:40,650 --> 00:55:38,829 decided to go live 1189 00:55:42,569 --> 00:55:40,660 definitely worth putting in your diary 1190 00:55:45,929 --> 00:55:42,579 it's gonna be at the Herald Park Hotel 1191 00:55:47,459 --> 00:55:45,939 stairs upstairs in Sydney and if you 1192 00:55:49,620 --> 00:55:47,469 think getting upstairs to the problem 1193 00:55:51,719 --> 00:55:49,630 for you wait till you see how they winch 1194 00:55:54,449 --> 00:55:51,729 median from the helicopter yes that's 1195 00:55:56,969 --> 00:55:54,459 right it's the festival of dumb ideas at 1196 00:55:59,819 --> 00:55:56,979 the hallowed Park Hotel the 14th of 1197 00:56:03,209 --> 00:55:59,829 November really soon get tickets now 1198 00:56:05,880 --> 00:56:03,219 tickets are available at tri booking.com 1199 00:56:08,819 --> 00:56:05,890 or all the information you need is on 1200 00:56:11,429 --> 00:56:08,829 the front page of Maynard comm that I 1201 00:56:15,660 --> 00:56:11,439 you see you there bring your crank mail 1202 00:56:16,979 --> 00:56:15,670 bring your mug if you do like it we're 1203 00:56:19,410 --> 00:56:16,989 gonna do it about once a month that way 1204 00:56:22,049 --> 00:56:19,420 Tim yeah yeah if people come along we 1205 00:56:23,969 --> 00:56:22,059 want to do one live bunga bunga a month 1206 00:56:25,859 --> 00:56:23,979 so you get the comedy you get the music 1207 00:56:27,630 --> 00:56:25,869 you get the fun you get the insights you 1208 00:56:31,829 --> 00:56:27,640 get the opinions you get the politics 1209 00:56:34,109 --> 00:56:31,839 and you get the pants all the 1210 00:56:35,819 --> 00:56:34,119 information at Maynard kaamdar you and 1211 00:56:37,499 --> 00:56:35,829 it's all there for you or go to the 1212 00:56:53,730 --> 00:56:37,509 bunga bunga Facebook page and it's all 1213 00:56:58,000 --> 00:56:56,530 hello the skeptic zone listeners this is 1214 00:57:00,339 --> 00:56:58,010 susan gerbic from the guerrilla 1215 00:57:04,930 --> 00:57:00,349 skepticism on wikipedia project today 1216 00:57:08,050 --> 00:57:04,940 I'm speaking from Sofia Bulgaria where I 1217 00:57:10,390 --> 00:57:08,060 am still on my tour the about time tour 1218 00:57:12,730 --> 00:57:10,400 I'm about to go to the airport to travel 1219 00:57:15,400 --> 00:57:12,740 to Madrid Spain and then after that I'll 1220 00:57:17,550 --> 00:57:15,410 be going home but I had a couple minutes 1221 00:57:21,339 --> 00:57:17,560 to catch up with one of my about time 1222 00:57:24,190 --> 00:57:21,349 tour members okay so I guess that's me 1223 00:57:27,520 --> 00:57:24,200 one of the about time to group members 1224 00:57:30,849 --> 00:57:27,530 my name is Leo I do things related to 1225 00:57:35,490 --> 00:57:30,859 what Susan does tangentially I organize 1226 00:57:38,320 --> 00:57:35,500 popular science events with a variety of 1227 00:57:42,400 --> 00:57:38,330 basically different formats we do 1228 00:57:44,770 --> 00:57:42,410 monthly events which are about 50 to 200 1229 00:57:47,890 --> 00:57:44,780 people which is either with one speaker 1230 00:57:51,670 --> 00:57:47,900 or with a panel of speakers for a 1231 00:57:54,010 --> 00:57:51,680 discussion we also do big events two 1232 00:57:58,300 --> 00:57:54,020 times per year which are basically 1233 00:58:03,310 --> 00:57:58,310 conferences there are hold events there 1234 00:58:07,210 --> 00:58:03,320 roughly three to four main speakers with 1235 00:58:10,150 --> 00:58:07,220 a discussion panel queuing a variety of 1236 00:58:13,120 --> 00:58:10,160 other activities in like large breaks 1237 00:58:15,370 --> 00:58:13,130 etc so it's roughly about seven hours 1238 00:58:17,800 --> 00:58:15,380 and events what do we actually did with 1239 00:58:21,430 --> 00:58:17,810 Susan yesterday was the small event in 1240 00:58:23,170 --> 00:58:21,440 one of our common places that we do them 1241 00:58:25,780 --> 00:58:23,180 it's the skeptics in the pub type of 1242 00:58:29,560 --> 00:58:25,790 thing it's in all of the bars in Sofia 1243 00:58:35,349 --> 00:58:29,570 we had about 50 people 60 people roughly 1244 00:58:37,030 --> 00:58:35,359 was a smallish event it's it's likely 1245 00:58:41,940 --> 00:58:37,040 one of the things that you don't know 1246 00:58:45,010 --> 00:58:41,950 how we do workouts until we do it but 1247 00:58:48,250 --> 00:58:45,020 everyone was really really impressed by 1248 00:58:50,140 --> 00:58:48,260 Susan's talk which was really cool see I 1249 00:58:52,450 --> 00:58:50,150 mean we get a lot of different speakers 1250 00:58:54,190 --> 00:58:52,460 we get speakers another for example 1251 00:58:56,740 --> 00:58:54,200 scientists to try to communicate 1252 00:58:59,920 --> 00:58:56,750 something specific from their field we 1253 00:59:01,210 --> 00:58:59,930 get just skeptics etcetera so it's like 1254 00:59:04,680 --> 00:59:01,220 a mishmash of 1255 00:59:07,390 --> 00:59:04,690 good horrible presentation skills um 1256 00:59:12,250 --> 00:59:07,400 yeah yeah Susan was totally killing it 1257 00:59:16,079 --> 00:59:12,260 yesterday so uh well what why do we do 1258 00:59:18,609 --> 00:59:16,089 these events well our main goal is to 1259 00:59:20,680 --> 00:59:18,619 popularize science I mean yeah obviously 1260 00:59:23,829 --> 00:59:20,690 we doing also skeptic events but our 1261 00:59:27,520 --> 00:59:23,839 main thing is science we think that with 1262 00:59:29,559 --> 00:59:27,530 science communication you basically make 1263 00:59:31,120 --> 00:59:29,569 society better in a way I'm not saying 1264 00:59:33,910 --> 00:59:31,130 I'm doing it because of it I'm doing it 1265 00:59:35,680 --> 00:59:33,920 because I like it but end of the day 1266 00:59:37,870 --> 00:59:35,690 that's something that we think is 1267 00:59:40,329 --> 00:59:37,880 happening because of because of what we 1268 00:59:43,359 --> 00:59:40,339 do the way we try to communicate science 1269 00:59:45,250 --> 00:59:43,369 is in a more approachable way basically 1270 00:59:49,059 --> 00:59:45,260 without dumbing down the content that 1271 00:59:51,069 --> 00:59:49,069 much but have it be engaging it can be 1272 00:59:54,040 --> 00:59:51,079 complicated it can be it can be 1273 00:59:55,900 --> 00:59:54,050 sometimes some of the speakers can be 1274 00:59:57,670 --> 00:59:55,910 tough to follow but the key thing is 1275 01:00:00,460 --> 00:59:57,680 people should be interested in try to 1276 01:00:04,750 --> 01:00:00,470 figure out what's happening the best way 1277 01:00:07,059 --> 01:00:04,760 we've found out that this work is to do 1278 01:00:08,950 --> 01:00:07,069 you have people acknowledge that the 1279 01:00:11,140 --> 01:00:08,960 event is basically entertainment rather 1280 01:00:13,390 --> 01:00:11,150 than education I mean it's it's like a 1281 01:00:15,609 --> 01:00:13,400 different mindset type of thing when 1282 01:00:18,400 --> 01:00:15,619 people are prepared to go off to work 1283 01:00:21,069 --> 01:00:18,410 for example for like a drink and a talk 1284 01:00:25,210 --> 01:00:21,079 etc it's a different thing than going to 1285 01:00:28,690 --> 01:00:25,220 say I don't know like a university or 1286 01:00:31,720 --> 01:00:28,700 some specialized event space etc it's 1287 01:00:34,150 --> 01:00:31,730 it's way more free it's way more sexier 1288 01:00:36,460 --> 01:00:34,160 basically what we the and that's our 1289 01:00:38,920 --> 01:00:36,470 that's our whole thing I mean we try to 1290 01:00:41,620 --> 01:00:38,930 pick our speakers to pick the subjects 1291 01:00:43,540 --> 01:00:41,630 that we deal with with with a certain 1292 01:00:46,120 --> 01:00:43,550 amount of Flair with a certain amount of 1293 01:00:48,520 --> 01:00:46,130 showmanship even though I mean that's 1294 01:00:52,089 --> 01:00:48,530 not what science specifically is about 1295 01:00:54,250 --> 01:00:52,099 but that's how you reach people with 1296 01:00:57,550 --> 01:00:54,260 science that's how you make them listen 1297 01:00:59,349 --> 01:00:57,560 you make them interested and then maybe 1298 01:01:01,030 --> 01:00:59,359 they'll go and figure something else out 1299 01:01:04,210 --> 01:01:01,040 maybe they will go watch youtube videos 1300 01:01:05,650 --> 01:01:04,220 read books etc I don't know but the 1301 01:01:07,540 --> 01:01:05,660 thing is you have to get them cooked 1302 01:01:09,200 --> 01:01:07,550 first and that's the only way I've 1303 01:01:11,839 --> 01:01:09,210 actually seen work 1304 01:01:14,530 --> 01:01:11,849 so that was that was about it for me 1305 01:01:32,970 --> 01:01:14,540 thank you everyone 1306 01:01:36,940 --> 01:01:35,440 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1307 01:01:38,380 --> 01:01:36,950 zone now I said at the beginning of the 1308 01:01:41,920 --> 01:01:38,390 show that if you wanted to ask a 1309 01:01:44,170 --> 01:01:41,930 question of one of the skeptics the 1310 01:01:45,970 --> 01:01:44,180 speakers maybe if someone from the 1311 01:01:49,300 --> 01:01:45,980 skeptics guide to the universe maybe dr. 1312 01:01:52,330 --> 01:01:49,310 Rachel maybe Britt Hermes if you use the 1313 01:01:55,000 --> 01:01:52,340 voice byte app and there's links at 1314 01:01:57,730 --> 01:01:55,010 skeptic zone TV you can record a little 1315 01:02:01,180 --> 01:01:57,740 message for or a little question for one 1316 01:02:04,900 --> 01:02:01,190 of the speakers tag your voice byte with 1317 01:02:06,670 --> 01:02:04,910 the tag hash skeptic zone that way I'll 1318 01:02:09,760 --> 01:02:06,680 get your recording and I can incorporate 1319 01:02:11,800 --> 01:02:09,770 those into the show when it comes time 1320 01:02:14,530 --> 01:02:11,810 for me to interview well whoever I can 1321 01:02:15,730 --> 01:02:14,540 interview at the convention over the 1322 01:02:18,280 --> 01:02:15,740 past four or five weeks we've been 1323 01:02:20,110 --> 01:02:18,290 playing questions from listeners which 1324 01:02:22,690 --> 01:02:20,120 has been really great so here's your 1325 01:02:24,880 --> 01:02:22,700 chance to the app is free and it's a 1326 01:02:27,400 --> 01:02:24,890 nice way to be interactive with the 1327 01:02:29,350 --> 01:02:27,410 skeptic zone and coming up on next 1328 01:02:31,690 --> 01:02:29,360 week's show I'll start a series of 1329 01:02:33,910 --> 01:02:31,700 interviews from saikhan in Las Vegas 1330 01:02:37,180 --> 01:02:33,920 I'll see who I can interview it'll be a 1331 01:02:39,460 --> 01:02:37,190 bit a bit tricky but I normally do it 1332 01:02:41,320 --> 01:02:39,470 putting together a podcast on the run at 1333 01:02:42,910 --> 01:02:41,330 conventions so to speak but I'll 1334 01:02:45,220 --> 01:02:42,920 certainly be bringing you something we 1335 01:02:48,100 --> 01:02:45,230 also have more reports for Moran Segev 1336 01:02:51,220 --> 01:02:48,110 and well whatever else will be will be a 1337 01:02:53,170 --> 01:02:51,230 surprise now if you're coming to the 1338 01:02:56,050 --> 01:02:53,180 Australian skeptics convention skeptic 1339 01:03:01,230 --> 01:02:56,060 on this year hosted by think Inc in 1340 01:03:03,490 --> 01:03:01,240 Sydney later in November there is a live 1341 01:03:07,150 --> 01:03:03,500 recording of the skeptic CERN podcast 1342 01:03:10,000 --> 01:03:07,160 with some of your favorite reporters on 1343 01:03:12,670 --> 01:03:10,010 the panel leave myself Mike sometimes 1344 01:03:14,920 --> 01:03:12,680 co-host Stefan Soyka may not will be 1345 01:03:17,650 --> 01:03:14,930 running around like normal Iran so give 1346 01:03:19,510 --> 01:03:17,660 Heidi Robertson and Mandy Lee Noble 1347 01:03:21,700 --> 01:03:19,520 really looking forward to doing a live 1348 01:03:23,680 --> 01:03:21,710 show in front of a live audience but 1349 01:03:25,450 --> 01:03:23,690 until next week where I'll be bringing 1350 01:03:27,670 --> 01:03:25,460 you the podcast from Las Vegas this is 1351 01:03:32,970 --> 01:03:27,680 Richard Saunders signing off from the 1352 01:03:38,380 --> 01:03:35,470 you've been listening to the skeptic 1353 01:03:45,070 --> 01:03:38,390 zone podcast please visit our website at 1354 01:03:48,570 --> 01:03:45,080 wwlp.com tax and to access the bat 1355 01:03:51,250 --> 01:03:48,580 catalog of episodes going back to 2008 1356 01:03:54,520 --> 01:03:51,260 you can follow the skeptic zone podcast 1357 01:03:56,800 --> 01:03:54,530 on twitter at skeptic zone visit our 1358 01:03:57,690 --> 01:03:56,810 facebook page or leave a review on 1359 01:04:00,370 --> 01:03:57,700 itunes 1360 01:04:04,300 --> 01:04:00,380 you can also support the skeptic zone 1361 01:04:06,850 --> 01:04:04,310 via patreon or PayPal you can be part of 1362 01:04:11,260 --> 01:04:06,860 the show by downloading the voice byte 1363 01:04:14,620 --> 01:04:11,270 app at Voice bite comm and using the 1364 01:04:17,340 --> 01:04:14,630 hashtag skeptic zone the skeptic zone 1365 01:04:19,720 --> 01:04:17,350 podcast is an independent production 1366 01:04:21,850 --> 01:04:19,730 reviews and opinions expressed on the 1367 01:04:24,220 --> 01:04:21,860 skeptic zone are not necessarily those 1368 01:04:26,030 --> 01:04:24,230 of Australian skeptics for any other