EVENTS This Week—Neil deGrasse Tyson in OH, Skepchicks in Chicago & MORE!
If you’re in the area, check out Chicago Skepticamp this weekend and meet Skepchick’s Jamie Bernstein and Kate Donovan (of Teen Skepchick and Freethought Blogs). Next Thursday, lucky Ohioans have the opportunity to hear Neil deGrasse Tyson speak at Wright State. The rest of the Neil fan club will have to content themselves with their Neil meme collections.
But the Midwest is not the only happening location in the week ahead. CFI has started a monthly freethinking Open Mind Open Mic event, and the Southeast Virginia Skeptics are doing some double-feature fundraising. All over the world, you’ll find the usual pub nights, book clubs, and regular meetups (check out our events calendar to find one near you). You’ll also find plenty of opportunity for activism, including the Marriage Equality March in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Featured Events for March 1–7
Below are some highlights of events around the U.S. (listed by region), in Canada, and in 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
New York, NY—Multiple
Wed., March 6: CFI New York is having an Open Mind Open Mic event. Bring your performance art (music, poetry, comedy, fiction, etc.), original or a cover, inspired by science or secular humanism.
Wed., March 6: Join the NYC Skeptics for a lecture by Mark Alpert, author of Extinction, on the science and technology that inspired his book and where they might take us.
Hampton, VA, Tues., March 5
NASA and the VA Air & Space Center are hosting a free Sigma Series Lecture by research hydrologist Paul Hsieh, “The Science Behind the Taming of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.”
Norfolk, VA—Multiple
Fri., March 1: Join the Southeast Virginia Skeptics to watch the Norfolk Admirals play the Charlotte Checkers, a hockey night that also raises money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Get more info here on tickets and their group discount.
Sun., March 3: The Southeast Virginia Skeptics are doing some more fundraising on Sunday, this time with a dinner benefiting the ODU Secular Student Association. RSVP required.
SOUTHEAST
Covington, KY, Wed., March 6
Join the Tri-State Freethinkers to hear a talk by Jerry Dewitt from The Clergy Project, “Hope after Faith.”
Louisville, KY, Tues., March 5
The Louisville Area Skeptics’ March Science Cafe features sociologist Sam Sloss talking about “Public Attitudes Toward Science.”
SOUTHCENTRAL
Austin, TX, Wed., March 6
Next Wednesday’s Hot Science Cool Talks series at UT-Austin’s Environmental Science Institute is on “Telescopes as Time Machines: The Legacy of Hubble and the Future through the James Webb Space Telescope,” with astrophysicist Jason Kalirai.
Corpus Christi, TX—Multiple
Sun., March 3: Join the Corpus Christi Atheists and others for a private screening of The Revisionaries, the director’s cut.
Sun., March 3: Join South Texas Women Liberals and others for a Marriage Equality March.
Dallas, TX—Multiple
Fri., March 1: The Maguire Center for Ethics and SMU’s Philosophy Department are hosting a lecture by philosophy professor Shelly Kagan on “Why is Death Bad for You?”
Sat., March 2: Join the Fellowship of Freethought for a pub crawl plus comedian Jim Jefferies live.
Houston, TX—Multiple
Sat., March 2: Join or cheer on the Humanists of Houston in the Race Against Violence 5k to support the Houston Area Women’s Center, which includes a competitive and a noncompetitive race as well as a kids’ run, followed by a family festival. Register here.
Sun., March 3: Anti-creationism student activist Zack Kopplin is giving a talk this weekend sponsored by Houston Oasis.
Rowlett, TX, Tues., March 5
Join Metroplex Atheists and other concerned citizens to speak up at the Rowlett City Council about the Christian prayers that open their meetings.
MIDWEST
Chicago, IL, Sat., March 2
Chicago Skepticamp is this weekend! Skepchicks Jamie Bernstein and Kate Donovan will both be speaking. Find out more at the Chicago Skeptics website.
Lenexa, KS, Sat., March 2
Join the Midwest Skeptics Society for a talk on “Quantum Life: How Physics Can Revolutionise Biology,” with a video lecture by theoretical physicist Jim Al-Khalili and presentation by theoretical chemist (and Evangelical Christian) John Millam.
St. Louis, MO, Wed., March 6
Washington University is hosting a talk by behavioral economist Dan Ariely on “The (Honest) Truth about Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone—Especially Ourselves.”
Akron, OH, Sat., March 2
Join CFI Northeast Ohio and the Secular Ladies Social Club on the Akron Artwalk. Get more info here.
Stow, OH, Mon., March 4
CFI program director Mark Tiborsky is giving a talk on “Secularism: Where Do We Go From Here?”
Dayton, OH, Thurs., March 7
Don’t miss a chance to hear Neil deGrasse Tyson speak at Wright State University next Thursday! He’ll be talking on “Ten Things You Need to Know about the Universe.”
WEST
Los Angeles, CA, Sun., March 3
CFI’s Feed Your Brain series features “The Particle at the End of the Universe: How the Hunt for the Higgs Boson Leads Us to the Edge of a New World,” with physicist Sean Carroll. $8, Students $4; free for members.
Salinas, CA, Fri., March 1
Hartnell College Planetarium’s Friday show is “Dark”—all about dark matter. $6 at the door.
San Francisco, CA Sat., March 2
Join the Bay Area Humanists for a talk led by Manuel Manga, director of the Center for Evolutionary Leadership, on “Designing Your Own Secular Spirituality.”
Denver, CO, Fri., March 1
The Secular Parents Club at the Secular Hub are hosting a reception for Katherine Stewart, author of The Good News Club. Family-friendly event.
NORTHWEST
Portland OR, Mon., Mar. 4
Science Pub Portland’s topic this Monday is “High Fructose Corn Syrup: Myths and Realities,” with Daniel L. Marks, professor in pediatric endocrinology and director of the Oregon Child Health Research Center at OHSU. $5 suggested cover charge
Seattle, WA, Fri., March 1, through Sun., March 3
It’s Emerald City Comic Con weekend! The largest comic book/pop culture con in the region.
CANADA
Saskatoon, SK, Thurs., March 7
Join the University of Saskatchewan Freethought Alliance for an Ask the Skeptic booth they’ll be setting up in the arts and science tunnel on Thursday.
UK
Edinburgh, Mon., March 4
Join the Edinburgh Humanists for a talk by Stuart Ritchie on “IQ for Dummies.”
London—Multiple
Mon., March 4: Doctoral researcher and assistant editor of The Skeptic Rob Brotherton is giving a talk on “The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories.”
Thurs., March 7: Award-winning journalist Janet Heimlich is giving a talk at Conway Hall on “Breaking Their Will: Religious Child Maltreatment.”
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.
When I first saw this I was all “What Skephicks are coming to Chicago and how did I not know about it?” Then I realized it was me.