Fall 2006 Schedule

Fall 2006 schedule -- the regular meetings of GF will occur every two-three weeks, alternating between three formats. There are likely to be breaks in the rotation, and I was thinking that it may be good to use (ii) for group business and event planning. The dates below are tentative and flexible, but we will try to hold to the schedule unless there are good reasons to reschedule events and meetings.

It is imperative that you check the Meetings Page close to each scheduled event, as this page will not be updated, but that one will.

The following schedule are the tentative meetings of GF:

Thu, Aug 3 -- 7 PM -- CLB 414 -- Business
Thu, Aug 24 -- 7 PM -- CLB 414 -- Business
-- First two weeks of classes, from Aug 23 - Sep 1, we'll be emphasizing tabling and advertising on-campus
Thu, Sep 7 -- 7 PM -- TBD -- Speaker, Election afterwards
Tue, Sep 26 -- 7 PM -- TBD -- Speaker: Prof. D. Gene Witmer, followed by Discussion
Tue, Oct 10 -- 7 PM -- TBD -- Discussion/Business
-- I plan for us to have our first campus-wide event during this time, a guest speaker or public debate
Mon, Nov 6 -- 7 PM -- TBD -- Speaker, Discussion
Mon, Nov 20 -- 7 PM -- TBD -- Speaker, Discussion
Mon, Dec 4 -- 7 PM -- TBD -- Discussion/Business

Important dates I've considered in making the schedule:

Mon, Aug 7 -Fri, Aug 11 -- Sum B/C Exams & End of Classes
Wed, Aug 23 -- Fall Classes Begin
Mon, Sep 4 -- Labor Day Holiday (no classes)
Tue, Nov 7 -- Election Day
Fri, Nov 10 -- Veterans' Day Holiday (no classes)
Thu, Nov 23 -- Thanksgiving Holiday (no classes)
Wed, Dec 6 -- Fall Classes End
Mon, Dec 11 - Fri, Dec 15 -- Fall Exams
Mon, Jan 8, 2007 -- Spring Classes Begin

Please give me feedback if there is something I'm missing, or not considering in making the schedule.

I have listed the basic meeting formats below, along with tentative topics:

i) Formal speaker on predetermined topic -- this can include a short lecture, a short reading of a work, a media presentation on some topic, or any combination of the three, followed by open dialogue and Q&A. The speaker should have anywhere between 10-20 minutes, with a small margin of error, and so most of the meeting will consist of the dialogue/Q&A, but it should always be directed toward the speaker.

ii) Semi-formal discussion -- we will come in to discuss some predetermined topic amongst ourselves, perhaps we will try to allow these sort of meetings to directly follow (i) to continue the discussion on the topic presented. These discussions will not be led, but will be moderated to be kept on point. Another use for these meetings is to get group business and event planning accomplished. I was thinking it may be good to plan to have two of (i) and then one of (ii), so that we come in with the two topics from the last two formal speakers, and I will invite the persons coming to the meeting to bring a topic with them for discussion at either that meeting or at the next one.

iii) Social events -- eating, drinking, and being merry. Also free-for-all discussion. Pretty straightforward. The only question is, after we start to grow, where we will hold these events. Restaurants have worked will thus far for groups from 8-15 persons, but we will have to book a large room on-campus once we start to grow larger, and use SG funds for food. I've already checked on SG funds, and it doesn't seem a difficult proposition. I will be procuring funds for a campus-wide event speaker first, and after that, perhaps we can get a budget. The budgets for groups are always proportional to the size of the groups, so we need to get up regular attendance before limiting our resources.

Topics for discussion, and their respective UF departments, include, but are not limited to (please leave suggestions!):

• Physics: cosmology (especially the origins of the cosmos), astrophysics (stellar evolution and the Big Bang), quantum mechanics, general relativity
  
• Biology: evolution vs. creationism, human evolution, general evolutionary theory and its underpinnings
  
• Chemistry: abiogenesis (reviewing tenable natural explanations of the emergence of the chemistry of life), biochemical basis of aging and disease (telomere shortening, oxidation), physical considerations in extending human lifespan and transhumanism
• Medicine: medical ethics, medical perspective on transhumanism and future capabilities of regneration, stem cell research
  
• Philosophy: foundations of knowledge (epistemology, Kant), topics in the phil of religion (Swinburne, Plantinga, Aquinas, Van Till, etc.), ethics (utilitarianism, Euthyphro dilemma)
• Comparitive religions: history, beliefs and cultural origins of the various world religions (broad and general)
• Mathematics: number theory, chaos theory, Bertrand Russell's view of the primacy of mathematical knowledge
  
• Apologetic Presentations: for any Rabbi, Shiek, Priest, Pastor, etc., courageous enough to be willing to come speak to our group and offer up a formal defense of their faith -- hopefully, all faiths can be equally represented, but this is likely a pipe dream
  

If you know any professor with a specialty in any of these areas, who you think may have an interest in presenting on one of these topics, please post a comment or contact me about it.

Looking forward to an active and productive semester!