About Podblack Cat

My name is Kylie Sturgess.

In short, I’ve gone from being ‘just a secondary-school English teacher’ …. to an M.Ed in Special Learning needs; a writer for the new Philosophy and Ethics course in my state; a research-assistant on retention and engagement in schools at a Perth university and the Education Department; an author for several journals on science and critical thinking and (best of all!) a teacher-trainer for the current and next generation of primary and secondary educators in my state.

I’m also writing my dissertation on paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs in teenagers and work with other professionals in the field. All of these things at the same time, yes.

Sometimes I’m found at conferences, taking too many notes. More often than not, using my blog to post the literature review for my dissertation. The rest of my time belongs to my family - and ballroom dancing. My tango is something to be seen.

Awards and Memberships

More details about my qualifications can be found on this page, which features the winning application for my award from the Australian Skeptics in 2007. I was very proud to be a runner-up in 2006 and quite overwhelmed to win the Critical Thinker of the Year award in 2007!

I am a student of both psychology and education and have been a member of APIS since 2003. If you’re interested in the secondary school Philosophy and Ethics course run in Western Australia, you can find out more about via this link here - it is greatly influenced by the Philosophy for Children program from Montclair State University. P4C is also a big part of ‘Philosothon’ - http://www.philosothon.org/. This is hosted in Perth as a national and state-wide competition for students.

Publications And Speaking Engagements

My articles have been published nationally and internationally including The Australian Skeptic journal, science education journals and the Creative and Critical Thinking Journal. I’m regularly consulted as a contributor as the ’skeptic voice’ on radio shows nationally and internationally.

My presentations include the 2007 The Amaz!ng Meeting and the 2006 and 2007 Australian Skeptics National conferences; this year I’m speaking at the Australian Skeptics 2008 Wagga Wagga conference with representatives of each state. Later this year I’ll be at Dragon*Con (USA) and the Adelaide Skeptics Convention (Australia); perhaps London and New York on the way through.

You can hear my first interview on the podcast Skepticality and by searching my blog for the Radio National, Curtin Radio, Fremantle radio and ABC WA interviews.

I am proud to be a ‘vodcaster’ for TANK vodcast, hosted at www.tankvodast.wordpress.com. The vodcast is an extension of the longest-running Skepticism podcast The Tank (since 2001), presented by Richard Saunders and Stefan Sojka - you can visit this YouTube link to keep up to date! I also occasionally direct Pigasus episodes.

So, What’s All This Then?

“Podblack Cat” is a repository of blog entries, links and reflections on scientific and education-related news and issues. Superstitions, psueduoscience, the paranormal and science education are of great interest to me and a vital part of my ongoing research.

This blog is part of my main site, at www.podblack.com. The site is currently being reworked. Much of the material in links and worksheets I produce are for psychology, philosophy and ethics, critical thinking and teaching in the secondary years. The blog is a more light-hearted investigation of such topics.

My Logo So Rocks!

My logo of the ‘furry’ Podblack Cat perusing some Zener cards is thanks to Michael “Athon” McRae of www.chthonicdreams.com.

Contact Podblack on: podblack@gmail.com