Essay Index
Here’s a few ‘easy to find’ links to my blog entries that are more research-based and essay-length. Let me know if there’s a topic you think I should tackle!
Skepticism and Gender
Women and Superstitions - Part One - The beginning of my ‘literature review online’ regarding sex, gender, superstition, age, current paranormal belief scales and their popularity.
Women and Superstitions - Part Two - Yes, there’s more! Getting into cultural differences, economic and social reasons to be into the weird.
She’s Already Got Science - Women, Skepticism And The Need For More Research - I question just how much real thinking is going on with skeptical groups and the promises of ‘grassroots activism in skepticism’… when compared to other organizations who claim the same goals…
Why Dragon*Con? - A look at the factors that influence conference attendance for women and encouraging a wider range of approaches when finding an audience.
The Sarah Silverman Of Skepticism - I get comical, historical, psychological, cultural - all in the one post! No, I’m not doing anything on video with Matt Damon, sorry.
Mind The Gap? - Women, sex, gender, science, boys, girls, reading and why reading strategies should be applied to all learners regardless. An offshoot of my Skeptic books for Children sequence.
Looking Good - Scientifically - I unpack some research on the sex appeal of specs.
This Is All You Got In This Size? - Book reviews of ‘Full Frontal Feminism’, ‘Citizen Girl’, ‘She’s Such a Geek - Women Write about Science, Technology and Other Nerdy Stuff’.
Remembering Science’s Gift - For a Girl - Short appreciative item on what it means for those in third-world countries.
Gender Generic Kitty - Why should we bias against kitty wear?
The Changing Face Of Tattoos - A look at how embracing tattoo art has resulted in a change of attitudes towards the subculture - led by mothers!
Hypnotism, Trances And The Supernatural… And Bowie - Some of the science behind the stories and the women behind the legends.
Quirkology, ‘Clicking’ and Dating Lies - Ah, happens in every relationship.
A Girl Called Ellie - Reflections on the lack of real-world women scientists in literature these days.
Political Punditry on McCain’s Magical Thinking - What can be said about prevalence of superstitions in particular careers? What is clear is that the answer is universal and even scientists can feel cool in a ‘magic hat’.
Skepticism and Communication
Why Dragon*Con? - A look at the factors that influence conference attendance for women and encouraging a wider range of approaches when finding an audience.
Wagga Wagga Meeting Skeptics Summary - Hello Ian Bryce! - An overview of the lecture and points raised at the 2008 Australian Skeptics convention at Wagga Wagga.
Networking, Educating And Getting The Word Out - Some ideas about general outreaching and Level 1 workshop for Philosophy in Schools with a philosophy and skepticism presentation.
Interview with Michael McRae of CSIRO - Michael McRae has done interviews for Skepticality, worked as a teacher and a scientist and much, much more - find out via reading his views on the difference between Science Communication and Science Education.
Educationally Magical - Andrew Mayne - Magician, creator, performer, educator and modern media communicator - Andrew Mayne discusses his journey.
Investigating Skepticism - Interview With Dr Karen Stollznow - Dr Karen Stollznow has worked for Australian Skeptic for many years, written, investigated and demonstrated practically a lifetime devoted to skepticism!
Skepticism And Scholarship - Dr Mark Henn - Interview with Dr Mark Henn, Fulbright scholarship winner, professor of anomalistic psychology and his keen insights on the misuse of labels like ’skeptic’, ‘believer’ and ‘deluded’.
Strategies For Skepticism: Action, Activism and Getting off your Arse - Part One
Strategies For Skepticism: Action, Activism and Getting off your Arse - Part Two
Strategies For Skepticism: Action, Activism and Getting off your Arse - Part Three
- the abridged version of my article published in the Australian Skeptic Journal in 2007.
Psy-Quakes and Radio Skepticism! - Reflections on an interview I did for South-West ABC radio.
Homeopathy Week: Defying Science For 250 Years - Have a look at the strategies that are being used for homeopathy week. What ideas could we use?
Smart Bitches, Not Meerly Sex - Romance, literature… uh, sexy animals? An essay that shows how love and plagiarism points the way to science appreciation and integration.
2008 Tank Vodcast Reporters…- Introduction to the TV Vodcast show ‘The TANK Vodcast‘ and what we’re up against!
Where DO We Go… Carroll, Loxton, Williams? - Reflections on the Skepticality essay by Daniel Loxton of Junior Skeptic.
Bent Spoon for the Truth-Benders - Hobart Australian Skeptics Conference, Loretta Marron (Australian Skeptic of the Year).
Stop Research Into “CAM”? - Investigating what benefits can be had by continuing research into ‘complimentary and alternative medicine’.
The Never-Ending Why - We are silly creatures sometimes, aren’t we?
Skepticism and Education
Philosophy in WA - Interested in philosophy, children, critical thinking and what research is being done? You might like to check out the progress in my country and how we’re testing the efficacy of P4C and teaching skepticism to kids.
The Australian Journey Of Philosophy In Schools - The TANK Vodcast episode on P4C in Australia.
Thinking About Thinking - Philosophy And Teachers - Account of helping facilitate day one of Level 1 training in P4C.
Back To Work With P4C! - Continuing efforts with educational outreach for school communities with P4C in Western Australia.
Darwin Day - For Kids - My own response to Darwin Day? Get reading, kids!
The Specialness Of Species - Reflections on diversity, taxonomy, skepticism and the contributions of Dr Seuss! Please, don’t eat the daffodils.
Death Defying Acts - Houdini Horror - Urgh. Just urgh.
Science For Mums! - Outreach by science programs in Australia to help educate parents towards pro-science attitudes.
Going Backwards - Ever wanted some improvements on how you discuss back-masking and the notion of subliminal messages in songs? Here’s a few comedic takes that you can use and some references on the topic.
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex - Book review on Mary Roach’s inquiries into… uh, bonking.
Suckers: How Alternative Medicine Makes Fools of Us All - Book review on the claims of alternative medicine.
The Name Experiment - Looking at the source of a perennial science festival experiment by Dr Richard Wiseman.
Education and Selling Skepticism - On communicating skepticism, Penn Jillette’s view on education and so-called extension education classes.
Did You Steal That Gorilla? - an interesting twist on advertising crossing the line and taking the banana.
Called Lucky? - Looking at the luck factor.
‘Tis the Season For Superstition - My students and rituals, luck and traditions and the season to get hoping.
Dr Karl and the Eyes Have It - Investigating claims made in a lecture by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki.
Wising Up To Wiseman’s Tricks - An investigation of ‘Quirkology’ claims.
Smart Bitches, Not Meerly Sex - Romance, literature… uh, sexy animals? An essay that shows how love and plagiarism points the way to science appreciation and integration.
Personally, I Can’t Credit It… - More on extension classes and what the public is being told is ‘education’.
Signing Science - Sign language and science!
Gilda Meets the Skeptics… - The beginning of my search for books suitable for children that encourage a skeptical mindset.
Trick Question? - An issue that got me being an activist; abstinence-only education in schools by fundamentalists.
Emails I Love Getting - Got hoaxes? I got answers!
Birds do it… - Sometimes the kids are the only ones who can laugh with you at the absurd in the world…
The Feminist SF Carnival - http://carnival.feministsf.net/
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