Michael Shermer - Science Talk 2008

Introduction

Michael Shermer, as head of one of America’s leading skeptic organizations, and as a powerful activist and essayist in the service of this operational form of reason, is an important figure in American public life.

— Stephen Jay Gould

Dr Michael Shermer spends his life exposing myths, superstitions and urban legends. He is the founder and publisher of Skeptic magazine and an important member of the Skeptic’s Society. He trained in psychology and the history of science and was a professor for twenty years. Since becoming a sceptic he has appeared on many television shows such as Oprah, Donahue, Larry King Live as well as appearing on Discovery Channel, History Channel and the Science Channel. He was invited to Australia to be the keynote speaker for Science Week 2008.

Some of the topics that he has debunked are intelligent design, 9/11 conspiracies, the low-carb craze even alien sightings.

Dr. Shermer has written many books including The mind of the market, on evolutionary economics, Why Darwin matters: Evolution and the Case Against Intelligent Design, and Science Friction: Where the Known meets the Unknown, The Science of Good and Evil: Why People Cheat, Gossip, Share Care, and Follow the Golden Rule, and Why People Believe Weird Things .

He is an informative and entertaining speaker who challenges pseudoscience in all its forms. He even shows us how to bend spoons and perform magic tricks.