The next NYC Skeptics Public Lecture will be Val Jones on May 9, 2009. The lecture will take place at 1:00PM at University Settlement (184 Eldridge St. at Rivington St. - click here for map.

Dr. Jones' talk is titled "Taking The Science Out Of Medicine: Online Health Fiascos Revealed"

She will discuss her personal experiences with consumer health websites, and deconstruct their "good intentions" from a scientific perspective. She will review specific online tools meant to "empower consumers" and follow their misguided algorithms to their illogical conclusions. Dr. Jones will then remind the audience of the most common biases that are introduced into data analyses (from the Hawthorne effect to the placebo effect), and argue for redoubled efforts in health literacy (especially online), and improved science training in medical schools.

Admission is free and open to the public.