On a quest to question

On a campus that group members said is increasingly apathetic, UMD Society of Inquiry's main mission is to question everything.

From the composition of an atom to the expansion of the universe, group members question scientific theories to promote critical thought, according to group president Mary Mirvis. Although the organization was formed more than three years ago and is as skeptical as ever, Mirvis said the society has changed. In the past, discussion focused on science and the paranormal, but now the group has expanded its conversations to include everything from politics to business.

"We promote skepticism, critical thinking and science," said Mirvis, a junior cell biology and genetics major. "We hold events on topics that are normally scientific, but there are a wide range of things that people may have a lot of misconceptions about that we try to address."

Events range from hosting controversial speakers such as Richard Dawkins — a best-selling author, evolutionary biologist andatheist intellectual who netted an attendance of nearly 1,000 in April — to Sunday's "Divination with Pendulums and Dowsing Rods," the group's first event of the year, according to Mirvis. The event garnered nearly 40 attendees..

The three-hour lecture and workshop allowed members to question the legitimacy of divination — the practice of seeking knowledge from the future — and dowsing, which consists of holding two metal rods. When they cross without any prompting, water is supposed to be directly beneath the rods.

By spreading water bottles sporadically around the room, group members tested this theory and many concluded it was not an accurate method of finding water. Rather, many members said if dowsing works, it's because the members are subconsciously moving the rods themselves when they see water.

"I don't think it works, pretty much everyone is not taking this as seriously working," said junior aerospace engineering major Josh Sloane.

For most members, the first question — or myth — of the semester was debunked.

"[Skepticism is] different than cynicism; we want to encourage people to think critically and not just dismissing everything," said Chip Denman, faculty advisor for group.

The group is gearing up for its main event, SkeptiCamp. Nearly 70 students have already registered for the Oct. 16 free, on-campus event, which brings together various speakers to discuss scientific issues.

romas@umdbk.com