Dave Thomas (skeptic)

David E. Thomas (born 1953) is a scientist and software engineer best known for his scientific skepticism research and writings. He is a graduate of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, and his skeptic work covers the Roswell and Aztec UFO sightings, the Bible code, global warming, the 9/11 Truth movement and chemtrails. Thomas is frequently published in Skeptical Inquirer magazine.

Dave Thomas
Dave speaking at CSICon in 2016
Born1953
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUSA
Alma materNew Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Known forWritings and research on scientific skepticism
Awards
  • 1979 Brown Medal
  • 1981 Langmuir Award
  • 2000 Friend of Darwin Award
Scientific career
FieldsMathematics, physics, computer programming, expert systems
Institutions
  • BDM International, Inc.
  • ITW Magnaflux/Quasar
  • IRIS PASSCAL Instrument Center, New Mexico Tech.

Thomas currently works at the Program for Array Seismic Studies of the Continental Lithosphere (PASSCAL) at New Mexico Tech and is an adjunct instructor of psychology and education there.[1]

Education and awards

Thomas is a graduate of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics and a master's degree in mathematics.[2] He received the Brown Award, New Mexico Tech's highest undergraduate award, in 1979,[3] the Langmuir publication award as a graduate student,[1] and the National Center for Science Education's Friend of Darwin Award.[4]

Thomas has served as president of the New Mexico Academy of Science and is a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He has been both a board member of the Coalition for Excellence on Science and Math Education (CESE) and the president of New Mexicans for Science and Reason since 1998.[1]

Career

Thomas worked at BDM International, Inc. in Albuquerque from 1981–1994 and for ITW Magnaflux/Quasar from 1994-2007.[2]

Thomas and scientist Kim Johnson co-hosted Science Watch, a weekly podcast on AM 1350, from 2005 to 2010[5] and has been published in Skeptical Inquirer since 1995.[6]

Skepticism
David E. Thomas and James Randi

UFOs

Regarding the Roswell UFO incident, Thomas has joked that "My theory...is that the Roswell ship did not actually crash, that it only landed and took off again and continued to land at all these other sites."[7] He maintains that the incident involved a crashed Project Mogul balloon and was not in any way related to extraterrestrial activity.[8][9] Thomas also frequently discusses the Aztec, New Mexico, UFO incident hoax,[10] and his explanation of the scam at the Aztec UFO Symposium ended his regular speaking appearance there.[11] The Symposium's last meeting was in 2011. In 2009, Thomas presented at UFOcon in Tucson, Arizona, where he covered both incidents.[12]

Bible code

Thomas has applied his knowledge of mathematics and computer engineering to dispute the credibility of the Bible code[11] He offers coincidental examples of secrets "coded" in other texts, such as apparent references to Hitler in War and Peace and the phrase "The code is a silly snake-oil hoax" in Michael Drosnin's The Bible Code.[13][14][15] Thomas maintains that "Hidden messages can be found anywhere, provided you're willing to invest time and effort to harvest the vast field of probability."[16] Matt Young's No Sense of Obligation, a skeptical examination of science and religion, references Thomas's work.[17]

Climate change

In 2014, Thomas joined fellow scientist Kim Johnson on Albuquerque's 94 Rock morning show for a four-part conversation regarding climate change. They discussed the geographic patterns and implications of global warming as well as refuting the idea that human interference has a negligible effect on the crisis.[18]

That same year, Thomas joined more than 60 fellow skeptics clarifying the media's use of "skeptic" and "denier" when discussing those who undermine and reject climate science. The letter explains that "Proper skepticism promotes scientific inquiry, critical investigation, and the use of reason in examining controversial and extraordinary claims. It is foundational to the scientific method. Denial, on the other hand, is the a priori rejection of ideas without objective consideration."[19]

The 9/11 Truth movement
Left to right: Ted Goertzel, Dave Thomas, Bob Blaskiewicz and Scott Lilienfeld at the CSICon 2011 conspiracy theories panel.

Thomas has engaged in several public debates with advocates of the 9/11 Truth movement. After offering a live refutation to architect Richard Gage's 2009 New Mexico Tech alumni weekend presentation on the collapse of the twin towers,[20] Thomas debated Gage and chemist Niels Harrit on the same subject live on Ian Punnett's nationally syndicated radio show Coast to Coast in 2010.[21] In 2014, Thomas and Michael Fullerton took part in a similar debate conducted via YouTube.[22]

Thomas has written scientific refutations of other conspiracy theorists' claims surrounding the September 11 attacks.[23][24]

Chemtrails

Thomas concludes a 2008 piece for the Skeptical Inquirer, in which he debunks frequently cited videos and photographs perpetuating the chemtrail conspiracy theory, by explaining that "Kennedy assassination and 9/11 conspiracy theorists are mere pikers compared to “chemtrail” buffs. You will rarely find a more virulently self-deluded group, anywhere."[25]

Creationist legislation and intelligent design

In February of 2011, the Education Committee of the New Mexico House of Representatives voted 5-4 to table House Bill 302, which sought to prevent public school teachers from being disciplined or removed from their positions for teaching "relevant scientific information regarding either the scientific strengths or scientific weaknesses pertaining to 'controversial' scientific topics". Thomas testified his concern that the bill "is really just a ploy to get creationism in the classroom."[26] In The Panda's Thumb, he wrote "The proposed legislation is not needed by New Mexico's students or teachers. New Mexico's existing standards already protect students from religious indoctrination or harassment by their teachers. Furthermore, the bill is unconstitutional as written, and its passage and enactment will almost certainly result in expensive litigation." He alleged that the bill originated as part of the intelligent design movement and pro-intelligent design think tank groups.[27]

At CSICon 2011, Thomas presented "Something Rotten In Denmark: How Hamlet's 'Weasel' Reveals The Vacuousness Of Intelligent Design" where he discussed genetic algorithms as well as reviewing the status of the New Mexico bill.[28] In 2004, Thomas offered the "opposing view" for the New Mexico division of the Intelligent Design Network's Darwin, Design and Democracy V symposium where he outlined why intelligent design is inappropriate for public school science curriculum.[29]

Personal life
David E. Thomas on bass.

Thomas is married and has two sons. He performs juggling and magic shows[6][30] and was a member of The Vigilante Band on bass guitar, mandolin and vocals.[31][32]

References
  1. "Dave Thomas, MS". New Mexico Tech. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  2. "David Thomas". Iris Passcal Instrument Center. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  3. "Brown Medal and Brown Award Winners". New Mexico Tech. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  4. "Friend of Darwin". National Center for Scientific Education. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  5. "NMSR Science Watch is now going to the Internet Archive!!!". NMSR. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  6. "Biography of Dave Thomas". New Mexicans for Science and Reason. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  7. Linthicum, Leslie. "Crash Site Claims Abound 'Round Roswell". ABQJournal.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  8. "What Really Fell from the Roswell Sky". New Mexicans for Science and Reason. Archived from the original on 29 October 2003. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  9. Thomas, Dave (1995). "The Roswell Incident And Project Mogul". Skeptical Inquirer. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  10. "The Aztec, NM UFO Scam". New Mexicans for Science and Reason. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  11. Radford, Benjamin (2 April 2010). "Skeptic on Skeptic Fellow investigators talk UFOs in Aztec, N.M." Alibi. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  12. "UFOs: The Space-Age Mythology". UFOs: The Space-Age Mythology. The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. 2009. Archived from the original on 18 January 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  13. Carroll, Robert (2011). The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions. Hoboken, New Jersey: J Wiley. pp. 54–55. ISBN 9781118045633.
  14. "Hidden Messages and The Bible Code". The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  15. "From Internet Scams to Urban Legends, Planet (hoa)X to the Bible Code". Skeptical Inquirer. March 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  16. Thomas, Dave (8 September 2002). "The Allure of Numbers". Awake!. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  17. Young, Matt (2001). No Sense of Obligation Science and Religion in an Impersonal Universe. 1st Book Library. pp. xv & 318. ISBN 0-75961-089-4.
  18. "Climate Change Part 1". archive.org. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  19. "Deniers are not Skeptics". Skeptical Inquirer. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  20. Thomas, Dave (10 December 2009). "How I Debated A 9/11 Truther And Survived". Skeptical Inquirer. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  21. "Tech scientist debates conspiracy theorists". DChieftain.com. 21 August 2010. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  22. "It's a YouTube 9/11 Truth Debate!". New Mexicans for Science and Reason. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  23. "The 9/11 Truth Movement: The Top Conspiracy Theory, a Decade Later". 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  24. "9-11 'Truth' Resources". New Mexicans for Science and Reason. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  25. "The 'Chemtrail Conspiracy'". Skeptical Inquirer. September 2008. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  26. "Antievolution bill in New Mexico tabled". National Center for Science Education. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  27. "Here We Go Again, New Mexico Edition". The Panda's Thumb. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  28. "Creation and Evolution". Lanyrd.com. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  29. "Darwin, Design and Democracy V". Intelligent Design network. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  30. "Dave Magic Trick - CESE Annual Meeting 2013". Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  31. "Meet the Band!". Socorro's Own Vigilante Band. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  32. "Socorro's Own Vigilante Band". Socorro's Own Vigilante Band. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
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