Leeds Skeptics in the Pub

Leeds Skeptics is a friendly group of rationalists and critical thinkers who like to get together to talk and be skeptical about things like homoeopathy, creationism, psychics, aliens, alternative medicine, conspiracy theories, and what's going on in "real" science, medicine, etc. More importantly we like to do this "in the pub."

1. Homepage
2. About
3. Events
4. Photos
5. Useful links
6. Mailing List

Events

This page contains an index of all our events.

Upcoming Events

1. 
   Why Nothing Matters
   18 February 2012
   Why should nothing matter? If anything matters, why should nothing matter? And yet it does, for there isn't anything, it seems, that nothing does not touch, or anything that does not touch nothing. History, philosophy, religion, science, art, literature, music - all look towards nothing at some point, stimulating questions that would otherwise not be asked. [More].
2. 
   Arms regulation
   17 March 2012
   Talk by Dr Neil Cooper from the University of Bradford.
3. 
   Synthetic Biology - A Brave New World?
   21 April 2012
   Imagine a world in which we could make fuels or pharmaceuticals in the same way we ferment malt to make beer. A world in which materials as strong as steel are made without industrial waste, or artificial viruses can be used to administer anti-cancer drugs without the usual side-effects of chemotherapy. Synthetic biology promises new technologies that could change our lives through the design and construction of new biological parts and devices, and the redesign of existing, natural biological organisms for new purposes. [More].
4. 
   Artificial intelligence
   19 May 2012
   Dr Dimitar Kazakov from the University of York presents an introduction to the general principles of artificial intelligence.
5. 
   Panic on a Plate: How Society Developed an Eating Disorder
   16 June 2012
   Rob Lyons, author of Panic on a Plate: How Society Developed an Eating Disorder discusses the unjustified anxiety present in society around the topic of food.
6. 
   Steve Moxon
   21 July 2012
   More details will be announced nearer the date.

Previous Events

1. 
   Is there life out there?
   21 January 2012
   Two years ago the description of the Universe was changed from billions of stars in each of billions of galaxies to billions of planets in each of billions of galaxies. The probability of finding intelligent life out there looks like a certainty and however improbable life is, it looks as if we will find it sooner rather than later. How will it change our world? [More].
2. 
   Personalised medicine
   17 December 2011
   In 2001 President Bill Clinton stood on the front lawn of the White House flanked by Francis Collins and Craig Venter. That day he announced the completion of the draft human genome, the first ever map of human genetic variation. At the time grandiose pronouncements were made about the coming genomic revolution concerning new cures for diseases and the eradication of cancer. Ten years on many have failed to be impressed by the impact of this scientific milestone, including equal sensationalising from the British media on this decade anniversary. [More].
3. 
   Neuroscience for the Soul
   19 November 2011
   Dr. Craig Aaen-Stockdale (Optometry, Bradford) will give an introduction to the field of neurotheology, which attempts to relate religious behaviour and experience to the workings of the brain. He will review the current literature and give his own thoughts on what, if anything, this tells us.
4. 
   Dealing Reasonably with Irrational Fear
   15 October 2011
   Danger - risk of harm to ourselves or our loved ones - is a compelling element in storytelling. Conspiracy theories, alternative medicine and urban legends all thrive on hints of secret danger. [More].
5. 
   Brainwashed! A Cult Survivor's Tale
   17 September 2011
   Arthur Chappell, now aged 49, describes how he was seduced into an Eastern meditation cult in the early 1980's, despite being an ex-Catholic atheist. The talk takes you step by step through the process of conversion, so that you can see step by step how the cult world wraps itself around you, cutting off exits, making rational thinking and doubt difficult and later near impossible. [More].

See all previous events in our events archive.