The Big Smoke

Remember Skeptics in the Pub (SITP)? If it piqued your interest, you might have since visited the mysterious pub basement for a rather harmonious combination of sceptical debate and beer. But perhaps you didn't know that a rather large group of sceptics (around 650, in fact) will be swooping down on London in just under two weeks!

Why? ‘The Amaz!ng Meeting' (known affectionately as TAM) has made seven annual appearances in Las Vegas, playing host to critical thinkers from all over the world and from all walks of life. And for the first time ever, there'll be a twin event in London on the weekend of 3^rd and 4^th October.

Both here and in the US, TAM is the fundraising conference of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). You're most likely to know Randi from his infamous million dollar challenge , but JREF itself is a charity that aims to promote critical thinking by reaching out to the public and media with reliable information about pseudoscientific, paranormal and supernatural ideas so widespread in our society today. Thanks to the internet, they've been able to reach more people and more kinds of people than ever. Feature continues

This year notable speakers include Ben Goldacre of Bad Science fame, Atheist Bus Campaign creator Ariane Sherine, writer and documentary maker Jon Ronson, comedian Tim Minchin, particle physicist Brian Cox and astronomer Phil Plait (the creator of Bad Astronomy and President of JREF).

The packed weekend will also feature a comedy night curated by the thinking man's comedian Robin Ince, who will also be appearing in Time Out's For One Night Only comedy event next week. You can see a full list of speakers on the TAM London website .

As delegates will by flying in from all over the world, plenty of fringe events have been scheduled including a Skeptical Pub Crawl guided by SITP organiser Sid Rodrigues and Londonist editor Matt Brown, a chance to flirt with the science of romance at ‘Chance, Romance & Lucky Pants' and ‘The Amaz!ng Panel' - a stellar line-up of bloggers, podcasters and webmasters who will answer your questions on how to use the internet to make a difference.

Organiser Tracy King says, "As the organisers of TAM London on behalf of the James Randi Educational Foundation, we are delighted at the response from both the public and the high-profile speakers who are donating their time. We're proud to be celebrating science and critical thinking in the UK, and with delegates arriving from as far as South Africa (and as near as Holborn), we know that TAM London will be a unique experience."

So if you're looking for something slightly quirky and cerebral to do, TAM London looks set to be added to the roster of fantastic annual London events.

TAM London takes place at the Mermaid Conference Centre, Blackfriars, London EC4V 3DB. 020 7236 1919. Oct 3 & 4; £175 adult weekend, £165 concs & members. Tickets available from http://www.tamlondon.org/register