I am indebted to the work of Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips (AKA The Liver Doc), which I quote extensively, as well as to #QEDCon for platforming Dr. Philips a few weeks ago. It was an eye-opening talk which will, hopefully one day, get released on YouTube.
"QED isn’t the skepticism you see on TV. What I mean is that it’s nuanced, kind, engaged, and human even when it is uncompromising. " - Hayley Stevens on @QEDcon
Beautiful essay!
#QEDcon #Skepticism
theghostgeek.substack.com/p/the-past-present-and-f...
The Past, Present and Future of QED | The Ghost Geek
I genuinely cried writing this. #QEDcon will always have a special place in my brain. Thank you @qedcon.org!
theghostgeek.substack.com/p/the-past-p...
That moment when @mikehall314.bsky.social, going rogue, ordered—ORDERED!—the foot-tapping anthem “Duggadoo” from Doctor Who to be played full blast before #QEDcon began.
I will never forget his bravery.
A sepia-toned photo of four backlit people walking off the stage at QED after a job well done.
A quick snapshot of the official end of #QEDcon: Nicola, Andy, Marsh & Mike walking off stage after a standing ovation.
There is unlikely to be another skeptical conference like QED but I can only hope the organizers inspired the next generation to be as considerate and passionate as they were.
A man hunched over on the floor is drawing on a piece of paper entitled "Who do they think THEY are?" in a black-and-white photo.
Here is talented artist @kempchi.bsky.social summarizing one of #QEDcon 's many talks as a drawing. At the first QED I attended, I had the privilege of being turned into a cartoon by Matt.
Super talented, and what a cool contribution!
B&W shot of the organizers walking on stage at the end of the conference.
B&W shot of the organizers hugging in front of a clapping audience.
Nicola and Marsh looking at a special photobook that was made of QED over the years.
#QEDcon was really special this year. Here are a few shots I took during the event, including the awarding of a special book of memories to the organizers.
The QED con organisers on the QED stage: Mike Hall, Rick Owen, Nicola Throp, Michael Marshall, Alice Howarth, and Andy Wilson.
One week since @QEDcon ended. 😭
#QEDcon #Skepticism #CompassionateSkepticism
@Marsh @AliceEmmaLouise
Amanda's new doggy from #qedcon 🥰
Couldn’t find a place to fit in. And who will definitely tell me off for being so sentimental about him later! Thank you #QEDcon community it’s been wonderful to get to know you, and to see my wonderful partners dream of a community built on kindness and reason come to life. Here’s to the future. /5
Path we consider. It’s been an absolute honour to work alongside him and the rest of the #QEDcon board to help over the years. I cannot put into words how much hard work and love they have all put into each QED, and how much each of them pours into these weekends. Mike will tell me that I’m not /3
Mike Hall in a white tuxedo holding an Ockham award
What a way to say goodbye #QEDcon it was a wonderful bittersweet weekend. Over the past decade with @mikehall314.bsky.social I’ve seen him pour so much love and hard work into this brilliant event. So many details from the badge design, the website, the accessibility and inclusivity have Mike /1
Absolutely fantastic talk from Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, 'the liver doc' yest.
Treating patients young and old who have complex liver failure issues due to the ayurvedic remedies India's powerful cultural network of quacks gives to people, people who are just concerned for their health and that […]
QED Buddies
That was the last sign of #qedcon I have seen, and I officially left Manchester now.
Massive thanks to the fantastic organiser team of QED and all of their brilliant full-time volunteers. I have attended fascinating sessions and panels, and seen lots of lovely people again. Safe travels everyone!
My #QEDcon highlights: giving a Skepticamp talk, people actually liking my talk, learning the paracryptozoological society exists, hearing Subhadra Das and getting her book before it sold out, the panels on skeptics loving horror and The Fat of the Matter (mwah!), the Rebel Dinner ... I could go on.
The final #QEDcon is over. Every bit as great as the others. Hate to see it go as it's introduced me to so many fantastic people and experiences, but keeping it going is a lot to ask of volunteers running a non-profit passion project. Now to decompress and look for new ways to find that community.
My black socked feet up on a table, in front of a tv screen showing the Skepticamp 2025 timings
Cup of tea in a black mug in front of a tv screen with a holding slide of the Main Stage of QED 2025
A virtual #skepticamp & @qedcon.org kinda weekend of illuminating talks.
Huge thanks to all involved (especially the streaming team 🙌)
#qedcon
It was a thing of such joy and inclusiveness and care and nerdiness and passion to have the world better through science and knowledge.
The work continues #qedcon
Shot of a camera’s rear screen showing a black-and-white photo of the QED organizers hugging on stage.
#QEDcon ends with a standing ovation, hugs, and tears.
And yes: you were all “good enough.”
Not one to gush, but honestly, @qedcon.org is something special. The last ever #QEDCon ends to a thundering standing ovation.
It’s such a thoughtful event put together with such heart. I first attended about 12 years ago and am so happy I got to contribute to the last two events.
Thanks ❤️
Don't cry #qedcon
Dr Philips and his staff has been threatened, his family doxxed, been sued and the government have tried to silence him, all for speaking out on on demonstrably dangerous pseudoscience. He has 4 current court cases and 2 police investigations.
This year he is awarded #QEDCon Occams Razor award
Ockham ödülünü kazanan Abby Phillips, Hindistan’da alternatif tıbba karşı çalışmalarını ve sonrasında yaşadığı yoğun saldırıları anlatıyor. #qedcon
Listening to a heartbreaking talk by Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips on Ayurvedic, an alternative medicine system used in India which has grown to have a veneer of legitimacy with research institutes, PhDs & colleges. All why using deeply dangerous and exploitative treatments. #QEDCon
Just came out of the final #QEDcon panel. @aliceemmalouise.bsky.social and her panelists were fantastic. Lots of meaty discussion, new terms to look up, and several challenges to how I think of weight stigma and fatness. I'll send the VOD to many people once it's posted. Great stuff.
Already 2 great, but scary talks today about the way the right influences politics and life through women's rights. Many parallels with the situation in the Netherlands, and extra scary because of the upcoming election. #qedcon
Midway through Day 3 of #QEDcon and it's clear who the people want. Staff have already chased off one large group trying to queue an hour early for Inkredulous. Andy Wilson can't keep his adoring public at bay for much longer.
One of the highlights of #qedcon the poems of Robin Ince.
Can’t quite believe it’s the final day of #QEDcon. I remember the very first event and it doesn’t seem like that long ago at all
Given @misterabk.bsky.social chatted to Amanda last year as well, I feel like we've established a new #QEDcon tradition, just in time to never be able to honour it 🙃
