Live Skeptoid Presentations
AudiencesAll material is appropriate for any age group from junior high school on. I will come and speak for any group, no matter who you are. Usually I present at university clubs and organizations with science or critical thinking themes, or local and civic clubs. But I have also been invited by people who completely disagree with me as a way to "know their opponent". TopicsPlease choose from one of the topics below. Or, if you prefer a different topic (anything from the list of episodes), I look at it as a great opportunity to build my repertoire of Powerpoints, so please feel free to request it. |
"Thank you for speaking to us! Your talk on Saturday was a big success. Everyone enjoyed the talk, and your skill as a speaker was greatly appreciated." "Brian's presentation was engaging, insightful, and clear. His friendly interactive Q&A with the students made this a unique and memorable addition to the classroom. Brian provides an intelligent and entertaining way to inoculate young minds against the perils of pseudoscience and quackery with a healthy dose of skepticism and critical thinking. Invite him into your classroom. You won't regret it!" |
- 1 hour - SOUNDS FROM BEYOND! An hour packed with weird recordings and sounds from all areas of the paranormal - it's the most fun you've ever had learning critical thinking! Ghost sounds, backwards recordings, radio broadcasts from outer space! Hear the weirdness, and learn the fascinating truth behind each one. Sorry, not available as a remote presentation - available in person only and a full A/V setup is required.
- 1 hour - Here Be Dragons. An introductory talk describing numerous phenomena (paranormal, pseudoscientific, urban myths) and presenting of understanding of why they are fallacious and why it's so important that they be debunked. Great for youth groups, colleges, and critical thinking newbies.
- 30 minutes - Alien Invasion! A look at UFOs and aliens in popular culture. How do we know whether they're real or not? What else might they be?
- 30 minutes - The Detoxification Myth. Everywhere in society, hucksters are selling products and services to "detoxify" our bodies. Learn why this is pure pseudoscience with no potential health or wellness benefits. At best it hurts only your wallet; at worst it can (and does) kill.
- 30 minutes - Homeopathy. Why this most ridiculous of all holistic medical modalities is so stupid, and why it can't possibly help anyone.
- 1 hour - Debating with a Creationist. Learn the standard Young Earth Creationist arguments, and become familiar with the responses from the scientific consensus.
Fees & Costs
There is a speaking fee. Email me at brian [at] skeptoid.com to find out what it would be for your event. You will also need to cover all travel, lodging, and meal expenses. I'm located in southern California near Orange County Airport (SNA).
Remote Presentation
It is possible to do a remote video appearance via Skype or iChat, assuming you have the needed hardware on your end. This option eliminates all travel costs.
Two screens are needed, one for video and one for Powerpoint. Two-way video is required. At a minimum, this can be accomplished with two computers — one for video chat, and a second one with someone clicking through the slides when I prompt them. (It can all be done on one Mac computer running iChat with remote presentation.) You'll probably need a microphone so I can hear questions. It's a bit awkward, but it does work.
© 2009 Skeptoid.com
Brian Dunning, producer and host of the Skeptoid podcast, is available to speak at your event or organization on a variety of topics pertaining to critical thinking.





