The Value of Words

FeelGoodLibrarian recently posted a touching story about the the value of words. She helped a patron at the reference desk who wanted to know what it's called when your cognitive skills aren't what they used to be. After some back and forth, they got a definition which satisfied the patron. She tells it way better than I do; and her story illustrates both the value of words and the value of good reference service.

Science And Reason In The Age Of Unreason

Science And Reason In The Age Of Unreason
Pervez Hoodbhoy
Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad

Monday, February 6, 2006
4:15 p.m., Franklin Patterson Hall, East Lecture Hall
Hampshire College

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract:
Over the last two decades, science and the scientific method have come
under relentless attack from forces that cover the entire spectrum between
religious orthodoxy and post-modernism. Immense social and political
consequences flow from this surprising, and remarkably global, change. In
this lecture I shall address the reasons behind the growing philosophical
rejection of modern science in Islamic countries, and how this has
affected their social and political development.

Brief Bio:
Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy is Professor of nuclear and high-energy physics
at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. He has written and
spoken extensively on topics ranging from science in Islam to
education issues and nuclear disarmament. He is the author of
"Muslims & Science: Religious Orthodoxy and the Battle for
Rationality" and his writings on scientific and political issues have
been published in international newspapers, including the Washington
Post, Le Monde, the Hindu, and Dawn. He is the recipient of 2003
UNESCO Kalinga prize for the Popularization of Science.

Sponsor:
The Integrated Science & Humanities Initiative at Hampshire College

Lecture on Intelligent Design

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m.
West Lecture Hall, Franklin Patterson Hall

Hampshire College will host a panel discussion on evolution, science and intelligent design. The panelists include professors from the schools of Natural Science, Cognitive Science and Social Science. We will discuss the principal arguments offered in support of intelligent design, the theory of and evidence for evolution by natural selection, why intelligent design does not belong in a science classroom, and the relationships among evolution, religion and our quest for meaning. Open discussion will follow.

Panelists include (alphabetically):
Ernie Alleva, Instructor, First-Year Program, CS
Mark Feinstein, Professor of Linguistics and Animal Cognition, CS
Salman Hameed, Assistant Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities, NS/CS
Laura Sizer, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, CS
Lee Spector, Professor of Computer Science, CS
Jason Tor, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, NS
Jim Wald, Associate Professor of History, SS