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Sunday,
November 15
All events are at the
University Medical Center (UMC), Duval Auditorium, 1501 North
Campbell Avenue. Parking is free in the multi-tiered
patient/visitor parking structure close to the auditorium at
UMC.
$6 CHARGE
PER PERSON
This fee covers both the morning and afternoon
programs (10 am and 1:30 pm).
Café Inquiry is free. Students and
Friends free.
8:00-9:30am:
Café Inquiry — NEW
LOCATION!!!
Location: We will meet in the DuVal
Auditorium. (Food & drink are
allowed.)
Topic: Is Christianity Good for the World? What are
your views?
10am-Noon:
"Science and Belief – A Personal Quest
for the Scientific
Method"
Lecturer: John Thompson
I spent a career learning about, practicing,
and teaching science and engineering so you would expect I could
easily answer the question "What is Science?" A chance
reunion in Tucson with old friends from college put this to the
test when I realized that their beliefs differed greatly from
mine, yet they also felt their views were based in
science.
What I have to share are a few postcards
from a journey. I was then compelled to begin to find the
answer to that first question. Some of my cards are from
familiar places, so I will add comments about out-of-the-way
spots you may not have visited. The theme is "The
Scientific Method," and my objective is to encourage you to take
up your own journey—and to be a more critical consumer of
the "travel packages" that are on offer today.
Just as you might brush up on the language
and culture of a country you intend to visit, I will review a
little of the history and philosophy of science and a bit on the
history of logic and reason as well. I will also share a
bit of what is currently known about how our minds and brains
work, because this is a big part of the problem in understanding
how science works—and why we believe some results and
don't believe others.
I have included examples of current and
classical issues in science that are fodder for public debate,
to see if we have gained any insight on our travels into the
behavior of the different sides. The examples are each
chosen to highlight a particularly difficult aspect of what is
generally considered the scientific method.
About our speaker:
John Thompson spent over three decades in
telecommunications research, product development, and technology
management with Bell Laboratories. He also spent over a
decade as adjunct faculty at the University of Colorado and the
University of Denver, teaching and as director of a
telecommunication systems teaching laboratory. Since
moving to Tucson in 2004, he has divided his time between
searching for an understanding of why we believe stupid things,
grooming his two standard poodles, and joining his wife in
various mineral-collecting and lapidary activities.
Noon-1:30pm: Lunch (available in
the UMC Cafeteria - good food at good
prices)
1:30-3:30pm
Afternooon Program (DuVal
Auditorium)
EXCITING PLANS
FOR 2010
We need YOUR ideas and your help to advance
the goals of CFI-SAZ. Let's make this next year our best
ever!
 Thank you to
our Friends
of the Center members, whose yearly dues make these
events possible! Your support allows us to plan
and participate in so many great activities, enabling us to grow
as the voice of science and reason in southern
Arizona. If you haven't yet become a Friend of CFI
SAZ, please sign up
today!
For more information
about these and other CFI/SAZ events, please visit our website,
www.centerforinquiry.net/saz, or contact Jerry Karches at
jkarches@swhaz.com or
520-297-9919.
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