takao@ihlpa.att.com (Collier) (10/18/88)
[This is not exactly your regular NAC article. Comments? -mod] ---------------------- 1988 CSICOP Conference in Chicago ---------------------- THE NEW AGE A Scientific Evaluation Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, November 4-6 Hyatt Regency O'Hare (at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport) Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) Box 229 Buffalo, New York 12215-0229 (716) 834-3222 --------------------- About This Conference --------------------- This conference is being held under the auspices of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation o Claims of the Paranormal. Cosponsors: Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Chicago Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Hosts: Midwest Committee for Rational Inquiry ------------------ Friday, November 4 ------------------ International Ballroom 8:00 - 9:00 AM: Registration 9:00 - 9:30 AM: WELCOMING REMARKS Paul Kurtz, CSICOP Chairman Norman Bradburn, Provost, University of Chicago Donald Langenberg, Chancellor, University of Illinois at Chicago 9:30 - 12:30 PM: THE NEW AGE: AN OVERVIEW Moderator: Paul Kurtz, CSICOP Chairman, Professor of Philosophy, SUNY, Buffalo Maureen O'Hara, Professor of Women's Studies, San Diego State University J. Gordon Melton, Director, Inst. for Study of Religion, U.C.-Santa Barbara Jay Rosen, Assistant Professor of Journalism, NYU Robert Basil, editor of "Not Necessarily the New Age" 12:30 - 2:30 PM: LUNCH BREAK 2:30 - 5:00 PM: Two concurrent sessions (choose one) Session 1: CHANNELING James Alcock, Professor of Psychology, York University, Toronto Sarah Thomason, Professor of Linguistics, University of Pittsburgh Graham Reed, Professor of Psychology, York University, Toronto Session 2: CRYSTAL HEALING George Lawrence, Senior Research Associate, University of Colorado NEW AGE EXPERIENCES Ted Schultz, journalist, editor of "Fringes of Reason" THE NEW AGE AND BUSINESS Bela Scheiber, Chairman, Rocky Mountain Skeptics THE SHIRLEY MACLAINE PHENOMENON Henry Gordon, magician, author, broadcaster, Toronto 5:00 - 8:00 PM: DINNER BREAK 8:00 - 10:30 PM: Keynote Address - Rosemont Ballroom DOUGLAS HOFSTADTER, University Professor of Cognitive Science, Indiana University, Bloomington "Musings on the Elusive Nature of Common Sense and Evidence" -------------------- Saturday, November 5 -------------------- Rosemont and United Rooms 8:00 - 9:00 AM: Registration 9:00 - 12 NOON: Three concurrent sessions (choose one) Session 1: CRYPTOZOOLOGY Moderator: Lee Nisbet, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Medaille College J. Richard Greenwell, Secretary, Int'l Society for Cryptozoology Frank Poirier, Professor of Anthropology, Ohio State University, Columbu Roy P. Mackal, University of Chicago Charles Cazeau, geologist, Tempe, Ariz. Session 2: GRAPHOLOGY Moderator: Barry Beyerstein, Professor of Psychology, Simon Fraser Univ., Burnaby, British Columbia Rose Matousek, President, Amer. Assn. of Handwriting Analysts Richard J. Klimoski, Professor of Psychology, Ohio State University Edward Karnes, Professor of Psychology, Metropolitan State College, Denver Felix Klein, Vice President, Council of Graphological Societies Session 3: PSYCHICS IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM Moderator: Mark Plummer, lawyer, CSICOP Executive Director Robert Hicks, Analyst, Dept. of Criminal Justice Services, Commonwealth of Virginia James E. Starrs, Professor of Law and Forensic Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Michael Botts, attorney, Kansas City, Missouri 12:00 - 2:00 PM: FUND-RAISING LUNCHEON (optional) International Ballroom Presentation by James Randi Speakers: Philip J. Klas and Mark Plummer 2:00 - 5:00 PM: Two concurrent sessions (choose one) Session 1: MEDIA RESPONSIBILITY AND THE PARANORMAL Moderator: Milton Rosenberg, Professor of Psychology, University of Chicago John Baker, Editor-in-Chief, "Publishers Weekly" George Gerbner, Professor of Communications, Annenberg School of Communications, Univ. of Penn. Richard Lobo, Vice President, NBC, General Manager, WMAQ-TV, Chicago Session 2: UFO-ABDUCTIONS (2:00 - 3:30 PM) Philip J. Klass, aerospace editor, Washington, D.C. Robert A. Baker, Professor of Psychology, Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington CSICOP GOES TO CHINA (3:30 - 5:00 PM) Paul Kurtz, CSICOP Chairman Kendrick Frazier, Editor, "Skeptical Inquirer" Barry Karr, CSICOP Public Relations Director 6:00 - 7:00 PM: RECEPTION (Cash Bar) Mexicana-Olympic-Swissair Rooms 7:00 - 10:30 PM: AWARDS BANQUET (optional) Rosemont Ballroom Awards Presentation: Paul Kurtz, CSICOP Chairman Entertainment: "Skeptical Magicians from Around the World" Master of Ceremonies: "The Amazing" Randi B. Premanand (India) Ben Harris (Australia) Henry Gordon (Canada) Robert Steiner (United States) ------------------ Sunday, November 6 ------------------ The Forum Room 9:00 - 12 NOON: ENHANCING THE SKEPTICS' MESSAGE Ray Hyman, Professor of Psychology, University of Oregon Jeff Mayhew, computer consultant, Aloha, Oregon Paul MacCready, President, AeroVironment, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif. Jerry Andrus, magician, Oregon 2:00 - 4:00 PM: GROUPS MEETING Discussion. How to make groups viable, efficient, and effective ------------------------ Registration Information ------------------------ Registration fee: $85.00 per person (meals and accommodations not included). $45.00 for students. Keynote Address: Douglas Hofstadter's Keynote Address on friday night is included in the registration fee. For nonregistrants, $7.00. Saturday Luncheon (James Randi, host): $17.50 Awards Banquet: The Saturday night Awards Banquet, $29.50 per person. Accommodations: Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 9300 West Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, IL 60018 (312-696-9000 or 800-228-9000). + Single room, $69. Double $69. (Triples and quads also available.) Please mention CSICOP Conference for these special rates. These rates will be extended for accommodations from November 2 to 6, 1988. The cut-off date is October 19. + Complimentary transportation between Hyatt Regency O'Hare and O'Hare International airport every 15 to 20 minutes. + Complimentary parking. + Check-in time 3:00 PM, check-out time 12:00 PM. For further information contact Mary Rose Hays (716-834-3222), CSICOP, Box 229, Buffalo, N.Y. 14215. Media representatives should contact Barry Karr(716-834-3222). Conference Coordinator: Lee Nisbet, CSICOP Special Projects Director