QED: Question. Explore. Discover. listings

QED is a two-day science and skepticism conference taking place in the Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester on the 10th-11th March 2012.

Fantastic speakers from the worlds of science and entertainment will be joining us for a weekend celebration of science, reason and critical thinking.

The exciting program of speakers includes:

• Joe Nickell, one of the most widely-respected and experienced paranormal researchers of all time, with a phenomenal investigative history include discovering the techniques behind the making of the Turin Shroud and uncovering the true story behind the Amityville house.
• , Edzard Ernst has long been a tireless and diligent researcher into all manner of alternative modalities, admirably exposing the pseudoscience at their core - not least of which in his book Trick Or Treatment, co-authored with 2011 QED speaker Simon Singh.
• Maryam Namazie is a human rights activist, commentator and broadcaster. Spokesperson for both the One Law for All Campaign against Sharia Law in Britain and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, in 2005 Maryam was named Secularist of the Year by the National Secular Society and has campaigned tirelessly on secular issues.
• David Aaronovitch is an author, broadcaster, and journalist who has enthralled audiences up and down the country with his thorough debunking of conspiracy theories - a topic comprehensively covered in his 2009 book, Voodoo Histories.
• Deborah Hyde has been writing about the supernatural for nearly two decades. A makeup effects coordinator in the film industry by day, Deborah's extensive knowledge of the macabre and esoteric folklores of cultures around the world has thrilled Skeptics in the Pub groups across the country.
• Steve Jones is former Head of the Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment at University College London and has written and lectured about science to a general audience for over fifteen years.
• Sarah Angliss is trained in electroacoustics, music and robotics, combining all three to create original sound installations, exhibits and live performances that mix cutting-edge science with vintage sound technology and stories from the history of science.
• Ian Ridpath has been a full-time writer, editor, broadcaster, and lecturer on astronomy and space for almost 30 years. With over 40 books to his name, Ian has an encyclopaedic knowledge of UFO folklore, and in 1986 was commended in the British Science Writers Awards for his investigation and explanation of Britains most famous UFO case in Rendlesham Forest.
• Richard Saunders is a podcaster and professional origamist. The current Vice President of the Australian Skeptics, he's featured numerous times on radio and TV - notably on the Australian psychic-search TV show The One, and hosts the hugely-popularSkeptic Zone podcast. An expert spoon-bender, Richard was instrumental in the Australian Skeptics' takedown of Power Balance bracelets earlier in the year, and has brought skepticism into the classroom with his many presentations to schoolchildren.
• Ophelia Benson is co-author of The Dictionary of Fashionable Nonsense, Why Truth Matters, and Does God Hate Women? Her work deals with the necessity of defending objective and scientific truth against the threats to rational thinking posed by religious fundamentalism, pseudoscience, wishful thinking, postmodernism, and relativism.
• D.J. Grothe is a former magician and psychic entertainer, who cut his skeptical teeth as Vice President and Director of Outreach Programs at the Center for Inquiry. He has been president of the JREF since the beginning of 2010 and will offer an excellent insight into the global picture of skepticism today.
• Massimo Polidoro is an internationally-recognized 'mystery detective'. A journalist and writer, he is the co-founder and head of the Italian skeptics group CICAP. He is the first professor of Anomalistic Psychology in Italy, at the University of Milano, and the author of over thirty books. He is often called on TV as an expert or a host for shows related to mysteries: his latest series was Legend Detectives for Discovery Channel.
• Robin Ince is the co-host of Radio 4's Infinite Monkey Cage, tours with the Uncaged Monkeys and is the organiser of Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People. Robin is a sought-after live performer, who mixes an acerbic wit and comic fury with a genuine enthusiasm for science. (Robin will be performing at QED as part of the Saturday evening entertainment, free for all QED ticket holders).
• Paul Zenon has long been one of the UK's most recognisable magicians, with sell out runs at festivals across the world and countless TV appearances under his belt. He was one of the pioneers of street magic in the UK, and has long been an outspoken critic of exponents of the paranormal. (Paul will be performing at QED as part of the Saturday evening entertainment, free for all QED ticket holders).

You can book your place at QED 2012 now, with tickets a very-reasonable £89 (or £68 with a valid student ID). Proceeds from the event will go to two great causes: Sense About Science and the National Autistic Society.