Awards

Craig Shearer - 1 February 2019

Bent Spoon Award

For the New Zealand organisation which has shown the most egregious gullibility or lack of critical thinking in public coverage of, or commentary on, a science-related issue

Runners up:

NZ Herald

for their article “`There was something out there’, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin recalls ‘encounter with alien life’, and

TVNZ – TV2

for yet another series of “Sensing Murder”.

Winner:

TVNZ show Seven Sharp, and Hilary Barry

Hilary Barry was the winner for coverage of a story about health fears from mobile phone towers. The episode “Woman has health fears after telco builds second cell tower next to her home” featured a woman who has built a wall to keep out radiation after two mobile phone towers were built near her home.

Chair of the NZ Skeptics, Craig Shearer, noted that the main segment had some balance, including statements from the Ministry of Health and Peter Griffin from the Science Media Centre. But after the segment Hilary Barry expressed her opinion that she “wouldn’t want to live beside two” phone towers and that she “would be tempted to build a wall like Marta has”. “It is disappointing when a prominent media personality disregards the science” said Craig.

Bravo Awards

For high public profile media professionals who have provided food for thought, critical analysis and important information on topics of relevance to our interests.

Jacob McSweeny (Whanganui Chronicle)

“Whanganui woman says her $4000 water machine is a life-changer, but experts say otherwise”.

James Mustapic (Spinoff TV)

“Repressed Memories: Sensing Murder, the show that refuses to die”

Sarah Lang (North and South Magazine)

“Breastfeeding: Why is it such a battle ground?”

Elanor Black (Stuff)

“I tried a Shakti mat and it wasn’t relaxing or fun”

David Farrier (The Spinoff) - Special mention

“The mystery of Zach, New Zealand’s all-too-miraculous medical AI”

Skeptic of the Year Award

Given to the skeptic who has had the most impact within New Zealand scepticism

$100 Prize and free membership for a year

Jessica Macfarlane

In recognition of her outstanding promotion of science and scepticism on social media.

Chair Craig Shearer congratulates Editor and Tweeter Jess Macfarlane at the conference

Skeptics in the Pub; Quiz

The winners of the quiz were Diddly Squat with 45 points. Close behind were Help! With 37 points, and in third position Flying Scam artists, with 34 points, a team including Jessica Macfarlane who also made the farthest flight with her paper aircraft, with it landing by the bar.

Follow these steps to make the Conference pub quiz winning paper plane!

Siouxsie Wiles is standing where the winner landed, photo taken where thrown. (strangely nobody came equipped with a tape measure!)