Skeptics in the Pub is about getting people to come together, whatever their background, to have a relaxed and enjoyable evening, hopefully leaving with a little extra knowledge! We'll hear talks given by experts in their fields and explore a wide range of topics finishing with all the weird, wonderful and somewhat revealing questions that pop into our heads.
Come on, we'd all rather be in a pub than a lecture theatre, right?
Join Us
When?
Usually, the last Tuesday of every month.
Where?
The Blue Moon, Norfolk Street, Cambridge, CB1 2LF.
What Time?
Talks start promptly at 7:30pm, finishing between 9:15 - 9:30pm.
Do I Have To Be A Member?
Nope. Any member of the public is free to come along. Just turn up.
How Much?
Tickets are usually £3.00 in advance (+ booking fee) or £4.00 on the door. Occasionally we run special events, so please check event details for information.
Skeptic or Cynic?
So what is it with the skepticism? No, we're not negative or cynical people, quite the opposite! We're just asking questions to build a better understanding of the world. What better way to do that then ask the experts themselves?
If you want to more, you can read our more in-depth explaination here.
Whatever you believe, whether you consider yourself a skeptic, or think that skeptics are close-minded invididuals, you are more than welcome to come and join the discussion and fuel the debate!
Upcoming Events
When?
Tuesday, September 26 2017 at 7:30PM
Download iCalendar file
(e.g. import to Outlook or Google Calendar)
Where?
The Blue Moon
2 Norfolk Street
Cambridge
CB1 2LF
Who?
Kevin Precious
What's the talk about?
Tickets: £3.00 advance / £4.00 on the door
Box Office: http://buytickets.at/cambridgeskeptics/108745
In between the various comedic activites, Kevin Precious attends his local humanist group - he's an agnostic, folks - where he loves a good old debate about the big questions in life.
Expect jokes and stories then, about his time as an RE teacher, being a humanist, the God-Shaped Hole, and the philosophy of religion... and you can ask him a few questions of your own afterwards, if you wish.
Kevin Precious is a former RE teacher turned stand-up comedian and promoter. Besides having played many of the top clubs in the land, he also promotes shows in arts centres and theatres under the Barnstormers Comedy banner. He has previously toured the country with a stand-up show entitled 'Not Appropriate', dedicated to the business of teaching.
When?
Tuesday, October 10 2017 at 7:30PM
Download iCalendar file
(e.g. import to Outlook or Google Calendar)
Where?
The Blue Moon
2 Norfolk Street
Cambridge
CB1 2LF
Who?
Professor Philip Moriarty
What's the talk about?
Tickets: £3.00 advance / £4.00 on the door
Box Office: http://buytickets.at/cambridgeskeptics/108747
There is no doubt that quantum physics embodies mind-blowing concepts that force us the question the very nature of reality. And if there’s a contender for our current best “theory of everything” then quantum mechanics wins hands down.
But, far too often, the word “quantum” signals the worst type of vacuous pseudoscientific gobbledegook. It’s exploited by those who are entirely clueless about the underlying physics — or, worse, should know better — to evoke a misplaced mysticism about the ‘holistic’ nature of the universe. Moreover, when consciousness and quantum collide, the nonsense factor goes through the roof…
Philip Moriarty will aim to tease out the science from the mysticism and show that while quantum physics certainly has its weird and wacky aspects, it’s at heart a theory of waves. That means we can very often easily interpret what’s happening at the quantum level in terms of the everyday world around us – he’ll take a look at what coffee cups, drums, and a SlinkyTM can tell us about the broader nature of the universe (and Deepak Chopra’s place in it).
Philip Moriarty is a professor of physics at the University of Nottingham. He tweets at @Moriarty2112 and blogs at www.muircheart.wordpress.com
When?
Tuesday, October 31 2017 at 7:30PM
Download iCalendar file
(e.g. import to Outlook or Google Calendar)
Where?
The Blue Moon
2 Norfolk Street
Cambridge
CB1 2LF
Who?
Professor Richard Aspinall
What's the talk about?
Tickets: £3.00 advance / £4.00 on the door
Box Office: http://buytickets.at/cambridgeskeptics/100549
Immortality has held us fascinated throughout history and there are many examples of individuals searching for the elixir of life or the fountain of youth because they wished to live forever. There are even reports that some like the Comte de St Germain have succeeded.
More recently the goals have been modified or even shifted slightly with reports that rather than being immortal we will soon be able to live to be 1000 years old, that’s if we start treating the body like a machine and replacing those bits that wear out with time.
All of this seems to some to be plausible and the problems seem to be associated with how do we cope with overcrowding or how do we pay for the treatments. This skips over the first problem which is when do we make the decision to adopt any therapies directed at lifespan extension? At what age do we decide that we wish to maintain ourselves and live forever or at least a thousand years?
As a sceptic I would propose that we give up all hope for immortality and eternal youth and accept out fate and our allotted span, but making the best of what we have been given.
Richard is a recognised expert in the area of age associated immune deficiencies and issues concerning vaccination in older people. He has degrees from Bristol University, Birmingham University and Cranfield University. He has worked at Oxford University, the Babraham Institute, Imperial College, Cranfield University and a biotech company. He is a member of the British Society for Immunology and the British Society for Research on Ageing.
In addition he is section editor for Immunity and Ageing and also Experimental Gerontology. He has been a Member of MRC College of Experts, Chairman of the British Society for Research on Ageing, and a consultant for several major pharmaceutical companies. He was appointed a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2007, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Edin) in 2012 and a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathology in 2014. In 2015 he was awarded the Lord Cohen Medal for his contribution to ageing research.
When?
Tuesday, November 28 2017 at 7:30PM
Download iCalendar file
(e.g. import to Outlook or Google Calendar)
Where?
The Blue Moon
2 Norfolk Street
Cambridge
CB1 2LF
Who?
Paul Duncan McGarrity
What's the talk about?
Tickets: £3.00 advance / £4.00 on the door
Box Office: [open soon]
An archaeologist and comedian (same person, Paul Duncan McGarrity) sits in a room and answers your questions on any subject as honestly as possible. Could be rude, probably crude. Be prepared to talk candidly with the protection of context.
'Like a very tall, funny, excited child' (Scotsman)