Ghostbusting 101

SkeptInq@aol.com
Tue, 7 Sep 1999 17:56:31 EDT 

 Thought you might like to hear about one of National Capital Area Skeptics
 upcoming programs. (see below)

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 GHOSTBUSTING 101

 October 16, 1999
 Leesburg, VA

 When things go bump in the night, what's a scientist to do? Just in
 time for Hallowe'en, the National Capital Area Skeptics presents a
 full-day program that examines investigations of the spirit realm,
 from the 19th century to present day. The sessions offer diverse
 viewpoints on attempts to apply science and technology in the
 assessment of age-old traditions and beliefs.

 Session highlights include:

 "If the spirits are willing..." Chip Denman will give a brief history
 of seances and mediums and those who investigated them during the
 heyday of the Spiritualist movement. He is a statistician at the
 University of Maryland where he teaches "Science/Pseudoscience" for
 the University Honors Program, and past-president of NCAS.

 "Ghosts and electromagnetic anomalies" Joe Holbert conducts "ghost
 tours" in Leesburg, Virginia, and investigates the possibility that
 ghosts are associated with very low-level electromagnetic fields. He
 will describe his personal research.

 "Modern mediums and psychic readings" Spiritualism lives on today in
 such mediums as James Van Praagh, best-selling author of Talking to
 Heaven, and thousands of lesser known "psychic readers." Kari Coleman
 will discuss her personal experiences and methods used in giving
 readings. She is an actress whose skeptical writings have been
 published by the James Randi Educational Foundation.

 "High tech communications with the hereafter: Ghost photos, ghost
 detectors, electronic-voice phenomena, and phone calls from the
 dead." Dr. Michael Epstein will present an overview of technological
 efforts to record evidence of spirits. He is a chemist at NIST, a
 former vice president of NCAS, a recent recipient of an award for
 excellence in education, which promotes skeptical thinking.

 Registration

 $25 if postmarked by September 25, 1999
 $30 after September 25, 1999

 Send registration (Name, Address, Telephone, and E-mail) to:
 Ghostbusting 101
 NCAS
 PO Box 8428
 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

 Workshop 9am - 5pm, Saturday, October 16, 1999
 Best Western Leesburg Dulles
 726 East Market Street
 Leesburg VA 20176
 (703) 777-9400

 Registration includes am and pm snack breaks plus handouts. (Note,
 lunch is not included with the workshop registration. Several
 restaurants are near hotel.)

 For additional information call NCAS at 301-587-3827 or send email to
 ncas@ncas.org.