In our final episode for 2017 we look back at a skeptical year in Europe. We talk about smallpox, how measles continues to spread and how a prominent skeptic becomes head of the Swedish Royal Academy of Science. We also look into Facebook’s new attempt to fight fake news, how peer review punishes poor research and how Christmas decorations being removed in Italy has nothing to do with muslims.
Lastly the Taoiseach in Ireland failes to take a stand against Scientology, and for that he is Really Wrong.
Segments:
Intro; Greetings; The Week in Skepticism; News; Really Wrong; Farewell; Outro; Outtakes
Show Notes:
00:00:28 Greetings
Review of 2017 in Europe:
- The Good Thinking Society
- Vaccination in Hungary
- Sense About Science
- ECSO – The European Council of Skeptical Organisations
- March for Science
00:16:29 This Week in Skepticism: The Smallpox Retention Controversy
- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/05/09/310475511/keep-or-kill-last-lab-stocks-of-smallpox-time-to-decide-says-who
- https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2014/jul/10/smallpox-virus-vials-variola-research
00:21:39 Skeptical News
- SWEDEN: Measles outbreak in hospital
https://www.dn.se/nyheter/utbrott-av-massling-pa-sjukhus/ - SWEDEN: Board member of Swedish Skeptics appointed head of Swedish Royal Academy of Science
http://www.lakemedelsvarlden.se/apotekare-tar-over-kungl-vetenskapsakademien/ - INTERNATIONAL: Facebook – update on fight against fake news
https://www.snopes.com/2017/12/18/facebook-downrank-engagement-bait-spammers/
https://www.buzzfeed.com/craigsilverman/facebook-is-getting-rid-of-its-fact-checking-label-and - GERMANY: Former director earns two-year funding ban after misconduct finding
http://retractionwatch.com/2017/12/26/former-director-earns-two-year-funding-ban-misconduct-finding/#more-53167 - ITALY: Bolzano Christmas tree removed for muslims?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42425627 - 00:37:15 REALLY WRONG: Taoiseach takes no stance against Scientology in Ireland
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/varadkar-defends-td-s-scientology-meeting-despite-cult-concerns-1.3338184
00:37:15 Really Wrong
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for not taking a stance against Scientology.
- https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/varadkar-defends-td-s-scientology-meeting-despite-cult-concerns-1.3338184
- https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/protests-to-mark-opening-of-new-scientology-base-in-ireland-1.3254969
- https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scientologists-in-dublin-peddle-autism-cure-0z5vc6d2m
00:43:21 Quote
“The one real goal of education is to leave a person asking questions.”
/ Max Beerbohm, British Critic, Essayist, and Caricaturist /
00:47:21: Outro
00:48:36: Outtakes