The question being asked may be “Are We Alone?”, but I don’t think I will be alone Monday and Tuesday night, attending an all-new edition of the Lorne Trottier Public Science Symposium. Dr. Joe Schwarcz hosts a two-night event on the subject of life in the universe, with four qualified speakers: Jim Bell, Jill Tarter, Sarah … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Lorne Trottier Symposium
Are We Alone in the Universe? Find Out in October!
The Lorne Trottier Public Science Symposium returns to Montreal on October 6 and 7. “Are We Alone? Searching for Life Out There” is this year’s theme, and the guests are: Dr. Jill Tarter, SETI Institute; Dr. Jim Bell, President of the Planetary Society; Dr. Sara Seager, MIT; Dr. Joe Nickell, Senior Research Fellow at CSICOP. … Continue reading
Read: Dr. John Ioannidis on Why You Shouldn’t Trust Scientific Findings (But Science Is Still Awesome!)
Dr. Ioannidis is a hero of mine. In fact, he’s a hero of many a scientist who has found him- or herself shaking their heads upon finding out how the contemporary scientific establishment functions. He came to Montreal in October to give a public science talk on the lack of reproducibility in the scientific literature. … Continue reading
Anti-Oxidants, Miracle Diets, and the Magic of Yoga: How to Be Fit and Healthy According to Science
As you may or may not know, I host a monthly podcast, Within Reason, with a fellow Montreal-based skeptic, Andrew Cody. This month, on Within Reason, your monthly rational podcast on contentious issues, we tackle the pernicious myths surrounding the fitness industry. Can you lose weight permanently? Do you deserve an after-run muffin and latte? … Continue reading
Read: Margaret Wente on Why Nutrition Science Has Failed Us
A great piece in the Globe and Mail, brought to my attention by André Picard (@PicardonHealth), on vitamins, antioxidants, and other “scientifically-proven wundersupplements”. Are they worth the hype? “As Mr. Archer writes in an opinion piece published in The Scientist, “there is a large body of evidence demonstrating that the systematic misreporting of energy and macronutrient … Continue reading
Four “Facts” I Learned at the Lorne Trottier Public Science Symposium
The 2013 edition of the Lorne Trottier Public Science Symposium is now over. It was quite the whirlwind for me (for reasons that will become clear in the coming weeks). I met some amazing people, learned a lot about common scientific misconceptions, and felt a certain relief at being surrounded by a large group of … Continue reading
Read: Joe Schwarcz on Why Not All Facts Are Created Equal
As a prelude to this year’s Lorne Trottier Symposium on Public Science, I encourage you to take a look at Joe Schwarcz’s latest article in The Montreal Gazette. Here’s an excerpt: “In science we don’t cherry pick. We shake the tree, collect all the cherries, mash them together and then taste. And that’s just what … Continue reading
