Category: European Skeptics Chronicles
The European Skeptics Chronicles collect interviews of
European
or Europe-based skeptics and report about European events of
skeptical
interest. They are done by Annika Harrison, nee Merkelbach, a
German
skeptic and member of both GWUP and GSoW. The European
Skeptics
Chronicles, the “ESC” for short, shall not to be confused with
the
European Skeptics Congress. For the Congress, see current and
future
interviews with Claire Kroulik-Klingenberg and Amardeo Sarma
and her
fellow hosts of the European Skeptics Podcasts, who are part
of ECSO,
the European Council of Skeptical Organizations.
“Skepticism means being able to see past yourself” –Claire Kroulik-Klingenberg, bringing ECSO to new heights
Claire Kroulik-Klingenberg is a skeptical activist, a feminist, and a promoter of critical thinking. She got elected as president of the European Council of Skeptical Organizations in 2017 and is a frequent participant in podcasts and magazines such as the newly resurrected UK-based magazine Skeptic. Like me, she is excited to meet people at upcoming …
Skeptic Sarma’s Skeptical Work in Europe
Amardeo Sarma is a person well-known both within and outside Germany. As a prolific engineer and skeptic, he founded the German skeptics organization GWUP (Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften), of which he is still the chairman. He is a fellow of CSI and a member of the board of the European skeptic organization ECSO. …
What Are Children Taught in Schools in Europe? Dr. Anna Beniermann on Evolution and Didactics of Biology
Cover Image: Dr. Anna Beniermann at SkepKon 2019 in Augsburg. (Credit: Andreas Brauner, bluesbrother.de) Dr. Anna Beniermann is an evolutionary biologist and researcher at the Humboldt University Berlin. She works at the intersection of education and Darwin’s theory of evolution. She is also an active skeptic in the German skeptics organization GWUP. Annika …
A Guide to Teach Critical Thinking about Medicine in Schools – Author Elvira Schmidt Talking about her Research
Elvira Schmidt is a PhD student, skeptic, and author from Giessen, Germany. Together with her colleague and mentor Dittmar Graf, she published the German guide “Medizin und Wissenschaft – Grundlagen für eine sachgerechte Gesundheitsfoerderung“ (“Medicine and Science – Basic Guidelines for an appropriate health education”), including practical materials for biology classes. With this interview, she …
Patrick Vermeren and His Fight against Woo
Patrick Vermeren is a Belgian skeptic, science writer, and expert in human resources. Along with his coauthor Bart Van de Ven, he was sued by a multimillionaire for a skeptical article about the multimillionaire’s claims about human resources (HR) and an analysis of his modus operandi. (“The field of Human Resources (HR) is at the …
Woo against All Odds: Stefanie Handl Battling Pseudoscience in Veterinary Medicine
Cover Image: Stefanie Handl giving a speech about alternative medicine within her field and the dangers that come with it. (Source: GkD) Dr. Stefanie Handl is a veterinary doctor from Vienna, Austria. She is an expert when it comes to woo and pseudoscience regarding pets and raises awareness about pseudomedicine with dogs and cats. …
Inside Information Network Homeopathy—Udo Endruscheit on Activism in the Skeptical Sphere
Udo Endruscheit is a German skeptic and very active within Information Network Homeopathy (INH). He is a prolific writer and an activist on social media. I spoke with him about his skeptical background and his current fields of work. Annika Harrison: Hi, Udo. Could you quickly introduce yourself? Udo Endruscheit: Hi, Annika. I’m simply …
ESC in Gent – The European Skeptics Congress including Skeptics and a lot of Skeptical Fun
Cover Image: The European Skeptics Congress, here with a talk by Ovidiu Covaciu from Romania. The European Skeptics Congress is a biannual event happening in another European city every time. In 2019, it was organized in Belgium. I spoke with skeptical activist András Pinter to find out more about the event. Annika Merkelbach: Thank …
A Festival Feeling in Augsburg: SkepKon 2019 Includes Myths about Pet Diets, Homeopathy, and Perpetual Motion Machines
Cover Image: Pseudoscience can be nerve-racking, so skeptics sometimes can’t help but throw up their hands in despair! “How can SkepKon be described?” one might ask. “It’s a time to network and a great time to catch up with friends,” replies Dr. Holm Hümmler, a physicist and skeptic from Frankfurt. SkepKon is the annual conference …
Legal Case against Homeopathy Critic Natalie Grams—No Effect beyond the Placebo Effect
A German company selling homeopathic remedies is taking Natalie Grams to court. I spoke with Udo Endruscheit of Information Network Homeopathy to find out what is happening and why the legal actions against Natalie Grams are so important.
Alice Howarth: Skeptical with a K with International Reputation
Dr. Alice Howarth is a medical researcher based in Liverpool. She is also known for being the cohost of the Skeptics with a K podcast. With the Merseyside Skeptics Society she battles pseudoscientific medicine, cancer research, and other woo.
Pixie Turner: A Wellness Lady Turned Nutritionist
Pixie Turner is a UK-based nutritionist, who was following the wellness trend before she started her research. She now works as an author, science communicator, and nutritionist and also spoke at 2018’s QED in Manchester.
The European Skeptics Congress—Having Fun While Learning about Intereuropean Skepticism
The European Skeptics Congress (ESC), which happens every two years (August 29th to September 1st), is a place to meet skeptics from around Europe and beyond. The series of congresses started in 1989. Paul De Belder is organizing the next ESC in Ghent, Belgium. He invites us to a sneak peek into what’s coming up.
Natalie Grams: Medical Homeopath to Professional Skeptic
Natalie Grams was once a practicing homeopathic doctor. She decided to write a book defending homeopathy, but what she learned changed her own views instead.
On Countering Pseudoscience, Educating about Vaccinations, and Intereuropean science Communication
An Interview with Dr. Anna Zakrisson