Welcome to Greenwich Skeptics in the Pub!
Greenwich SitP is currently the only branch of SitP in South East London. The idea is simple: Once a month, we all meet up in a pub to hear a guest speaker and enjoy a drink or three.
Our regular meet-up spot is the Star of Greenwich (60 Old Woolwich Road, Greenwich, SE10 9NY), where we gather on the second Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted. Talks will begin at 7:30pm. Although the talks are free and open to all, we would appreciate a small contribution towards covering speakers’ expenses (suggested donation: £3).
Stay updated on our latest events right here on our website, or connect with us on:
- Meetup: Greenwich Skeptics in the Pub
- Twitter: @greenwichsitp
- Mastodon: @GreenwichSITP@mastodon.world
- Facebook: Greenwich Skeptics in the Pub
We look forward to seeing you at one of our informal gatherings soon!
Our Next Talk
Things that go bump…
Dr Ciáran O’Keeffe
Buckinghamshire New University
9 October 2024 Wednesday 19:30
The Star of Greenwich
60 Old Woolwich Road, Greenwich – SE10 9NY
What goes bump in the night… when you’re a parapsychologist researching it in a lab… or when ghost-hunting at night… or when researching the literature with a global ghost gang… or when listening to ghost stories on a podcast… or when running around with a film crew on a paranormal tv show?
Dr O’Keeffe will give his answers to each of these contexts as he discusses his career as a parapsychologist, what it takes to scientifically investigate the unexplained, and how chasing ghosts in the lab differs from chasing them on television!
Dr Ciarán O’Keeffe is a parapsychologist and investigative psychologist who regularly provides a sceptical voice to various paranormal shows (e.g. Uncanny, The Battersea Poltergeist, Most Haunted, Jane Goldman Investigates, World’s Most Unexplained, Unexplained: Caught on Camera, etc). He has been involved in many unusual applied psychology projects: physiological effects of infrasound (at the Royal Festival Hall); ghost investigation of Hampton Court Palace; an exorcism ‘training day’; Hostage Negotiation simulations; and lie detecting for the film Spy Game. He is Head of the School of Human & Social Sciences at Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) where he is responsible for overseeing undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Psychology, Education, Social Science and Sports. His paranormal research, published and presented, has focussed on the examination of haunting experiences and testing mediums and psychics in the lab. Additional research has included psychic criminology and ‘Religious’ parapsychology (i.e. exorcism, possession, miracles, etc.). It has been reported in The Psychologist, The Times, The Independent, New Scientist, etc.
October 2024 [Halloween Bonus]
Monsters on the Couch – The Sequel
Dr. Brian A. Sharpless
Licensed Psychologist and Author
16 October 2024 Wednesday 19:30
The Star of Greenwich
60 Old Woolwich Road, Greenwich – SE10 9NY
What’s better than watching a scary movie around Halloween? Well, hearing a lecture on the real-life psychological disorders behind movie monsters in a nice pub, of course. Clinical psychology actually has a lot to teach us about horror – and horror movies can reveal much more than we realize about some of the fundamental fears that go along with being human.
In this sequel to the lecture given for Halloween of 2023, Dr. Sharpless will discuss four different topics. Much of this material will be surprising. Though film fans may be well acquainted with werewolves and zombies, even many medical professions may not know much about the corresponding conditions of clinical lycanthropy and Cotard’s syndrome. Even some horror aficionados may be surprised to learn that A Nightmare on Elm Street was inspired by real-life events in 1970s Los Angeles.
This talk will discuss what clinical psychology and psychiatry have to say about a sampling of movie monsters from the Golden Age of cinema, more modern monsters, and even some “monstrous” behaviors (e.g., necrophilia). Attendees will not only learn state-of-the-art psychological science but also gain a better understanding of history, folklore, and how Hollywood often—but not always—gets it wrong when tackling these complex topics.
Dr. Brian A. Sharpless is a licensed psychologist and author. He received his PhD in clinical psychology and MA in philosophy from Pennsylvania State University and completed post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Pennsylvania. He has authored more than fifty professional publications including three books for Oxford University Press. His latest book, Monsters of the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Your Favorite Horror Movies(Chicago Review Press), is currently available as well. His research interests include common and unusual psychological disorders, psychotherapy, professional issues, and the history of mental illness. He lives in the Washington, DC, area.
November 2024
Genes, Environment, Chance and Free (?) Will
Professor Yulia Kovas
Goldsmiths, University of London
13 November 2024 Wednesday 19:30
The Star of Greenwich
60 Old Woolwich Road, Greenwich – SE10 9NY
Genetics is the fastest developing field in the history of human knowledge. New insights into gene-environment-chance interplay have implications for conceptualising success and failure, praise and blame, determinism and malleability, expectation effects, added value in education and health, fairness, and (free?) will. Yet, genetic findings are poorly understood by most, including by well educated people. For example, genetic knowledge is on average low among teachers, lawyers, judges and other professionals. Poor genetic literacy can form a foundation for a system of erroneous beliefs and potentially harmful attitudes, decisions and actions. In this talk, I will describe recent genetic advances, findings from genetically informative studies in cognition, personality and behaviour, as well as research on genetic knowledge and attitudes. I will discuss promises and challenges of using genetic findings to benefit people.
December 2024
How They Hide The Truth From You
Meirion Jones
Investigative journalist
11 December 2024 Wednesday 19:30
The Star of Greenwich
60 Old Woolwich Road, Greenwich – SE10 9NY
Twenty years ago the Freedom of Information Act was just coming into effect. It was going to be a new dawn of open government. Hoorah! For a brief window Whitehall’s deepest secrets were on view – some of them revealed by Meirion – and then Tony Blair realised that the last thing he needed was the cat out of the bag. Find out how the Cabinet Office has managed to run a Clearing House – AKA Blocking House – concealing national and local government corruption and wrongdoing ever since. It is at its worst under Rishi Sunak but could we persuade a new government to let the sunlight in?
Meirion is best known for investigations into Bogus Bomb Detectors, Jimmy Savile, Vulture Funds and the Fake Sheikh. His stories have led to changes in the law and bad people going to jail.
Jeremy Paxman accused Meirion of exhibiting that “obsessional, slightly nutty commitment that marks out all successful investigative reporters”.
Greenwich SitP gratefully acknowledges the support of Goldsmiths, University of London. All views expressed are those of individual speakers and are not necessarily endorsed by Goldsmiths.