February, 2000
| Child Abuse: Pseudoscience, False Memory, and False Accusations |
| (Download PDF flyer of talk) |
| Sue Taylor |
| False Memory Syndrome Foundation |
| Virginia State Contact |
Child Abuse accusations are different from other accusations; innocent people can be and are convicted and imprisoned for acts that they not only did not commit, but that NOBODY committed. And even when actual imprisonment does not occur, reputations, family relationships and economic security are damaged beyond repair. Those who follow the situation describe it as a national "Witch Hunt."
Sue Taylor knows the Witch Hunt first-hand, and is familiar with the pseudoscience that is often involved in cases of this type. She has worked with families victimized by "Recovered Memory" therapy, as well as with false child abuse accusations that arise in more conventional situations. Sue will describe her work with the False Memory Syndrome Foundation, and describe her view "from the trenches" where she attempts to help the accused and their families.
| Saturday, February 12, 2000, 2pm-3:30pm |
| Bethesda Public Library |
| 7400 Arlington Road |
| Bethesda, Maryland |
Everyone welcome - members and non-members
GARY NULL ON WETA
Are you upset about the way WETA Channel 26 has allowed alternative medicine advocate Gary Null seemingly endless hours of self-promotion during pledge drives? Write WETA to express your displeasure:
|
Elizabeth P. Campbell Founder and Vice-President, WETA |
J. Roderick Heller III Chair, Board of Trustees, WETA |
Sharon P. Rockefeller President & CEO, WETA |
All at: WETA, 2775 South Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22206
SCIENCE FAIRS
After a lapse of several years, NCAS intends to once again judge local science fairs and give awards to those projects that best exhibit good science and skepticism. If you have an interest in this activity and wish to help with a science fair in northern Virginia on Saturday, March 18, leave your name and telephone number on the NCAS telephone line or send an email message to ncas@ncas.org.
EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN
The Skeptics television series Exploring the Unknown is rerunning Friday nights on Fox Family Channel at 10pm. Michael Shermer was told by the V.P of programming that they love the show, the series continues getting good ratings, but that they have yet to hear from the powers that be on a pick up of another run of them. [Skeptics Society notice]
CREATIONISM IN ARIZONA
You might be interested to know that the AZ legislature is contemplating forcing teaching of creationism in high school biology classes. Here's an article on the topic taken from The Tucson Weekly:
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tw/2000-01-20/skinny.html
IF YOU ARE IN SOUTHERN VIRGINIA ...
Investigating Modern Pseudo-Science, The 2000 Old Dominion University College of Sciences, Distinguished Visitor Lecture Series (Now through April 21):
|
Public Lectures 8:00 PM Thursdays Room 102 Mills Godwin Bldg |
Science Colloquia 3:00 PM Fridays Room 200 Oceanography-Physics Bldg |
For specific event information visit http://www.physics.odu.edu/htmlstuf/sue/cal-lec-99.htm
For more information contact: Dr. Larry Weinstein, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529
(757) 683-3468, weinstei@physics.odu.edu