April, 2000
This talk will be an examination of the European and American vampire
folkores, focusing on how these folkores were formed from the
misinterpretation of biological phenomena.
Paul Sledzik is a forensic anthropologist and curator at the
National Museum of Health and Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology,
in Washington, DC.
Everyone welcome - members and non-members
NCAS ELECTIONS
Its time once again for the annual NCAS Board elections. Each year 8 (of 16)
Board members are elected for a two year term. Any paid-up member may run. If
interested send email to ncas@ncas.org by April 8, 2000.
MAGNETIC MAGIC SHOW
For the past 32 year, Fred Jeffers (of Iomega Corp.) has collected, elaborated
upon, and developed a number of remarkable magnetic "magic tricks." They are
demonstrations of real magnetic physics, doing seemingly impossible things.
Many of the effects demonstrated are at first completely inexplicable,
even to experts. He has been awarded more than 50 U.S. patents and is an IEEE
Fellow. Friday, April 7.
10:30am - Natl. Institute for Standards and Technology, Green Auditorium,
Gaithersburg, MD (I270. Exit 10, Rt. 117 West)
3pm- Laboratory for Physical Science, 8050 Greenmead Dr.,College Park
(Rt. 1 to Rt. 193 West. Right on Metzerott, first right onto Greenmead.)
RICHARD DAWKINS: SCIENCE, DELUSION, AND THE APPETITE FOR WONDER
Cosponsored with the British Embassy, Mon., April 10, 6 p.m. In a special
visit to the Smithsonian, Richard Dawkins, one of the most influential
scientists of our time, assesses the most compelling topics in the field
today. He deftly combines astronomy, genetics, virtual reality, and other
disciplines in a landmark statement of the human appetite for wonder. General
tickets are $13 and can be ordered online at:
http://www.tsa.si.edu/rap/otoapr/dawkins.htm or call (202) 357-3030.
PHYSICS IS PHUN
The University of Maryland Physics Department presents a series of free public
lecture-demonstrations affectionately known as PHYSICS IS PHUN. Different
programs are presented four times yearly, typically in early November,
mid-January, mid-March, and early May, on dates governed by the University
class calendar. The same program is presented on consecutive Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday evenings. The next lecture will be May 11-13. More
information see the web site:
http://www.physics.umd.edu/deptinfo/facilities/lecdem/phph.htm
SKEPTIC SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING
The Skeptics Society normally holds its annual conference in May or June
every year, but this year they are having it on Saturday, October 7, 2000
[at Caltech in Pasadena, CA], in a special Festschrift to honor Stephen Jay
Gould who will be retiring after 300 consecutive essays in Natural History
magazine (#300 appears in the December issue, but he'll be done writing by
October), and as a tribute to his remarkable contributions to evolutionary
theory, science, and literature.
TEXTBOOK DISCLAIMER ON EVOLUTION DISALLOWED
A requirement by Oklahoma's textbook committee that state science textbooks
include a disclaimer against evolution has been thrown out, a spokesman
for the state's attorney general said on [February 3, 2000]. Attorney General
Drew Edmondson ruled that the Oklahoma State Textbook Committee had
overstepped its bounds in trying to dictate the content of textbooks and
violated Oklahoma's open meeting laws by failing to notify the public that
it was taking the action, spokesman Gerald Adams said.
VAMPIRES: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LEGEND
Paul Sledzik, Ph.D.
Curator, National Museum of Health and Medicine
Saturday, April 8, 2000, 2pm-3:30pm
Lipsett Amphitheater
First Floor, Clinical Center Building 10
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland
NOTE: THIS IS A DIFFERENT LOCATION FROM
MOST OF OUR OTHER MEETINGS
Call the NCAS Skeptic Line at 301-587-3827 for further info.