While QED doesn’t officially start until 9am on Saturday morning, there’s always plenty on offer in the buildup to the weekend. That’s why we have our Friday night mixer and meetup event, and the ever-popular QED Quiz night!
Last year’s programme of interactive workshops proved to be our most popular yet, with our increased focus on teachable skills to improve the skeptical capabilities of our attendees. Of all of our workshops, perhaps the most popular was the session in which Professor Chris French taught us how to design and run tests of paranormal claims - which is why we are pleased that Chris has agreed to reprise the session at this year’s QED.
Menopause seems to be receiving more attention now than ever before, which is undoubtedly a good thing given that lots of women are simply not prepared for the myriad of symptoms they can experience (clue: it’s not just about hot flushes).How can women - and the people in their lives - wade through all the good and bad advice they are given, make sense of the myths around solutions like HRT, and put into context the increased risks of conditions like breast cancer and dementia? This panel from QED 2023 tackled these issues, looking at what works, what doesn't, and why it's in everyone' interest to take note.
We are delighted to add two more speakers to our main-stage lineup for QED 2024: medical doctor, health misinformation debunker and popular TikTok star Dr Idress Mughal, and security expert and ‘people hacker’ Jenny Radcliffe.
From the QED archives, this talk from QED 2023 saw Dr Daniel Jolley explore the psychology behind conspiracy theories. Drawing on his research, he demonstrates how any of us could find a conspiracy theory appealing under the right circumstances.
From the QED archives, this talk from QED 2023 saw Claire Klingenberg speak about the history of paranormal research, its current form, and its new function as an excellent tool for teaching critical thinking and the scientific method.
From the QED archives, this talk from QED 2023 saw Prof Anna Williams tell the story of Human Taphonomy Facilities (or 'Body Farms') and the research conducted at them.
Well into the digital age, social media seems more inescapable than ever. A wealth of data is at our fingertips, but it’s littered with fake news, misinformation, and extremism. In this panel discussion from QED 2023, we asked how we can protect vulnerable schoolchildren from the avalanche of nonsense on social media? Can we raise a generation of scientifically informed critical thinkers? Or should we even try?
Throughout our lifetimes, one in every two people will develop some form of cancer, and every one of us know someone in our lives who have been treated for the disease. While treatments have advanced greatly over the last few decades, receiving a cancer diagnosis remains a traumatic and scary experience, and one that often sends patients searching for answers. In this panel discussion from QED 2023, we learn that sadly, the alternative medicine industry has no lack of false promise to offer them.
From the QED archives, this talk from QED 2023 saw Prof. Debbie Ging consider the digitally-enhanced tactics used by online men's rights formations to intimidate and silence women and girls, as well as radicalise and recruit boys and men.
Our preconceptions about what it means to be female have been shaped by centuries of sexist and heteronormative bias. In this fascinating and funny talk from QED 2023, Lucy Cooke showcased females and the scientists studying them who are redefining the female of the species. Featuring post-menopausal orcas, primates who use promiscuity as a maternal strategy, and lizards who have dispensed with males altogether and reproduce by cloning.
Tickets to QED 2024 are on sale now! Our weekend celebration of science, reason and critical thinking, returns for 2024 with another exciting line-up of main stage speakers, live podcast recordings, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and more.
The wait is almost over – tickets for QED 2024 will be available to buy from 3pm UK time on May 7th, 2024.
QED will return on the 18th-20th October 2024, once again at the Mercure Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester. For those looking to get a headstart on hotel booking, you can secure a room at the Mercure at a special discount price of £135 per night for a single room, or £147 for a double, by calling the hotel on 0161 751 1412 (Option 1), and quoting the discount code 2410QEDBED.
We are busily making arrangements for the weekend at the moment, and will announce much more in due course, including our line-up of speakers, and ticket availability - so keep your eyes peeled for further information as it becomes available.
