All over the globe, many of your favorite scientists, skeptics, and atheists are appearing live: in Texas, you can meet Surly Amy at the American Atheists Convention in Austin; Stephen Hawking in Houston; Hemant Mehta and Seth Andrews in Canyon and Houston; Australian atheist singer-songwriter Shelley Segal in Houston and San Antonio.

Hemant will also be giving a talk in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Carl Zimmer will be speaking in Overland Park, Kansas; Susan Jacoby in Grand Rapids, Michigan;  PZ Myers in Seattle; AC Grayling and others in a church and state debate in Sydney; Robert Llewellyn on electric cars in London; and many more well-known personalities, skeptics, scientists, and atheists.

Plus, we’ve got events in support of marriage equality going on all over the United States in anticipation of the Supreme Court hearings on DOMA; charity events to support LGBTQ teens in Texas; animals in Georgia; women’s rights in North Dakota; Ronald McDonald House in San Diego; and tons more listed in our events calendar.

And if that’s not enough, check out the Flashdance/zombie apocalypse mashup in Kansas; Bad Religion concert in Philly; an Atheist Easter Mini-(liquor)Bottle Hunt in Memphis; a discussion between a pastor turned atheist and an atheist turned pastor in Ohio; a Zombie Jesus Party in Utah; plus more much-needed discussions on diversity in the community in Ohio and London.

And the American Atheists convention isn’t the only CON going on. The San Diego Science Festival is continuing this week, and the Edinburgh International Science Festival starts Saturday.

Featured Events for March 22–28

Below are some highlights of events around the U.S. (listed by region), in Australia, Canada, and the UK. You can find a ton more going on all over the world in our events calendar.

Don’t see your area listed here or in the calendar? Shoot us an email, or let me know in the comments what area you are interested in.

NORTHEAST

Baltimore, MD, Thurs., March 28

Join CFI members for Ignite Baltimore, an event where people get 5 minutes and 20 slides to talk about anything they like.

Indiana, PA, Mon., March 25

Indiana University of Pennsylvania is hosting a talk by Hemant Mehta, the Friendly Atheist, on “A Young Atheist’s Survival Guide.”

Philadelphia, PA,

Sun., March 24: Philadelphia Atheists are going to the Bad Religion and Against Me! Concert at the Electric Factory. Click here to find out how to join them.
Mon., March 25: Wear red and bring your marriage equality sign to join Philadelphia Atheists for a Candlelight Vigil on Eve of Supreme Court DOMA Hearing, sponsored by United for Marriage. Not in Philly? Find one in your area or start your own.

SOUTHEAST

Clearwater, FL, Sun., March 24

CFI–Tampa Bay is attending the UUC Lecture by Ron Burnette, retired philosophy professor, on “Free Will versus Determinism.”

Augusta, GA, Sat., March 23

Freethinking Friends of Augusta and Aiken are taking part in Paws in the Park, benefitting the CSRA Humane Society. Walk your own dog or walk a shelter dog.

Raleigh, NC, Wed., March 27

The Triangle Skeptics general meeting features Alexander Glass, director of Undergraduate Studies in Earth and Ocean Sciences in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. He’ll be talking on “Consensus, Confusion, and Conspiracy: A Skeptic Looks at Global Warming.”

Memphis, TN, Sat., March 23

Memphis Atheists are hosting their 2nd Annual Atheist Easter Mini-Bottle Hunt. Bring 6 mini liquor bottles for the hunt, plus an Easter basket and a snack to share. Join the group and RSVP here.

SOUTHCENTRAL

Austin, TX—Multiple

Thurs.–Sun., March 28–31: The 2013 American Atheists National Convention starts next Thursday. Surly Amy is one of many powerful speakers, in addition to entertainers, an art show (including Amy’s work), a silent auction, a Quiet Company concert, and more.

Thurs., March 28: CFI-Austin is hosting Tom Flynn to talk on “The Trouble with Easter.”

Canyon and Houston, TX, Sat., March 23 and Thurs., March 28

Freethought Oasis and the Secular Student Alliance are hosting a presentation, book signing, and meet and greet with Hemant Mehta, the Friendly Atheist, and Seth Andrews, the Thinking Atheist on Saturday, and the Humanists of Houston are hosting them both on Thursday.

Dallas, TX, Fri., March 22

Join the Fellowship of Freethought for a Family Meal at Youth First Texas, a meal provided for LGBTQ teens and allies. Sign up here and bring a dish to share.

Houston, TX, Tues., March 26

Stephen Hawking will be speaking on his life and work as part of the Brilliant Lecture Series. $35–$250.

Houston and San Antonio, TX, Sat., March 23, and Tues., March 26

Shelley Segal, Australian singer-songwriter, will be singing from her debut An Atheist Album on Saturday in Houston and Tuesday in San Antonio. Donations requested to cover the private concerts.

MIDWEST

Skokie, IL, Sun., March 24

Susan Urban and Phil Cooper, the February Sky musical ensemble, will be performing a music/narrative called “All the Stories Are True” at the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago. Free event, with childcare available.

Overland Park, KS, Wed. March 27

Edwards Campus is hosting a free talk by Carl Zimmer, “Monsters and Science,” as part of its Science for the People Speaker Series.

Ann Arbor, MI, Sat., March 23

Ann Arbor Science & Skeptics are screening The Revisionaries, the documentary about Texas’s textbook battles.

Grand Rapids, MI, Wed., March 27

CFI is hosting a talk by Susan Jacoby, “The Great Agnostic: Robert Ingersoll & American Freethought.”

Lansing, MI, Sun., March 24

The Mid-Michigan Atheists & Humanists dinner meeting features Drain Commissioner Pat Lindemann, who will speak on Environmental Hydrology.

Minneapolis, MN, Sat., March 23

The First Minneapolis Circle of Reason is having another Transbelief Dialogue, this time at Weinstein Gallery and Lake Harriet, on the topic “Men or Women: Who’s Less Rational?”

Kansas City, MO, Fri., March 22

KC Freethinkers are getting together for a Flashdance zombie mashup, the play Slashdance!
$12.

St. Louis, MO, Sun., March 24

The group Climate Reality is hosting a talk by climate researcher Paul Beckwith, “What’s Up with the Arctic?”

Fargo, ND, Mon., March 25

Join the Fargo-Moorhead Atheists and others at the Stand up for Women Rally, to discuss legislation related to women’s privacy in health care.

Delaware, OH, Mon., March 25

OWU Freethinkers are hosting a dialogue, Polar Opposites, between a pastor turned atheist and an atheist turned pastor at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Columbus, OH, Sat., March 23

Central Ohio United Non-Theists (COUNT) have a couple of great events going on this week:

Thurs., March 21: Join a discussion on diversity and whether atheists tend to be white men and misogynistic, why the perception exists, and how to get more women and minorities involved in the community.

Sat., March 23: Join COUNT in the March for Marriage Equality.

WEST

San Diego, CA—Multiple

March 16–23: The San Diego Science Festival is still going on this week, with so many events, it’s overwhelming! Check out the schedule here.

Sun., March 24:

• Join the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego for the Amnesty International film screening of Pink Saris, about a women’s activist group in northern India. Free.
• The San Diego Association of Rational Inquiry is hosting a talk by mathematics and statistics professor Samuel Shen on the history of climate since 1895.
• Geek Girls of San Diego are taking part in the San Diego Hot Chocolate 15/5K benefiting Ronald McDonald House.

San Francisco, CA, Sat., March 23

Wonderfest Science is hosting “Will a Robot Be Your Friend?” a movie screening of Robot and Frank and a science talk. Seating is limited. $20, benefiting Wonderfest and Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California

Denver, CO—Multiple

Sun., March 24: Join Colorado’s Secular Hub for a Safe and Secular Schools Task Force meeting to plan how to fight against the Good News Club’s plans for indoctrinating children in Denver public schools this year.

Mon., March 25: Join the Denver Atheists at Cafe Sci 2, “What genes made us human?” with James Sikela.

Salt Lake City, UT—Multiple

Tues., March 26: Salt Lake City Postmormons and Friends are hosting a talk on Nutty Mormon History by Mithryn from Reddit. All ages.
Sat., March 23: The Atheists of Utah–Zion Sect are having a Zombie Jesus Party! Free to members. Membership is $20.

NORTHWEST

Seattle, WA, Wed., March 27

Seattle Atheists and the UW Secular Student Union are hosting a talk by PZ Myers. $5 suggested donation for non-students.

AUSTRALIA

Sydney, Sun., March 24

Join Sydney Atheists at a panel debate about Church and State at the opera house, with AC Grayling, Sean Faircloth, Pru Goward (minister for family and community services and minister for women) and Australian priest and human rights lawyer Frank Brennan.

CANADA

Halifax, NS, Sun., March 24

CFI–NS Skeptics in the Pub are having a guest speaker, David Young, president of Hong Kong International Skeptics, to talk on the state of skepticism in Hong Kong.

UK

Edinburgh, March 23–April 7

The Edinburgh International Science Festival starts this Saturday. Check out the full roster of events here. Edinburgh Skeptics and Skeptics in the Pub will be hosting Science Festival Fringe talks throughout the main festival, for example:

Tues., March 26: Kate Arney: “The Future of Cancer: Where Have We Come From and Where Are We Going?”

Wed., March 27: Alison Murdoch: “Ethical Challenges in Assisted Reproduction.”

Thurs., March 28: Jamie Gallagher: “The Self Sustaining Soldier.”

London—Multiple

Fri., March 22: The Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) are hosting Evening Drinks with Sudanese Atheist Nahla Mahmoud. £3 entry; £1 for unwaged.

Sat., March 23: The Irwin Prize for Secularist of the Year is being presented to Michael Cashman. £45.

Sun., March 24: The Conway Hall Sunday Lecture is by Dr. Andy Lewis, “What Every Parent Needs to Know about Steiner Schools.” £3 on the door; free to Ethical Society Members.

Mon., March 25:

• London Black Atheists (of Central London Humanists) are hosting a talk by Leo Igwe, prominent Nigerian humanist, on “Breaking the Taboo of Atheism in Black Communities.” £5 or £3 unemployed/students/low waged.
• Soho Skeptics are hosting a talk by actor and writer Robert Llewellyn, “Electric Cars Are Rubbish—Aren’t They?” Tickets available here.
• The Royal Society’s Café Scientifique features Matthew Piper, fellow at the RS Institute of Healthy Ageing, talking on “Is Growing Old an Illness?”

Thurs., March 28: Central London Humanists are hosting a talk by Jeff Lowder, of Internet Infidels: “Evidence about God: What Apologists Don’t Want You to Know.” Free.

Richmond, Mon., March 25

SW London Humanists are hosting a talk by David Pollock, former president of the European Humanist Federation, on “Battling for Humanism in Europe.”

Want to promote your skeptical, atheist, humanist, science, or just all-around geeky event or group on our events calendar? Click here to send us the details.