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Saturday, February 11 DC 2pm Free/Public
Talk: "Positively Skeptical: A Way of Knowing" by University of
Maryland Professor Marvin Zelkowitz, Ph.D. West End Library, 1101 24th
St. N.W. Washington, D.C. Hosted by the National Capital Area Skeptics.
301 587-3827 ncas@ncas.org www.ncas.org.
Near Foggy Bottom Metro Station and George Washington University

Promotion of science and evolution in the public schools depends on
public appreciation for critical thinking and scientific method, aka
Scientific Skepticisim. The Feburary 11 NCAS program explores how
Skepticism is a way of knowing both inside and outside the classroom.

About the speaker:
Marvin Zelkowitz is a professor of Computer Science at the University
of Maryland in College Park. He has been a member of NCAS for 14 years,
was a past president of the organization, and is now on the Board of
Directors. His research interests are in technology evaluation; that
is, will a new technology help the computer industry produce better
software. By experimental validation of many of the claims made about a
new technology, he has been applying skepticism within the academic
research community for the past 35 years.
http://www.cs.umd.edu/users/mvz/

About the talk:
Skepticism, a concept from the ancient Greeks over 2000 years ago, had
its modern rebirth in the mid-20th century. But what is it? Are
skeptics, as often portrayed, only a bunch of cynics and curmudgeons
eager to rain on everyone's parade? Or is there a more important
aspect to being a skeptic? Why is it in your own self-interest to be a
skeptic?

Do you believe in global warming? Alternative medicine? Alien
abduction? Natural remedies? UFOs? Reincarnation? Spirits? Evolution?
Conspiracy theories? Dowsing? To a skeptic, the topic doesn't matter.
What is important is the word "believe" at the beginning of the
list. Why should you believe any of these concepts? What is the
evidence and is it credible? This is the foundation upon which modern
skepticism relies.

With the current controversy between Intelligent Design and Evolution
and the celebration of Charles Darwin's birthday tomorrow (Darwin Day
- February 12), now is an appropriate time to recognize the role that
skepticism should play in our daily lives. In this lecture, the roots
of skepticism from the early Greeks, through the Renaissance, up to the
present day, will be explored. We will mention current skeptical
organizations and show how NCAS fits into this mostly grass-roots
structure.

About NCAS:
The National Capital Area Skeptics is an independent nonprofit
educational and scientific organization that promotes critical thinking
and scientific understanding, with a focus on paranormal and
fringe-science claims. NCAS is based in the Washington, Maryland, and
Virginia community, where it serves as an advocate for science and
reason, actively promoting the scientific method, rational inquiry, and
education.