(33) Tue 5 Aug 97 3:54 By: Christopher Baker To: All Re: Randigram - Science on the Edge St: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ @EID:702c 23051ec0 Delivered-To: majordomo-jrefinfo-nu-real-outgoing@redhotmomma.ssr.com Delivered-To: jrefinfo-nu-outgoing@ssr.com Date: 4 Aug 1997 06:27:07 -0000 From: James Randi --- Wizard To: broadcast-JREFInfo@ssr.com Subject: Workshop Announcement... Sender: owner-jrefinfo@ssr.com Reply-To: James Randi --- Wizard The James Randi Educational Foundation is pleased to announce a workshop for examining paranormal claims entitled: "Solved Mysteries". SCIENCE ON THE EDGE On a nationally televised program, with clenched fists and a forceful expression, a "psychic" appears to make a pencil spin with just his mind. Children appear to be able to see pictures, text, and even symbols with only her fingers. Throughout hospitals in the USA, nurses claim to be able to not only detect, but to manipulate powerful "human energy fields" with their hands. Are we entering a whole new paradigm where the laws of nature are subject to wishful thinking? Or is there something else at work here? The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) presents a seminar that will not only show us how to detect the underlying principles behind these and other claims, but how to test for them, and reasonably eliminate the potential for human error. This is a hands-on, interactive, multi-media workshop that will allow participants to examine the best evidence for these claims and then develop methods to test them. By the end of the seminar, even participants with no formal scientific training will be capable of conducting proper examinations of psychic claims and arriving at decisions that are authoritative and valuable. In addition, research psychologist Dr. Suzanne Hadley will show us how to quantify and assess the data in a painless approach to statistics. Participants are encouraged to bring video cameras, still cameras, and/or audio recorders. Informal dress is recommended, and should be suitable for somewhat cool evenings. WHAT WILL BE EXAMINED o How you can establish proper, adequate controls without elaborate equipment or facilities o How you can judge whether people are being deceptive or whether they are really deceiving themselves o Dowsers say they can detect objects or substances by means of a forked stick, a pendulum, a pair of stiff wires, or some other "magic wand" that moves in response to a mysterious force. What is really moving the device, and how do we definitively test the claim? o Some of the devious techniques people have attempted to use to win the Foundation's million-dollar prize o "Psychics" are able to duplicate drawings secretly made by another person. Watch this miracle closeup and decide what can be done to solve and control this feat -- unless it is really a violation of Nature.... o A psychic causes objects to roll about dramatically on a sheet of plastic. What is at work here, and can we control -- and duplicate -- the stunt? ACTIVITIES Friday 7pm-9pm Reception with James Randi Saturday 8am-9am Light Breakfast 9am-12pm Examining the Evidence: Calculating the Odds with Dr. Suzanne Hadley Solving the Deception with James Randi 12-1:30pm Lunch 1:30-5pm Designing Protocols: Controlling Against Trickery 8pm Dinner Sunday 8am-9am Full Breakfast 9am-12pm Summary and Observations a one-on-one discussion with James Randi Seminar Registration Call the JREF at 1 (954) 467-1112 Now until August 14 Members $220 Non-members $245 After August 14 Members $245 Non-members $270 After September 14 Members $270 Non-members $295 Hotel Reservations Wyndham Hotel - Fort Lauderdale Airport 1825 Griffin Rd. Dania, Florida 33004 Reservation Department: 1 (800) 947-8527 Identify yourself as part of the "James Randi Workshop." Single and double occupancy rooms are $79 per night + 11% tax reserved before October 10, 1997 -30- --- DB B2300sl/001027 * Origin: Rights On! - Make me believe it! - Edgewater_FL_USA (1:18/14) SEEN-BY: 18/14 112/4 218/701 890 1001 353/250 374/98 1000 395/48 396/1 SEEN-BY: 3615/50 51 @PATH: 18/14 374/98 1000 3615/50 218/1001