Feb 9 - Prof. James Giordano PhD - Predictive Neuroscience: Facts, Fictions, and Fears of Scanning Brains and Reading Minds

Saturday, February 9, 2013, 1:30 pm
National Science Foundation
Room 110
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA [map]

In this lecture, neuroscientist and neuroethicist Professor James Giordano PhD, addresses the provocative current - and near future - capacities and limitations of neuroscience, and argues for analyses and guidelines to establish how to engage brain research in ways that are scientifically and technically rigorous, and ethically and legally sound.

Neuroscience is increasingly viewed as having potential to identify predispositions to types of cognition, emotion and behavior.  Could it be employed to allow preemptive interventions to deter the commission of crimes? For sure, this has overtones of the science fictional film Minority Report. But as distasteful as this seems at face value, the recent shootings in Connecticut, Oslo, Phoenix, and Columbine, and instances of international terrorism have prompted calls to use neuroscience to “do something” to ensure that such events do not happen again.

A crucial question is, how to maximize the benefit of the tools we possess, while not over-stepping the boundaries of science or corrupting ethico-legal probity?  Just because we may not currently have the neuroscientific capabilities to predict thoughts or behaviors doesn’t mean we’re not on a path toward doing so - or at least trying. Therefore, it’s important to understand exactly “where we really are” and estimate the validity and value of both our current position and the destinations we seek. We must be aware of agendas to employ neuroscience in a variety of ways, and must be prepared to confront these realities.

James Giordano, a neuroscientist and neuroethicist, is Professor of Integrative Physiology in the Department of Biochemistry, and Chief of the Neuroethics Studies Program in the Center for Clinical Bioethics, at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA, and Gryphon Fellow on the faculty of the Human Science Center of Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Munich, Germany.

FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members.
Refreshments and socializing after the talk.

Shadow of a Doubt - February 2013

The Monthly Calendar of the National Capital Area Skeptics

• NCAS Public Lecture Series - Neuroscience: Facts, Fictions, and Fears of Scanning Brains and Reading Minds - Professor James Giordano, PhD
• NCAS Board Elections: Call for Candidates
• NCAS Board Elections: Electronic Voting
• Shadow Light
• Drinking Skeptically, now in MD and VA! - Feb 13
• New Postal Address

Jan 19 - Jim Lippard - The Decline (and Probable Fall) of the Scientology Empire

Saturday, Jan 19, 2013, 1:30pm
Bethesda Regional Library
7400 Arlington Rd Bethesda, MD [map]

Jim Lippard will be speaking on the history of the Church of Scientology, how it has collided with the Internet and lost control of its secrets and its membership, and is now seeing an accelerating decline as its top members leave for new alternatives.

Jim Lippard founded the Phoenix Skeptics in 1985, and co-founded the Phoenix Area Skeptics Society in 2011. He’s written articles and book chapters on skeptical topics, including two articles in Skeptic magazine on Scientology, “Scientology vs. the Internet” in 1995 (co-authored with Jeff Jacobsen) and “The Decline (and Probable Fall) of the Scientology Empire” in 2012. He also contributed to Gordon Stein’s Encyclopedia of the Paranormal and Joe Nickell’s Psychic Sleuths.

FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members. Refreshments and socializing after the talk.

Free limited parking is available. The Bethesda Library is Metro accessible.

Shadow of a Doubt - January 2013

The Monthly Calendar of the National Capital Area Skeptics

• NCAS Public Lecture Series: The Decline (and Probable Fall) of the Scientology Empire - Jim Lippard
• Prez Sez
• Torn From Today's Headlines By Scott Snell: Coincidences and the Search for Meaning
• Eugene Ossa at Library of Congress on January 29

Dec 8 - Walter F. Rowe, PhD - It Came From the Genetics Lab: DNA, the Monster That Ate Forensic Science

Saturday, Dec 8, 2012, 1:30 pm
National Science Foundation
Room 110
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA [map]

In the 1980s all was serene in the field of forensic science. Fingerprinting and dental records were the accepted methods of personal identification. Forensic serologists could identify a number of genetic markers in dried blood and body fluids. The identification sciences (questioned documents, firearm and tool mark identification, shoe and tire track identification) were readily accepted by courts. Few scientists envisioned that it would be possible to isolate human DNA from dried stains that were months or years old. However, within less than a quarter of a century forensic DNA profiling had become the gold standard against which all

other forensic disciplines are measured (and not always to their benefit).

This talk will examine the current state of forensic DNA profiling and ongoing research in this area. It will also explore the profound impact of DNA profiling on the criminal justice system, crime scene processing, the criminal investigative process and other branches of forensic science. The talk will also address some myths about DNA profiling and the personal information that it supposedly discloses.

FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members.

Refreshments and socializing after the talk.