Shows
Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)Vaccines, Evolution, Trust and Progress. Speaker Bryson BrownHistories of vaccination often begin in the late 18th century, with Dr. Edward Jenner and a milkmaid. But there was an earlier practice (variolation) in which samples of smallpox from (what were believed to be) less deadly outbreaks were used to protect patients against more severe versions of the disease. It involved either scratching material from smallpox ‘pustules’ onto the skin or inhaling it. The speaker will talk about the history of vaccination, the history of resistance to vaccination and the emergence of biological/ biochemical knowledge that has built powerful new tools for building vaccines.
Dr. Brown is partic...2023-06-111h 03
MCMP – LogicOn the Preservation of ReliabilityBryson Brown (Lethbridge) gives a talk at the Conference on Paraconsistent Reasoning in Science and Mathematics (11-13 June, 2014) titled "On the Preservation of Reliability". Abstract: …all models are wrong, but some are useful. (G E.P. Box and N. R. Draper, 1987). C.S. Peirce examined several broad methods for arriving at beliefs in “On the Fixation of Belief”; the central theme of his essay is the importance of having a method that leads to stable agreement amongst the members of a society. Peirce argues that the ‘scientific method meets this standard, generalizing Hobbes’ observation that Harvey’s hypothesis of the circulation...2019-04-1900 min
Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)Should Abortions be Outlawed (Part 1)Canada is one of the few countries in the world with no legal restrictions on abortion, although regulations and accessibility vary according to provinces. In 1969, Pierre Trudeau’s government had brought in liberalized abortion laws, but in 1988 that law was struck down (in Regina versus Morgentaler) by the Supreme Court, and no government since then has brought forward a new law. Pro-choice advocates argue that the matter should be a private one between woman and doctor. Critics claim that for every 100 live births, over 30 abortions occur and that this is far too many.
While the federal conservative government claims it do...2012-02-2300 minSouthern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)Should Abortions be Outlawed (Part 2 Q&A)Canada is one of the few countries in the world with no legal restrictions on abortion, although regulations and accessibility vary according to provinces. In 1969, Pierre Trudeau’s government had brought in liberalized abortion laws, but in 1988 that law was struck down (in Regina versus Morgentaler) by the Supreme Court, and no government since then has brought forward a new law. Pro-choice advocates argue that the matter should be a private one between woman and doctor. Critics claim that for every 100 live births, over 30 abortions occur and that this is far too many.
While the federal conservative government claims it do...2012-02-2300 min
Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)Should Abortions be Outlawed (Part 1)Canada is one of the few countries in the world with no legal restrictions on abortion, although regulations and accessibility vary according to provinces. In 1969, Pierre Trudeau’s government had brought in liberalized abortion laws, but in 1988 that law was struck down (in Regina versus Morgentaler) by the Supreme Court, and no government since then has brought forward a new law. Pro-choice advocates argue that the matter should be a private one between woman and doctor. Critics claim that for every 100 live births, over 30 abortions occur and that this is far too many.
While the federal conservative government claims it do...2012-02-2334 min
Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)Should Abortions be Outlawed (Part 2 Q&A)Canada is one of the few countries in the world with no legal restrictions on abortion, although regulations and accessibility vary according to provinces. In 1969, Pierre Trudeau’s government had brought in liberalized abortion laws, but in 1988 that law was struck down (in Regina versus Morgentaler) by the Supreme Court, and no government since then has brought forward a new law. Pro-choice advocates argue that the matter should be a private one between woman and doctor. Critics claim that for every 100 live births, over 30 abortions occur and that this is far too many.
While the federal conservative government claims it do...2012-02-2328 minSouthern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)Truth and Scientific Inquiry (Part 1)In recent history there have been huge public debates about the truth of theories that are widely supported by scientific inquiry. Evolution, the connection between cigarette smoking and cancer, and climate change due to human activity have all been subject to denial by a large segment of society even in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence. Part of the doubt can be attributed to misrepresentation of the science by vested interests. However, a large part of doubt can also be attributed to a lack of understanding of, and trust in, scientific process.
Bryson Brown will argue that science has lot...2006-12-0700 minSouthern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)Truth and Scientific Inquiry (Part 2 Q&A)In recent history there have been huge public debates about the truth of theories that are widely supported by scientific inquiry. Evolution, the connection between cigarette smoking and cancer, and climate change due to human activity have all been subject to denial by a large segment of society even in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence. Part of the doubt can be attributed to misrepresentation of the science by vested interests. However, a large part of doubt can also be attributed to a lack of understanding of, and trust in, scientific process.
Bryson Brown will argue that science has lot...2006-12-0700 min