Events

Seminars

Conjuring, deception and self-deception

Dr. Richard Wiseman

This talk will examine the psychology used by magicians and fake psychics to deceive observers. It will explore how good magicians manipulate attention, exploit assumptions and alter the memories of their audiences. A second section will investigate how fake psychics are able to convince people that they have genuine ESP abilities and are thus able to appear to read minds and predict the future. The talk will contain several demonstrations and video-clips.

Dr. Richard Wiseman, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Hertfordshire, specialises in the psychology of deception and lying. He has published five books and over 60 academic papers, regularly appears on television (BBC: Tomorrow's World; Cannel 4: Equinox; BBC: Horizon) and has given high-profile public talks at The Royal Society, The Royal Institution, The Royal Television Society and The Royal Society of Arts. He has worked as a professional magician and is an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle.

Music, Pleasure and the Brain - Dr. Harry Witchel
more info >>

Counter-Intuition - Dr. Kevin Byron
more info >>

Collective Behaviour and the Physics of Society - Philip Ball
more info >>

see full list of new publications >>