School competition to promote critical thinking

The New Zealand Skeptics have launched a competition to encourage critical thinking among Auckland high school students. Entrants are to submit a 100-word summary outlining their proposal for a 10-12 minute presentation on some topic relevant to skeptical inquiry. Suggested topics include:

• Are we sensible about science?
• The biggest superstition today is...
• How can we tell what is science and what is pseudo-science?
• What do students learn about critical thinking?

Short-listed entrants will make their presentations in late August before a judging panel who will invite the best three to present their talks at the 2006 Skeptics' Conference. Power point or overhead projection slides may be used, but talks without visual aids are also welcomed.

Prizes for first, second and third places are vouchers of $250, $100 and $50 for Real Groovy's selection of books, music, DVDs and games. Further information is available at www.skeptics.org.nz/SK:SKEPCONFERENCE