Irish Skeptics Society

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Irish Skeptics Society
AbbreviationISS
FormationDecember 2002;21 years ago (2002-12) [1]
Type Nonprofit organisation
PurposePromoting science and critical thinking [1]
Headquarters Blanchardstown, Dublin
Region served
Ireland
Chairman
Paul O'Donoghue
Website irishskeptics.org

The Irish Skeptics Society (ISS) is a scientific skeptical organisation based in Ireland. [2] It was launched in December 2002 [1] and publishes a newsletter called Skeptical Times. [3] The ISS is a member of the European Council of Skeptical Organisations (ECSO). [4]

The organisation regularly sponsors lectures on a variety of topics including self-awareness, [5] tolerance, [6] evolution [7] and popularisation of science. [8] In 2004, it sponsored a lecture by James Randi. [9] It is a signatory to Sense about Science's Keep Libel Laws out of Science campaign. [10]

Spokespersons from the organisation such as its founding member Paul O'Donoghue (a clinical psychologist) are often quoted on paranormal and pseudoscience topics such as homeopathy, [11] magnet therapy, [12] Spiral Dynamics [13] and UFOs [14] in the Irish press. Paul O'Donoghue has commented on the amount of coverage alternative medicine receives in the media. [15]

The Irish Skeptics Society hosted the 13th European Skeptics Congress from 7 to 9 September 2007 at the Davenport Hotel in Dublin. [16]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Home". Irish Skeptics website. 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Ahlstrom, Dick (30 October 2003). "Sceptics alarmed by facile beliefs". Irish Times. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  3. ↑ Helena, Sheehan (8 September 2007). "The assault on scientific rationality: historical analysis and epistemological response". Doras.dcu.ie. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  4. ↑ "ECSO Members". ECSO website. European Council of Skeptical Organisations. Archived from the original on 27 September 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Leading Psychologist on Self-Awareness and Deception". Vhi Healthcare . 11 April 2006. Archived from the original on 16 March 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
    - "Self Awareness and the Brain". ISS. 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Irish Skeptics Society Talk". Geary Behavioural Economics Blog. University College Dublin. 1 September 2008. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  7. ↑ "Irish Skeptics Society – Darwin and Human Evolution", Darwin 200 Ireland, Irish Science Centres Association Network (iSCAN), 11 February 2009, retrieved 26 May 2015
  8. ↑ Paul O'Donoghue (14 April 2011). "Awards that make people laugh and then make them think". The Irish Times . Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  9. ↑ Randi, James (8 June 2007), "An Important Congress", SWIFT, James Randi Educational Foundation, archived from the original on 10 July 2009, retrieved 15 August 2009
    - Dick Ahlstrom (23 September 2004). "$1m challenge for proof of paranormal event". Irish Times. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  10. ↑ Signatories to Keep Libel Laws out of Science campaign, Sense about Science, 14 August 2009, archived from the original on 12 August 2009, retrieved 14 August 2009
  11. ↑ "Believe in the impossible and defy science if you think homeopathy works". The Irish Times. 5 July 2005. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
    - "Experts call for end to alternative health cover". The Irish Independent. 2005.
  12. ↑ Paul O'Donoghue (22 November 2005). "Despite its great pulling power, the magnet is no medical maestro". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  13. ↑ Adrienne Murphy (12 April 2005). "Dancing to a More Sacred and Chaste Rhythm". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  14. ↑ Fionola Meredith (18 August 2005). "Keeping the faith for a close encounter". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  15. ↑ Corrigan, Conn (April 2006). "Mumbo Jumbo. Conn Corrigan charts the rise of gobbledegook". The Dubliner . 5. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  16. ↑ "13th European Skeptics Congress 2007", Skeptic : eSkeptic Newsletter , The Skeptics Society, 4 July 2007, retrieved 27 May 2015
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