TAM8 – First Thoughts

Downstairs the clink and bings of a thousand slot machines remind you that you’re in Las Vegas, but upstairs in the conference center there is a feel of enthusiasm at a day filled with science, reason, rationalism and yes, skepticism.  I’m at the James Randi Educational Foundation’s “The Amazing Meeting 8” – more commonly known as TAM.  This is the eighth year that the venerable Randi’s foundation has pulled together some of the leading figures in the world of fact-based thinking and put them in a venue where they can mingle and communicate with the everyday people who are trying to make the world a more reasonable place.

This year the keynote speaker is Richard Dawkins, author of The Greatest Show on Earth, The Blind Watchmaker, The Ancestor’s Tale, as well as the book that branded him as one of the four-horsemen of “The New Atheists” movement, The God Delusion.  Dawkins did a Q&A sessions last night moderated by magician Jamie Ian Swiss.  I expect he’ll have much more to say, but he has a kind of nerd Rock Star reception around here. It’s impressive to see.

Even more of a Rock Star, and ushered about by security everywhere he goes, is Mythbusters host Adam Savage.  I’m very much looking forward to hearing what Mr. Savage has to say while he’s here.  Just before I left to fly out here I was watching a “best-of” episode of Mythbusters with my son.  And I told him, “I’m going to see that red-haired man when I go to Las Vegas.”  My son laughed because he thought I was joking.

“Is that why you’re going?” he asked.

It’s not the only reason, but it’s a good one.  Savage is an engaging speaker and has many entertaining things to say about making television that promotes science.  His quixotic quests to reproduce certain Hollywood film artifacts are legendary.

The schedule is pretty full during the day and there are lots of opportunities to mingle and network.  You can check out the full guest list here but even that doesn’t cover the many notable attendees such as life-extension specialist Aubrey de Grey and of course, myself! (I jest…  A bit.)

It is no small thing for me to be out here.  I’m not alone of course, many of the Atlanta Skeptics are out here with me – which is a comfort.  My co-hosts to MonsterTalk Ben Radford and Dr. Karen Stollznow are here too, the first time we’ve all been together since starting our podcast. I really appreciate the opportunity to take part in this and want to say a special thanks to JREF president, D.J. Grothe and my wife Kathleen for helping this to become a reality.

I think there are probably a lot of educators here.  Definitely a lot of clever, clever folks.  I got to talk paleontology with some scientists last night.  We talked fossils and discussed trilobites and ammonites.  Did you know that much is known about how these extinct animals moved through the waters of the ancient earth because of hydrology experiments done in water-tanks?  Did you know that before they went extinct they were dying out and there is a controversy about whether they died out before – or during – the Cretacious-Tertiary Extinction Event?  I didn’t.  There’s a lot to learn out here in the desert.

Wish you were here.

I’ll post updates as time allows.