Edinburgh Skeptics
Skeptics in the Pub in Edinburgh
We are proud that we are the 5th Skeptics in the Pub to be established in the UK. Edinburgh Skeptics in the Pub was established by Ash Pryce following a suggestion by Chris French. Ash organised the first talks by himself with help from Lloyd McAlpine, but after a few months Lloyd’s work took him away from Edinburgh.
Skeptics on the Fringe
In 2010 Ash was joined by Alex Buque and Keir Liddle and the three of them formalised the group as Edinburgh Skeptics and organised the first season of Skeptics on the Fringe.
The centre piece of Skeptics on the Fringe each year is the season of 21 separate Skeptics in the Pub style talks, a different one each night, promoted under the banners At the Fringe of Reason and Beyond the Fringe of Reason. Edinburgh Skeptics has a policy of promoting grass-roots speakers, as well as showcasing people such as A C Grayling, Edzard Ernst and Richard Wiseman.
In 2010 and 2011 our fringe seasons included a lunchtime panel game, Devil’s Advocate, devised by Ash Pryce and Keir Liddle.
Other events have included skeptical and historical walking tours of Edinburgh, and events co-hosted with the Observatory.
Skeptics on the Fringe won Skeptic Magazine’s 2013 Ockham Award for Outreach.
The Skeptic Magazine’s 2013 Ockham Award for Outreach, won by Skeptics on the Fringe
The Bookgroup in the Cafe
In 2011, Alison Metcalfe and Ben Makin wanted to make Edinburgh Skeptics more accessible and family-friendly, and they founded the first skeptical book group in the UK. The book meets monthly in a cafe on a weekend, and is followed by a social. It is now run by Richard Rogan.
The Science Festival
In 2012 and 2013 Edinburgh Skeptics put on a short season of Skeptics in the Pub events at the Science Festival.
The Pub Quiz Team
As well as the formal meetings in the pub, we have a Pub Quiz team, organised by Ben Turner. This is another sociable way to meet and join Ed Skeptics.
