"Any suitable advanced technology
is indistinguishable from magic."
- Arthur C. Clarke

 

Do lemmings really jump off cliffs?

Can you walk on broken glass without getting cut?

Is there a cure for stupidity?

Bad Science is Nicholas J. Johnson’s award winning touring science show for high schools. Based from Melbourne, Victoria but traveling national, this unique performance uses comedy, magic and theatre in education to teach secondary school students how science can be manipulated, misinterpreted and misconstrued.

    • Suitable for students years 7 - 12.
    • Shows for groups up to 200.
    • Generous discounts for multiple shows.
    • Perform at your school. No expensive travel costs.
    • An ideal way to excite students about science.
    • Full teacher's notes provided for every performance.

Students come away Bad Science able to spot bad science in advertising, the media and the world around them. Students will see practical and spectacular demonstrations of suspect science from chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics.

Rather then just simply exposing popular myths, Bad Science is designed to encourage students to think laterally about science and analyse the information they are given. Bad Science will help students to discover:

 What are the popular scientific myths & why do we believe them?
Why do people confuse the scientific with the supernatural?
How do advertisers use science to deceive us?
When does bad science become dangerous?
Is there really such a thing as a genius and can anyone be one?

Students at Isik College, Broadmeadows engrossed in the show

Bad Science also comes with a full set of teacher’s notes which includes background into the history and science of each amazing demonstration.

The Bad Science notes also include in class activities and discussions designed to continue the lessons beyond the show. Bad Science is specifically designed to follow the science curriculum standards framework.

By combining science and theatre in education, students can excited and inspired to follow science, think critically and become good scientists. You can read more in Nicholas' articles:

Bad Science was recently awarded a special mention in the Skeptics Prize for Critical Thinking (formally the Eureka Awards).

The show was commended with a second prize for it's promotion of critical thinking amongst young people and Nicholas was honoured alongside the nation's leading critical thinkers

.

Happy Bad Science Audiences

"Bad Science...uses humour and magic to demonstrate dubious scientific claims to high school students". - The Australian

“I highly recommend Nick as a speaker. It is clear that a life-time of standing in front of an audience and performing makes Nick a natural for communicating ideas and information.” – Ian Griffith (Skeptics Society)

Student: That was totally sick!

Nick: Sick as in good or sick as in gross?

Student: Both!

“[Bad Science] tackles scientific disciplines and subject matter, approaching issues in a scientific manner, and the realistic nature of science in society – all important and relevant issues for high school students.

The topics covered by the presenter were done so in a lively and entertaining manner that inspired students to leave with the motivation to pursue similar scientific exploits as those covered by Nick. I would thoroughly recommend Nicholas J Johnson’s Bad Science show.” - Angie Carter (Australian Science Festival)

“That was awesome! You were the best thing we saw at the festival.”- Steve (Queensland High School Student)

"Thank you for entertaining our guests so well recently. The Museum was very impressed with the thoroughness of your research into the character that you played as part of your act - and our guests were mightily amused both by your character and the hilarious routines.” - Trish Kench (National Museum of Australia)

Students help Nick test his snake oil at the Australia Science Festival

The Bad Science Show features the following fun and educational demonstrations:

 The Math Matrix: Start your own religion with arithmetic. Nicholas demystifies the perception that science and mathematics are hard and only for the super smart!
Snake Oil Scams: How to make your own snake oil and convince people it will cure their ills! Nicholas explores how advertisers use science to mislead this display of tricky chemistry
True or False: Did coca cola once contain cocaine? Is the Great Wall of China visible from space? Does lipstick contain fish scales? Learn how to separate the facts from the fiction and win a prize! Students also learn the importance of considering the source of scientific information.
The Frontal Lobotomy: No medical training? You can still practice as a doctor with gruesome trickery as Nicholas uncovers the dark side of science and how people can be fooled into handing over large amounts of money for bogus treatments!
The Glass Path: Nicholas proves he has super powers by walking this painful path! Sometimes the most amazing of phenomena have the most simple of explanations.

Who is Nicholas J. Johnson?

Nicholas J. Johnson is Australia's Honest Con Man, an entertainer and educator who exposes the world of swindlers!

Throughout Nicholas’ twenty years experience thousands of school students from Scotch College in the heart of Melbourne to Lyneham High School in Canberra have enjoyed his unique educational shows

Nicholas also provided entertainment and education solutions for a variety of organisations and venues including:

 

National Museum of Australia
Adobe Software
CSIRO
Microsoft
Australian Science Festival
Science Drama Awards

Parliament House - Canberra
National Science & Tech. Centre
Australian Skeptic Convention
Australian National University
RMIT
STAVCON

He has used theatre and magic to teach students a vast range of topics including waste reduction, literacy, Australian history, and of course, Bad Science!

Bad Science is now taking bookings for in school visits for terms three and four 2007 as well as early 2008

However, with limited places available, schools will need to book now to avoid disappointment. Call Nicholas on 0409461776

Your students will thank you for it!

 

Still not sure?
Take The Bad Science Quiz!

Nicholas performs a total frontal lobotomy at Montmorency Secondary College

0409461776
www.conman.com.au
laugh@funnybones.com.au