From Ghost Hunts to Pseudoscience Fairs: How to Build Better Skeptics
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From Ghost Hunts to Pseudoscience Fairs: How to Build Better Skeptics
What happens when you turn ghost hunts and pseudoscience fairs into classroom assignments? In this talk, I’ll share how students test extraordinary claims firsthand, from running critical thinking demonstrations for high school audiences to tackling the CFIIG paranormal challenge and even going on an annual ghost hunt. Along the way, I’ll discuss why “critical thinking” is often defined too broadly, and show how hands-on skepticism can build sharper, more curious thinkers.
Rodney Schmaltz received his PhD at the University of Alberta in 2007. He is a professor in the Department of Psychology at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. His research focuses on pseudoscientific thinking, with an emphasis on strategies to promote and teach rational skepticism. He also examines misconceptions about workplace productivity and self-control, applying the same critical lens to popular but unsubstantiated claims about performance and motivation. In both domains, his work emphasizes the importance of evidence-based reasoning and the need to distinguish scientific findings from widely held yet unsupported beliefs. In 2019, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award, one of the highest honours at MacEwan University. His work aims to improve scientific literacy in both academic and public settings, using research-based strategies to help people separate good information from bad.
Please join us! This is a free event brought to you by Bay Area Skeptics. All are welcome.
WHEN: Thursday 11 December 7:30pm Pacific (GMT-8)
HOW: Online HERE