Skeptics on the Fringe: Stands up for Maths - Matt Parker

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In the most haunted pub in Edinburgh, we ask “What are ghosts made of?” and follow up by asking why do they haunt specific places? How do they move around and go through walls and throw things across rooms when nobody is looking?

The obvious answer is they don’t – but what if they did? How would it work?

All of these questions and more will be answered, interweaved with real life ghost stories from Thomas’ granddad’s 50 years as an exorcist with the Church of England. These will be debunked, bunked and debunked again and you might learn a thing or two about Quantum Tunneling theory in the process.

Thomas Hind is a former physicist turned science communicator turned comedian. He studied Physics at the University of Glasgow and followed it up with an MSc in Science Communication and Public Engagement at the University of Edinburgh as well as briefly working at CERN.

His Granddad, the Reverend Tom Willis, was once the Church of England’s foremost exorcist working in their paranormal-tinged Ministry of Deliverance (not related to the Jon Voight film). He made regular TV and radio appearances, including one infamous appearance where he accidentally swore on This Morning with Richard and Judy.

Thomas has two other shows in the Fringe –

The Edinburgh Revue Stand Ups (https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/edinburgh-revue-stand-up-show)

at Beehive Inn 12.10pm, 6-31 (not 19)F-Holes at Paradise Palms, 1.10pm, 6-31 (not Wednesdays)Follow him

@ThomasHind (http://www.twitter.com/ThomasHind)

Our website for the entire run is:

http://www.edinburghskeptics.co.uk/fringe

*** RSVPing does NOT GUARANTEE you a seat for these events ***

This is because they are part of PBH's Free Fringe and are Free and un-ticketed. Come early, seating is limited and we have to turn people away most nights.

Details are here on Meetup and on our main website. If there are any changes to our published speakers, we will try to send an email to anyone whose said they're be attending, but please check online for changes.

All events start at 7.50 pm prompt and last for 1 hour (with discussions in the bar afterwards). We will try to include a couple of questions in the hour long talk but this may not be possible.

Please note that these restrictions, the timeslot, and the venue are out-with our realistic control, and we apologise for any inconvenience.

The queue for our talks runs from the front door of the Banshee up Niddry Street towards the High Street. Come early to avoid disappointment, we have to turn people away most nights. Committee members will have a "COMMITTEE" lanyard and other people involved in putting the talk on will have a "VOLUNTEER" lanyard.

We ask for donations at the end of each talk to cover our speakers' expenses and our publicity and other costs throughout the Fringe and the rest of the year. Edinburgh Skeptics is funded entirely by the generosity of the people who come to the talks and is only made possible by the speakers and volunteers who freely give up their time.

Our "Respect People, Challenge Ideas" manifesto will apply to all events and can be read here:

http://www.edinburghskeptics.co.uk/about/respect (http://www.edinburghskeptics.co.uk/about/respect/)