Michelle Bruenn

Real/Fake Science

This is an ongoing series that I have produced independently and in partnership with Atlas Obscura and the New York Skeptics Society. Recent videos and information on upcoming events can be found on the Real/Fake Science Facebook Page. My concept is a play on the idea of 'alternative facts.' For each edition there are six presentations, some real and some fake, some presented by real scientists and others by laymen, and the audience guesses what is true and who is real. I recruit scientists to present and to create presentations for non-scientists to present. I also write fake presentations myself, which involves immersing myself in the scholarly literature of fields as varied as stem cell research and wetland rehabilitation. The game has proved extremely challenging, with only two people guessing 100% of the questions correctly over the course of six editions, with audiences ranging from 50 to 100 somewhat discerning participants.

Test your powers of discernment by watching these videos of past presentations. No googling! Can you determine if the science is real or fake? What about the presenter?

 The real science has included the neuroscience of tickling, the theory of mentalization, an overview of Game Transfer Phenomena and a lecture on the spread of cholera in Haiti. Fake science has included false signs of alien communication and genetically engineered cockroaches.

If you are interested in presenting at a future edition of Real/Fake Science please get in touch!

The first edition was sponsored by Curious Elixirs, an exciting new non-alcoholic craft cocktail. Tickets included samples. The second and third editions took place at the newly restored Union Hall. In January 2018 Real/Fake went to Manhattan for the first time in an exciting new venue- Caveat. In July of 2018 Real/Fake partnered with the New York Skeptics Society as part of their annual conference and the event was produced for their audience again in January 2019. We look forward to working with them again in the future.