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Posted Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:30:55
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Dear All,
 Please find details below of a lecture at Westminster University:


 *'Science in the practice of complementary and alternative medicine: A
philosophy of science perspective'.*

*Prof. Steve Fuller*
Professor of Sociology, University of Warwick

*Dr. Lionel Milgrom*
Registered Homeopath and Senior Visiting Scientist, Imperial College

*Tuesday 18 November 2008*
6 - 9pm
The Pavilion, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London
W1W 6UW

The evening will include two keynote lectures, questions and discussion and
time for networking with a glass of wine or OJ and nibbles!

To reserve your place, please email Milli at [log in to unmask]
Costs: £15, (£10 concessions). Please make cheques payable to 'University of
Westminster'.

Further details on the speakers and presentations:

 Professor Steve Fuller
 Steve Fuller is Professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick. A
graduate of Columbia and Cambridge Universities, he holds a Ph.D. in History
and Philosophy of Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Fuller is best
known for his work in the field of 'social epistemology', which addresses
normative philosophical questions about organized knowledge by historical
and social scientific means. His most recent work has focussed on the future
of the public intellectual and the university, as well as the biological
challenge to the social sciences, especially as it bears on the future of
'humanity' as a category in terms of which we define ourselves. He is the
author of fifteen books and 200 articles. His works have been translated
into nearly twenty languages. Fuller's most recent books include The
Knowledge Book: Key Concepts in Philosophy, Science and Culture (Acumen and
McGill-Queens, 2007), New Frontiers in Science and Technology Studies
(Polity, 2007), Science vs Religion? (Polity, 2007) and Dissent over
Descent: Intelligent Design's Challenge to Darwinism (Icon, 2008). This year
he was President of the Sociology and Social Policy section of the British
Association for the Advancement of Science.
 At this event, he will be turning his considerable experience of the
philosophical and sociological study of science, to the question of
'science' in relation to complementary and alternative medicine.  He will
explore the deployment of scientific expertise in healthcare and whether
science in this context is truly democratic.

Dr Lionel Milgrom
 Lionel Milgrom has been a porphryin chemist for over 30 years at various
academic institutions, including Liverpool, Kingston and Brunel
Universities.  Most recently, he holds a post as a Senior Visiting Scientist
at Imperial College. In 1999, Dr Lionel Milgrom became a fully qualified and
registered homeopathic practitioner after 4 years training. Since then, he
has worked with the homeless, gained an advanced diploma in homeopathy, and
worked in the practice rooms of Nelsons and Ainsworths Homeopathic
Pharmacies in London's West End. Currently practicing at home, his research
involves elaborating ideas on the understanding of homeopathy within a
scientific paradigm not embedded in conventional positivism. This entails
the development of non-deterministic models for the therapeutic process, and
re-evaluating the ancient concept of the Vital Force in terms of gyroscopic
motion. He is a keen observer of and contributor to the current debate
surrounding homeopathy and complementary and alternative medicine.
 At this event, Dr Milgrom will be speaking on the subject of 'Homeopathy
and the New Fundamentalism'.
 Abstract
Though in use for over 200 years, and still benefiting millions of people
worldwide today, homeopathy is currently under increasing attacks for being
"unscientific." The reasons for this can be understood in terms of what
might be called a "New Fundamentalism," emanating particularly from within
biomedicine and a narrow interpretation of the tenets of Evidence-Based
Medicine, enthusiastically championed by certain sections of the media.  New
Fundamentalism's hallmarks include the denial of evidence for the efficacy
of any therapeutic modality that cannot be consistently "proven" using
double-blind, randomized controlled trials (whose implicit assumptions will
be discussed). It excludes clinical data supporting homeopathy's efficacy;
ignores, excoriates, or considers current research data supporting those
explanations incomprehensible, particularly when these emanate from outside
biomedicine: it is also not averse to using experimental bias, hearsay, and
innuendo in order to discredit homeopathy.  Thus, New Fundamentalism may
itself be considered unscientific. This will have consequences in the future
for how practitioners, researchers, and patients of homeopathy/complementary
and alternative medicine engage and negotiate with primary health care
systems.

*The Integrated Health Network is a higher education initiative for
knowledge and business development in the CAM field and is run by the iCAM
Unit at the University of Westminster
(**www.wmin.ac.uk/sih/icam*<http://www.wmin.ac.uk/sih/icam>
*)*

 --
Dr Nicola Kay Gale
Senior Research Fellow, iCAM Unit
Visiting Lecturer, Centre for Public Health Nutrition and Centre for
Advanced Professional Practice
 School of Integrated Health
115 New Cavendish Street
LONDON
W1W 6UW
 Tel: 020 7911 5000 ext. 3915
Email: [log in to unmask]
Homepage: http://www.wmin.ac.uk/sih/page-1020
--

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