With the internet, we have the whole world's knowledge at our fingertips. This is a blessing for researchers, but a curse when much of it is junk. This course of six sessions will describe and discuss some of this junk. Top of my list is the Flat Earth theory, followed by health fallacies such as antivax rhetoric and homeopathy. Then there are climate deniers, creationists, astrologers, UFOs, ghost busters, plus numerous superstitions (e.g., touch wood), and ever more inventive notions. If you have your own favorite topic, bring it along and we will see how it stands up to the rigors of science, because an understanding of what science requires as proof will be a major guiding touchstone of the course. We will propose alternative explanations based on actual science. Another metric to consider is that of harm. As Michael Shermer, a leading sceptic, puts it, "false beliefs have consequences." As examples, antivax thinking and climate change denial may create deadly consequences.

COURESE LEADER
Dr Peter Smith is a Scots-American who was a project manager in pharmaceuticals and IT. Dr Smith has lived in Princeton for more than thirty years.

GENERAL INFORMATION
This Evergreen Forum course offers a hybrid experience, allowing participants to join the event either in-person or virtually via Zoom. Please carefully select your registration type, as participants are expected to attend programs based on their chosen in-person or virtual status. Should your circumstances change and you wish to adjust your registration, kindly contact us at 609-751-9699. Our CMAP staff will do their best to accommodate your request based on availability.

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REFUND INFORMATION
If you are no longer able to attend an event/program, we invite you to donate the program fee to CMAP — call us for more information.

If you do need a refund, checks are issued for cash, check, and credit card payments; electronic payments are refunded electronically. Refund processing takes approximately 2 weeks. Refunds requested up to 6 business days before class are issued minus a $15 processing fee; no refund is offered 5 business days or less before class begins. No refund is offered for programs costing $15 or less, and a $15 processing fee applies to those who register for the same program more than once.