My heart breaks for the parents and children at the centre of this story and the bravery it has taken to share their stories publicly. I'm so pleased we have journalists like Sirin and Lucy who can handle that sensitively and tell the story so eloquently.

Article from Sirin and Lucy does an excellent job at highlighting how that choice is influenced and pressured. How seeking knowledge and information to make an informed decision can leave you dependent on people who recommend dishonesty about the situation and feed you medical misinformation.

When those consequences arise, it's about leaving the women with all of the responsibility for following the advice given to them. As the article says - parents who don't seek medical support for their babies in these situations potentially bear some legal responsibility for that choice. But this...

The idea of "radical responsibility" and the recommendation to step back and let the mother decide about resuscitation when things go catastrophically wrong. This isn't about empowering women to make informed choices about their own bodies, this is about fear mongering into dangerous consequences.

I can't wait to see what we all (and I mean the entire community) do next. Because I know it's going to be amazing. Thank you for an amazing 14 years. Whether you've been here from the start or you joined us for the first time this year (and everything in between), we've had an absolute blast.

This event is better year on year because of those generous contributions.

I am so proud of QED. We've done something amazing. But I end this weekend feeling excited about what's next. We've built some amazing connections, fostered a fabulous community and generated loads of ideas.

5) on top of those delivering talks, contributing to panels, recording podcasts and hosting workshops, we have so many other wonderful people who contribute to QED. From our volunteers to our crèche staff, to the AV crew, our book seller and the amazing Skeptics in the Pub online team.

4) the people we invite to contribute to QED are really special people. They are so generous with their time & expertise or experience. They give us their passion & enthusiasm. They challenge us to do things better every year. We get to meet some amazing people & host some fascinating conversations.

You lot make and bring stickers, and badges, share artwork and gifts with each other, look out for people looking a bit shy and welcome them to chat. And then you take that action and put it out into the world. You've told us how the community has inspired you to do things in your local communities.

The QED attendance fund - a fundraising activity to support people who for whatever reason can't afford to come to this sort of event - was created and run by the community. The rebel dinner - a Saturday night dinner for attendees who aren't attending the gala dinner - was the same.

I feel so lucky to be able to work with this wonderful team of people and to be welcomed and trusted to bring my skills and creativity to the event. 3) action is important and appreciated. So many of us bring so many little parts of ourselves to QED.

2) the people I get to make this special thing with are incredible. The QED organisers welcomed me to the committee in 2019 but never once have they made me feel like QED is anything other than my event too. Every team member brings so much experience, skill and creativity to this event.

This year the community went above and beyond by making us feel so loved and appreciated. This event takes us 10 months to organise, in our free time. When you work so hard on something, it's really special when the people you make it for "get it" and appreciate it.

Unfortunately due to entirely unforeseen circumstances, Dr Matt Winning is no longer able to appear at QED 2025. However, ably stepping into the breach will be podcaster, author, and atheist activist Noah Lugeons.