You know what's AMAZ!NG?

July 12-15, 2012

South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa

Las Vegas, NV

TAM was already the skeptics’ event of the year, and now, it just got even better.

Saturday Keynote Event: We are thrilled that our good friends Penn & Teller will be delighting us with a special hour long keynote presentation titled "38 Years of Magic & BS: A Conversation with Penn & Teller."



Also on Friday night, Penn is hosting his second Private Rock & Roll, Doughnut and Bacon Party. Be forewarned: This really is Penn’s private party. He’s paying for everything and JREF has nothing to do with it. Everyone at TAM is invited, and there is a suggested twenty dollar donation to attend, with proceeds going to the JREF.



Wait, there’s more! We’re also pleased to announce the addition of the following speakers: We are thrilled that our good friendswill be delighting us with a special hour long keynote presentation titled "38 Years of Magic & BS: A Conversation with Penn & Teller."Also on Friday night, Penn is hosting his second. Be forewarned: This really is Penn’s private party. He’s paying for everything and JREF has nothing to do with it. Everyone at TAM is invited, and there is a suggested twenty dollar donation to attend, with proceeds going to the JREF.





Stuart Firestein is professor and chair of the department of biological sciences at Columbia University, where his highly popular course on ignorance invites working scientists to come talk to students each week about what they don't know. His new book is Ignorance: How It Drives Science. is professor and chair of the department of biological sciences at Columbia University, where his highly popular course on ignorance invites working scientists to come talk to students each week about what they don't know. His new book is Ignorance: How It Drives Science.

Carrie Poppy is an actress, writer, activist and paranormal investigator. She is co-host of Oh No, Ross and Carrie!, a show that doesn’t just don’t just report on spirituality, fringe science and the paranormal; but actually participates in and experiments with such claims. is an actress, writer, activist and paranormal investigator. She is co-host of Oh No, Ross and Carrie!, a show that doesn’t just don’t just report on spirituality, fringe science and the paranormal; but actually participates in and experiments with such claims.

Lyz Liddell is the Director of Campus Organizing for the Secular Student Alliance, coordinating the campus organizing team to deliver the SSA's services and resources to affiliate groups and individual students. She will be speaking on the future of skepticism on college campuses. is the Director of Campus Organizing for the Secular Student Alliance, coordinating the campus organizing team to deliver the SSA's services and resources to affiliate groups and individual students. She will be speaking on the future of skepticism on college campuses.

Benjamin Radford is deputy editor of Skeptical Inquirer science magazine and a Research Fellow with the non-profit educational organization the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He has written hundreds of articles and on a wide variety of topics, including urban legends, the paranormal, critical thinking, and science literacy. is deputy editor of Skeptical Inquirer science magazine and a Research Fellow with the non-profit educational organization the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He has written hundreds of articles and on a wide variety of topics, including urban legends, the paranormal, critical thinking, and science literacy.

Other additions to the main program include: Michael Vassar, Julia Galef, Robert Blaskiewicz, and Eve Siebert.



These presenters join our already outstanding lineup including James Randi, Carol Tavris, Lawrence Krauss, Michael Shermer, Eugenie Scott, Jennifer Michael Hecht, Steve Novella, Ophelia Benson, and dozens of others.



TAM 2012 is the must-attend event for everyone who loves science and skepticism. Regular registration ends June 30, so if you haven’t registered yet, do it now!.

TAM is about sharing learning AND laughs!

Our evening events are among the most talked-about and memorable aspects of The Amaz!ng Meeting. This year, evening events include:

Thursday Night: Join host Brian Thompson and a panel of hilarious celebrity guests as they compete to see who knows the most about current events, pop culture, and terrible puns. Join host Brian Thompson and a panel of hilarious celebrity guests as they compete to see who knows the most about current events, pop culture, and terrible puns.

Friday Night: Why so serious, skeptic? Join Showtime's Paul Provenza as he presents a night of skeptical stand-up comedians with ¡SATIRISTAS! on Friday night. Why so serious, skeptic? Join Showtime's Paul Provenza as he presents a night of skeptical stand-up comedians with ¡SATIRISTAS! on Friday night.

NEW! We are pleased to announce that headlining comic Doug Stanhope will be joining us for the ¡SATIRISTAS! show, in addition to many other stellar comedians. We are pleased to announce that headlining comicwill be joining us for the ¡SATIRISTAS! show, in addition to many other stellar comedians.

Saturday Night: Join Kelly Carlin, the only child of iconoclastic comedian George Carlin, for her one woman show, deftly weaving her amusing yet poignant family stories with classic video footage of her father’s career and family memorabilia. Join Kelly Carlin, the only child of iconoclastic comedian George Carlin, for her one woman show, deftly weaving her amusing yet poignant family stories with classic video footage of her father’s career and family memorabilia.

It wouldn’t be Vegas without hitting the tables...

NEW! Join us for the first annual Skeptics’ Poker Tournament at TAM! Don't miss this opportunity to compete against Jamy Ian Swiss, George Hrab, Steven Novella, Jay Novella, Bob Novella, Evan Bernstein and other notable skeptics! Every round you survive seats you at another skeptic’s table. This special TAM event includes private cocktail servers and an open bar for the duration of the tournament. This event will take place at 11pm on Saturday, July 14, and will be a highlight of TAM that you won't want to miss.

If you would like to join the Skeptics Poker Tournament but are nervous about your poker skills, skeptic and reality TV star Joshie Berger will host A Skeptic’s Guide to Poker clinics at TAM that you can participate in for FREE. The clinics will be available during lunch hours, late at night and other times that won’t conflict with regular TAM programming. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn the game or polish your skills from a skeptic who has played poker professionally for close to a decade.

Registrations for the poker tournament will be for sale at TAM ($125 per person, with proceeds benefiting the JREF and SGU). Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to RSVP or with any questions.

And here’s five more reasons not to miss TAM:

10 AMAZ!NG workshops on topics surrounding skeptical education and skeptical activism, featuring leaders in the skeptics movement such as Tim Farley, Ray Hyman, Derek and Swoopy from Skepticality, Karen Stollznow, Blake Smith, Leo Igwe, Richard Saunders, Sharon Hill, Chris Stedman and many, many more.

Black cat cross your path? Seven years of bad luck got you down? The JREF is pleased to announce the opening of the Friggatriskaidekaphobia Treatment Center on Friday the 13th during TAM, hosted by longtime skeptic Margaret Downey, to cure whatever superstitions ail you.

Or how about some REAL health care? The Women Thinking Free Foundation’s HUG ME! I'm vaccinated! campaign will once again be at TAM this year with a free vaccine clinic.

We’re pleased to announce the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (US) is generously sponsoring child care services during TAM. For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

And don't forget TAM emcee George Hrab being, well, George Hrab. Miss this and you’ll be puzzling over all the in-jokes for the next year while your skeptical friends are LOLing.

Registration Grants Still Available!

Large conferences like TAM are very expensive to produce, and as a result registration fees may be unaffordable for some, especially students. While JREF offers a discounted registration to students and JREF members (below JREF's actual costs, in some cases), some people may still not be able to afford to attend.

Thankfully several generous individuals have partnered with the JREF to organize and fundraise for programs to help those who need financial assistance to attend The Amaz!ng Meeting 2012. Already, over 60 people will be coming to TAM this year who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend. And more grants are still available!

NEW! Through the generosity of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (US) up to twenty college students who would not otherwise be able to afford coming to TAM this year will be granted free full TAM registrations. If you are a college student and would like to apply, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Other grant programs still accepting applications include:

Surly Women Grants. Spearheaded and sponsored by Amy Davis Roth of Surly-Ramics with the goal of getting more women to TAM and involved with science and skepticism. More information on applying can be found here.

JREF Forum Grants. This longstanding grant program is the result of a grassroots effort by several caring members of the JREF Forum online community who didn't want money to be a barrier to those who are passionate about the mission of the JREF. More information on applying can be found on the JREF Forum.