Conference in
Conference speaker and secularism scholar Phil Zuckerman on Point of Inquiry!
Allow us to direct your attention to an excellent episode of Point of Inquiry from a few weeks ago, in which Lindsay Beyerstein interviews Phil Zuckerman, who is among the world’s leading experts in the field of secular studies, and author of the highly acclaimed books Living the Secular Life: New Answers to Old Questions; Society without God; and Faith No More: Why People Reject Religion.
More importantly, Zuckerman will be at the Reason for Change conference in person to discuss the perceptions people both within and without the forethought community have about secularism and its many incarnations. He’ll join a fantastic panel that will also feature Barry Kosmin (himself an expert on the demographic data of secularism) and CFI president and CEO Ron Lindsay, and moderated by communications director Paul Fidalgo.
Listen to this in-depth conversation on Point of Inquiry here.
Check out another Reason for Change episode of Point of Inquiry with Leighann Lord here.And don’t forget to register for Reason for Change if you haven’t already! Special conference hotel rates end May 21.
SciFri + CFI!
Tune your radios and podcatchers to Science Friday this week and next, because the Center for Inquiry will be supporting the show to spread the word about the Reason for Change conference (June 11-15 in Buffalo, if you didn’t know). We’re delighted to get this chance to let people know about this unmissable event and lend our support to a program that does so much for the public’s understanding and appreciation of science. It’s a total win-win.
Hey, SciFri plus CFI! Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?
Leighann Lord, performing at Reason for Change, interviewed on “Point of Inquiry”
This week on a special episode highlighting the Reason for Change conference, CFI’s flagship podcast Point of Inquiry welcomes standup comedian Leighann Lord. Talking with show producer Nora Hurley, they discuss how the worlds of comedy and skepticism are not as distant as they seem. They explore the unique dynamic comedy creates for critical thinking, and how a good joke may just be the gateway to discourse and discussion.
Leighann will be preforming at the Reason For Change conference June 11th - 15th 2015. Learn more about seeing her live this summer at http://reasonforchange.org.
Champion of Science Eugenie Scott to Present on “Crank Anthropology”
Eugenie Scott is a genuine hero in the fight for science in education, and has long been a favorite speaker at CFI conferences. Recently retired from her post as executive director of the National Center for Science Education, Scott was honored at our 2013 CFI Summit with our Lifetime Achievement Award. Presenting her with the award, CFI’s president Ron Lindsay said:
In the person of Dr. Scott, science education has perhaps its greatest ambassador. In the media, in talks to audiences like this one, in court rooms, and person to person, she brings an enthusiasm for learning, a whip-smart sense of humor, an approachability that dispels stereotypes of scientists and secularists, and a generosity of spirit toward those with whom she disagrees. Eugenie Scott has been crucial for the cause of science education, and she is truly irreplaceable.
Luckily, we don’t have to replace her for the Reason for Change conference, because Dr. Scott will be there to deliver a presentation on “Crank Anthropology.” Here’s the summary description of her talk:
Anthropology, the science of humankind, deals with evolution, human biology, and archaeology, all in the context of the behavioral complexities of culture. Perhaps this breadth – and the fact that the subject is ourselves – is why there is such a huge amount of misinformation, misunderstanding, and just plain pseudoscience about human evolution and human nature. Anthropology is cursed with the Aquatic Ape theory, the Paleo Diet, Raelianism (of various kinds), theories of relict hominoids, the Killer Ape, Krishna Creationism, some very far out ideas about race and sex – and that’s just for starters. Being human, however, does not make one an expert on anthropology. What does the actual science of anthropology say about these popular, if incorrect, ideas?
To catch Eugenie Scott deliver this fascinating presentation, register now for Reason for Change. You can see the full schedule of events here.
And to read more from Scott herself, check out our two previous interviews with her, one before the CFI Summit, and another for CSIcon 2 in 2012.
Complete Conference Schedule is Now Available!
Right now, it’s snowing in Buffalo, so it’s easy to forget that June is just around the corner, and with it comes the Reason for Change conference! What makes it feel all the more real now is that the complete schedule for the conference has just been posted. Every presentation, panel discussion, and entertainment event, as well as all of the great “extras” such as Secular Celebrant training, tours of Niagara Falls and Buffalo, and social events. Are you registered yet?
Click over to the schedule section of the website, and where once there were bullet points and a broad outline, now there is a session-by-session, hour-by-hour description of the entire four days. There’s so much going on!
There are presentations from people like Rebecca Goldstein, Susan Jacoby, Richard Dawkins, Michael Specter, Phil Zuckerman, and more. Panels on subjects such as global activism, alternative medicine, social justice, and leaving religion behind. There’s even a comedy show by the hilarious Leighann Lord. And that’s just some of it.
So even though it might be cold and snowy outside where you live, the summer sun is on its way, and Reason for Change awaits. Don’t miss your chance to register and be part of this amazing conference!
