The Proposed Schedule For SkeptiCamp NYC 2022
The actual sequence of events at any SkeptiCamp is subject to change based on the needs and interests of its
attendees. The following is the schedule we will start with. But, be aware that it could change around a lot.
The opinions of SkeptiCamp presenters do not necessarily reflect those of its organizers.
Visit our new Dashboard page, for the latest status updates on the event: https://skepticampnyc.org/WebcastHome.aspx.
The official Program Guide can be found here: https://skepticampnyc.org/ProgramGuide.aspx
| 9:00 AM |
10:00 AM |
Pre-Con Meet-and-Greet! |
| Schmooze with your fellow attendees, while we get things ready. |
| 10:00 AM |
10:10 AM |
Opening Ceremonies and Other Obligatory Stuff |
Category: Cryptids (Imaginary Animals)
| 10:10 AM |
10:40 AM |
JD Sword |
D.C. - The Demon Cat of the U.S. Capitol |
| Imagine you’re a night watchman, patrolling the echoing, empty corridors of the Capitol. You hear something. The meowling of a feral cat. But suddenly, the cat grows to the size of an elephant and pounces at you with a hellish roar! Scary, right? For over a century the myth that a demon cat prowls the halls of the United States Capitol building has fascinated tourists. Where did this myth start, how has it changed over time, and is there a logical explanation?
|
| 10:40 AM |
11:10 AM |
Russ Dobler |
Mothman is My Boyfriend: The Rise of Cryptidcore |
There's one thing most skeptics and believers can agree on -- crytpids are cool. But now they're also trendy?! Cute caricatures of the Jersey Devil, Nessie, Mothman and more have taken over online craft stores and spurred their own sudden subculture. How did this happen? What does it mean for skeptics and "real" cryptozoologists?
This is a startlingly big topic, but we'll start to scratch the surface here.
|
| 11:10 AM |
11:25 AM |
Short Break #1 |
Category: Humankind is Doomed
| 11:25 AM |
11:55 AM |
Craig Sachs |
There Are No Accidents |
Exploring the time-saving Bias by Swedish psychologist Ola Svenson and how it kills Americans as much as gun violence. NHTSA projects that an estimated 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes last year, a 10.5% increase from the 38,824 fatalities in 2020. How our own perception of space and time get us and others killed because of our liner bias and selective attention.
Talk and discussion is based on this blog https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/the-linear-bias/ and my and the audiences evidence.
|
| 11:55 PM |
2:00 PM |
Lunch Break |
| 2:00 PM |
2:30 PM |
Bill Chapman |
Outreach to Conservatives on Global Warming |
|
I have been reading everything I can get my hands on about climate science and zero-carbon energy since 2016. I have been specializing in outreach to conservatives on the issue, who have proved a tough nut to crack. The consensus of most on the left is the climate skeptics are just "paid shills" of the fossil fuel industry, and I outline why I don't think that's quite the case.
|
Category: Cryptos (Imaginary Wealth?)
| 2:30 PM |
3:00 PM |
Benny Pollak |
"Investing?" in Crypto |
| Why the whole idea of investing in Crypto makes no sense. |
Category: I Don't Care.... Whatever...
| 3:00 PM |
3:30 PM |
Mitchell Scott Lampert |
William Shakespeare and Other Things You Probably Don't Care About: An Exploration of "True Neutrality" |
| We are told that a True Skeptic must approach each claim with a neutral stance, and then investigate which way the data actually goes. Sometimes this is hard to do; but with training, it can be done even for the most eye-rolling of silly claims. Sometimes, however, it can be quite easy! Barely an inconvenience! Especially when you don't actually care about the topic at hand. Let us discuss the ins and outs of how we tend to think about these sorts of things. (Though, my own crackpot ideas for how the mind works, will NOT be part of it.) |
| 3:30 PM |
5:30 PM |
Open Sessions - Here, we open the floor to anyone else who wants to talk about anything involving science or critical thinking. |
| 5:30 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.
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