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It occurs to me that the campaign is going to need a lot of different skills - writing, graphic design, web stuff, lobbying knowhow, scientific expertise, public speaking skills and so on. I also suspect that at some point we'll have to start directly asking people to do stuff, rather than working on an "OK, who wants to do this then?" basis.

As such, it would be immensely helpful to have a list of people's skills, so we know both who we can call upon and what skills we're lacking in.

I'll start us off. I'm a mathematics student (so call me if you want Dembski rebutted). I have good technical skills, albeit attached to a regrettable tendency to do everything manually (I design my websites in notepad). I have some experience of marketing, so have a better than average grasp of what looks good in some areas. My written skills are excellent (and my proofreading kicks ass), but I'm an absolutely terrible public speaker (I'm working on it). No artistic talent whatsoever, sadly.

Kyuuketsuki: Jack of all Trades.

IT professional in server support, excellent computing skills, Biology Degree (I got into computing via a pharmaceutical company), amateur web designer, (very) amateur writer but pretty good debater (in writing at least), I can and have spoken in public but I'm not that good at it (scares the Frak outta me). Spent the start of my career in academia at various levels, spent the last part if my career in business ... hate the latter, love what I remember (probably badly) about the former.

Not much to write home about but I'm very committed, very loyal and willing to stay the course when the going gets tough (i.e. to piss people off if necessary) ... I strongly suspect that this campaign will need exactly that kind of mentality at times.

I live in Kent (near the seat of the Anglican Church) and I work in London (near the next airborne terrorist attack I suspect)!

Kyu

I am not sure if any of my skils are relevant.

My main specialisation was RF Telecomms. I spent 24 years in the army and am noe working for the railway. In between I did a short contract for UNHCR in Afghanistan. So my working life has not developed much that is usefull for this fight.

Still, I am in.

I think that we definately need to form up a focus on what we wish to achieve.

Keep religion out of science class: Definately.
Stop the spread of faith schools: Maybe.
Stop public money being used to fund faith schools: Probably.
Stop religion being taught as religion in faith schools: Probably counterproductive.

I would like to see a decision on this. What are we going to specifically argue for?

Discussion of focus is off-topic for this thread - maybe start a new one to thrash it out in detail?

(this sort of thing was what I envisaged the Debate Arena forum being used for)

I've got a Degree in Ecological Science so I'm up on that kind of thing - I know a bit about education -and I'm working voluntarily for my local primary school so I've got an understanding from there.
I know a thing or two about campaigning. I helped found the 'Ecology Party' - which is now the 'Green Party' - got some election succeses such as record votes, and the first 'Green' mayor in the United Kindom - and possibly the world (Peter Christie in Bideford).
Haven't been active in that for years - partly because of all the (non-scientific) cranks it attracted; partly because I wanted to get active in a practical way - so ran a practical conservation organisation for many years.
Can do public speaking, play the guitar and write the odd song - possibly a little geeky stuff.
I don't think you need to be so concerned about direction Steve - as far as I can see we're all basically in agreement with you and not on an anti-religion crusade here. Like corkscrew said - this isn't the thread for that discussion (wherever we were discussing mission statement was the place).

Would be nice to get some women on board before we get too nerdy!

Stephen,

Check your mail ... I sent you something yesterday ... no reply yet

Kyu

I've got one degree in a cell/molecular biology discipline and another in quantitative genetics (and my PhD involves a little of both). So, if you have any questions on those topics that aren't addressed in a far more concise and understandable way by PZ Myers/Tara/Afarensis and the like then I'd be happy to help ;o)

I'm ok at presentations, but not so good at writing (as you may be able to tell ;o)). I like to think that I'm ok at getting ideas across to people. Soooo, yeah.

I suspect that writing is my forte. I am scientifically educated to the point of literacy but in comparison to some of the people on this site it's not really worth mentioning, especially because it's all rather out of date.

I do IT Systems Management for a big corporate and in my spare time I write, direct and shoot movies so if we ever need to do a video, or just to record a meeting I've got us covered.

My motivation is simply this:

I feel that science is not merely important and productive but is actually the crowning intellectual achievement of humanity. The scientific method is even more important that the practical outcomes of its application. The ID movement may appear to be acting in opposition to Darwinian evolution but this is not really true, it is actually opposing the simple beauty of science itself and this should not be allowed to go unchallenged.

Hi folks,

I'm an ex-particle-physicist, so if you need help with separating your hadrons from your leptons, I'm possibly the guy to ask.

I can also translate any German articles you might stumble across, in the unlikely event of that needing to be done.

Cheers,
Zim

I've got a BSc in Genetics and an MSc in Information Systems Design.
I'm an IT Architect and do design for a living.
I can help out with the techie stuff.
I also write a mean article and debate well in writing.
I'm useless at public speaking, but as I don't live the UK any more that probably won't come up!
I'm currently skilling up on Bioinformatics with a view to possibly doing a long distance (internet based) MSc - with a longer term view of writing Bioinformatics software for a living.

Area of expertise? Incredibly bad jokes (as some of you will find out on Monday!).

I'm a synthetic organic chemist working for a pharma company not a million miles away from Kyuuketsuki. I do the reverse commute, I am temporarily living in London and driving out to the far east of Kent. Many moons ago I did a BSc in Chemistry, and have recently finished a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry. Basically I can make all the drugs and explosives we'll need....oh sh*t, wrong website! Forget that bit!

Like Kyuuketsuki I can get up in front of an audience and do a reasonable job, despite my having to wear a new nappy and partake of a little Dutch courage to do so . I'm not blessed with a great deal of time at the moment, but like all of you I am technically minded and capable of dissecting the majority of the nonsense presented by IDCists and their ilk without breaking a sweat. I'm also keen as mustard!

I also have relatively good access to the primary literature and (hopefully by now!) the research abilities to dig up most things we could need. Bit of a science buff in general and supremely interested in the topics at hand. Love a good argument.

On the religion thing, in answer to Stephen Elliot's questions:

Keep religion out of science class: Definitely. Extremely definitely, with bells on!

Stop the spread of faith schools: Definitely, well ok definitely only the publically funded ones, the private ones they can keep.

Stop public money being used to fund faith schools: Definitely.
Stop religion being taught as religion in faith schools: Completely irrelevant and counterproductive. Let them believe as they will, just not on my buck! (Church and State, let's keep 'em apart folks!)

Sadly, what we are dealing with specifically are religiously motivated attacks on science and science education. There are other types of attacks (see the pseudoscientists and extreme animal liberation terrorists) but we don't seem to have those in schools to the same extent. I think leaving the religion out of this is a bad idea and appears a bit cowardly. What I DO think we should do is promote the simple fact that science doesn't force one to become an atheist, the Bishop of Oxford is a good source of pithy quotes on this.

I think we should carefully delineate the issue, the reason these IDCists and YECists etc have so much problem with science is that it contradicts their interpretation of their religion. Not only are their views poor science, they are poor theology. We can show people that their faith need not be contradicted by good science.

Hi Ross,

Most excellent ... I love a good tacky joke (or is that an oxymoron?)

So that'll be drinks then? I'm guessing where you work is where I used to work and where someone else here still works (does that makes sense) ... but I'll let him tell you that if he wishes. Faversham (where I live) is a brewery town ... that's a good thing too!

I think we all agree on that!

Yes I think it's a factor, a significant one as it is, IMO, the vector by which this sort of thing starts anyway ... I also personally consider faith based schools to be highly divisive and not what this country should be about especially when they harp on about our multi-cultural/multi-faith diversity.

Yes however since our Monarchy is inherently part of the religious establishment I think separation of Church & State will be a long time coming (though I heard the Archbishop of Canterbury was behind such an initiative).

Yes ... the other pseudoscientists aren't big enough to worry about.

Perhaps but we have to be realistic ... 71% of the people in this country claim to be Christian, a lot of them may be Christian in name only but still think having a go at the church is a bad thing. If I lived in a creationist country and the threat was something worse (let's say a cult of fanatically religious child sex abusers) then I would side with the creationists if they were against the more extreme cults ... it make sense tactically, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

We can't leave religion out entirely but we have to make sure the focus is on the target we want and the target we want is anyone teaching pseudoscience in the science classroom.

Good idea

Yes!

Areas of expertise?

Dunno really. I think I’m quite decisive, though.

I’m also very determined and persevering, when I can be bothered.

And I’m wan o’ they intellectuals. My brain seldom stops. I’m always thinking, right up to the time the pubs open.

Seriously folks:

As my avatar symbolises, I’m more of a practical sort, but with a restless brain.

My qualifications are all practical, the most prominent being an MSc in Manufacturing Engineering.

I don’t have any scientific expertise beyond that which I have picked up in a lifetime of general reading and from the invaluable Panda’s Thumb. Dawkins I can understand. Hawkins is a foreign language – A Brief History of Time was indeed brief for me, chapter three being light year too far.

My skills are mainly political. I’m local branch chairman of a political party. No big deal, but it means that I have some experience of campaigning, and some meagre political contacts.

I have a good bullshit detector, I think, particularly good at picking the strengths and weaknesses, the truths and evasions, from printed matter.

I write a good letter and pound a good leafleting beat.

I stay focused.

In the context of the science, I would say I’m an ideal lieutenant, foot-soldier and hod-carrier.

If the campaigning element takes off, I would expect to be of greater help.

Kyuuketsuki,

If the place of work you mean is involved in the production of the little blue diamonds which bring happiness to many, then it is the same place. I would be very interested to meet a colleague of similar proclivities should that person wish to identify themselves.

Failing that we can all head to the Shepard Neame brewery and get drunk. It saves so much time.

Louis

Little blue diamonds? Doesn't mean a thing to me but then I've not worked there for over 5 years ... um ... think ... think ... big pharmaceuticals company (can't give the obvious clue) ... hmmm.

Anyway yes .. Shepherd Neame and beer is foamy!