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December 7th, 2024 |
The SkeptiCamp NYC 2024 Schedule
The actual sequence of events at any SkeptiCamp is subject to change. The following is the schedule we will start with. But, be aware that it could move around a lot.
The opinions of SkeptiCamp presenters do not necessarily reflect those of its organizers.
A downloadable program guide will be available the night before the event starts.
| Date: December 7th, 2024 • In Person Location: 134 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001; 2nd Floor |
| Web Conference Link: To Be Determined |
| 9:00 AM | 10:15 AM |
Pre-Con Meet and Greet |
| Schmooze with your fellow attendees, while we get things ready. |
| 10:15 AM | 10:30 AM |
Opening Ceremonies and Other Obligatory Stuff |
Category: Household Dangers
| 10:30 AM | 11:00 AM |
Marcus |
Spooky Cheap Real Estate |
| I will discuss the phenomenon of Stigmatized Properties (formerly known as Psychologically damaged). From this I will pivot to the Amityville Horror hoax. |
| 11:00 AM | 11:30 AM |
Russ Dobler |
Fluoride: It's even in our water, now! |
| Fluoride sure is a magical ion, an all-natural industrial waste that stunts brain development yet was called one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century. As someone who's married to a dental assistant and works in the town where the largest water fluoridation study in the country took place, I'll try to separate the plaque from the enamel on fluoride claims, so you have a little ammunition for when your Uncle Ron spouts off on Facebook. |
| 11:30 AM | 12:00 PM |
A Few Words Before Lunch |
| We have a few announcements to make, both happy and sad. |
| 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM |
Lunch Break |
Category: Hot Button Topics
| 2:00 PM | 2:30 PM |
Bill Chapman |
Report From the Climate Debate |
| Bill Chapman has been very active in the climate debate since 2016, the first time he gave a SkeptiCamp presentation on the subject. He has travelled to DC over half a dozen times to attend conferences and lobby congress on climate. Bill has been specializing in outreach to conservatives, which is, to say the least, an uphill battle. The debate has evolved over the years, and Bill would like to comment on the current state of affairs. |
| 2:30 PM | 3:00 PM |
Nathan H. Lents |
The Sexual Evolution: The Deep Roots of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality |
| We are currently living through a social upheaval in the area of sex and gender, making the sexual revolution of the 1960s look pale in comparison. Young people are engaging a free-wheeling, no rules, no labels approach that is unsettling and bewildering to those committed to a more traditional view of sex and relationships. In this talk, I will demonstrate how the current moment is actually a rediscovery of a more diverse and expansive approach to sex and gender that our ancestors once had. Biological sex is more than just males and females; animals engage a creative approach to gender; and sex is about far more than procreation. As we learn ever more about the surprisingly creative sex lives of other animals, it becomes clear that human sexual diversity is in keeping millions of years of animal evolution. |
| 3:00 PM | 3:15 PM |
Short Break #1 |
Category: The Realm of the Woo
| 3:15 PM | 3:45 PM |
Margaret Downey |
It's Bad Luck to be Superstitious |
| Friday the 13th is happening in December! So, here is talk from the world's only Friggatriskaiddkaphobia Treatment Nurse. |
| 3:45 PM | 4:15 PM |
Sammy Shuster |
The Holistic Quantum Activation™ Art Expo: A Retrospective |
| This past September, the Starstuff Society hosted its inaugural event, the Holistic Quantum Activation Art Expo. This parody of a holistic health and wellness expo featured satirical vendors and workshop leaders, highlighting local artists while showcasing exaggerated wellness products and services. The event drew comparisons to the absurdity of actual non-evidence-based practices, while also exposing the predatory tactics often used by such sellers. Additionally, a 'banned books' installation was included, offering zines and books promoting scientific skepticism and critical thinking. Our talk will be discussing the development and impact of the show, and plans and brainstorming for the future. |
| 4:15 PM | 4:30 PM |
Short Break #2 |
Category: Extraterrestrials or Otherwise
| 4:30 PM | 5:00 PM |
Rob Palmer |
The UFO Presentation THEY Don't Want You to Attend |
| Most of the public believes that aliens are visiting Earth in their UFOs, and many believe their government is suppressing this (for reasons). Although most scientists & skeptics dispute this, due to the prodigious number of exoplanets now known to exist, most of them routinely state with confidence that extraterrestrial civilizations are very likely and perhaps even abundant in the Milky Way, and "first contact" is only a matter of time. This presentation will explore whether this ubiquitous optimism is warranted. |
| 5:00 PM | 5:30 PM |
Mitchell Lampert |
Ancient Secrets of the Great Pyramids Revealed! (Spoiler Alert: It Was NOT Aliens.) |
We might not know everything about how the ancient pyramids of Egypt were built, historically speaking. But, archeologists actually know quite a bit more than most people realize, about its possible methods of construction! Enough knowledge that we mere humans probably could rebuild them today, if we had to, using ONLY the tools available 4,000 years ago!
Of course, we would have to settle on one of several competing ideas for its assembly process, first. (I would root for the Internal Ramp Theory, but I suspect I might be outvoted on that one.) Then we would have to convince 20,000+ people, at a time, to commit to the excessively dangerous labor of doing so, over the course of several decades. But, other than that: it should be a piece of cake!
This talk will offer a brief overview of some of that knowledge; and why it is pointless to assert aliens into the picture, anymore. |
| 5:30 PM | 5:45 PM |
Bonus Content? |
| Depending on how much time we have left over, there might be room to squeeze in one more thing. |
| 5:45 PM | 6:00 PM |
Closing Ceremonies and Cleaning Up After Ourselves |
| 6:00 PM | Until Whenever |
After Party - Russ Dobler is picking a nearby place. |
Note: The category names don't really mean anything important.
Visit the Attendee Directory to see who else might be attending SkeptiCamp NYC this year. •
If you wish to run a session, see The Session Leader's Guide.