Event details:
Date: Thursday, 7^th April 2011
Time: 1 PM
Venue: Harold White Lecture Theatre, Arts Centre

If you haven’t renewed your UMSS membership yet then don’t fret, you can get your new shiny membership card by signing up at any event during the year. Renewing membership means you’re helping the society grow and gain access to bigger grants, which means more events, guests, free food and merch! Membership is only $1 for Union members and $2 for non-union!

Our awesome new shirts will be available again as well. there are two quotes to choose from, one from Huxley and one from Sagan. They are only $20 for members!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

(Click the image to see larger versions of the designs)

We have two shiny new UMSS shirt designs for sale!  Declare your secular status and make a statement at the same time with one of two awesome quotes.  Help spread the news that there is a Secular Society on campus and we have T-SHIRTS.  That’ll show ‘em.

Only $20 each, sizes S-XL (S-M ladies, S-XL blokes).  We only have a small amount, so if you miss out (or we don’t have one in your size) let us know and we’ll make sure to order a shirt in your size and design at the next order!

While we don’t have hoodies for sale at the moment we might put an order later in the semester if there is enough interest.  Due to grant-size restraints unless we have people showing interest we are limited on how many we can order in, so if you’re interested, send an email through to umss@umss.org or tell us at one of the weekly event!

Kathleen Maltzahn spent five years in the Philippines, was the founding director of Project Respect, an NGO that works with women in the sex industry, and spearheaded the successful campaign that put sexual slavery on the national agenda, saw traffickers charged with slavery and stopped the mandatory deportation of trafficked women. She is currently the Greens candidate for Richmond.

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Details:
1:00-2:00pm
Wednesday, October 13th
Theatre 1, Old Geology,
University of Melbourne

Greg Barber

Science and ethics – why politics can include both: The role of the Greens in the political process.

Greg Barber has a strong history of involvement in local and state government, joining the Yarra City Council in 2002 and being elected the first Green Mayor in Australia only a year later. During his time on the council, Greg had to deal with issues relating to the environment, disability discrimination, exploitation in the sex industry, and much more. Currently he is a member of the Parliament of Victoria, after his election in 2006 as one of the first members of The Greens to enter the Legislative Council.

In this Q&A, Greg will be discussing the important role of science and ethics in politics; an issue that continues to be important in the aftermath of the election season.

Details:
1:00-2:00pm
Wednesday 25th August
Lower Theatre (G03), Babel building, University of Melbourne

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Dr Monica Thielking
(Psychologists in Schools Advisor – Australian Psychological Society)
“Student Mental Health: Do Chaplains Have a Role?”

The Australian Psychological Society has warned the government that there are serious risks to students associated with the funding of school chaplains independently of other services carried out by professionals who are both qualified and registered.

Dr Thielking will outline why the Australian Psychological Society is calling on the government to support a more professional and evidence-based service in schools for students dealing with complex mental health issues.

Details:
1:00-2:00pm
Thursday 19th August
Theatre A, Elizabeth Murdoch, University of Melbourne
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Co-presented by National Science Week, the Melbourne University Psychology Association (MUPA) and the University of Melbourne Secular Society (UMSS).

Dr Monica Thielking works at the Australian Psychological Society as the Psychologists in Schools Advisor. Monica chairs a number of committees dealing with issues related to school psychology, develops professional resources for school psychologists, assists school psychologists with ethical and professional queries and lobbies government and other agencies for better standards in student psychological care. Monica has both professional and research experience in school psychology and is passionate about the provision of high quality early intervention services for Australian children and young people.

Kristian Camilleri & Dr Gerhard Wiesenfeldt
(School of Philosophy, Anthropology and Social Inquiry)
“Science and Non-Science – Where’s the Difference?”

Kristian and Gerhard will attempt to answer what counts as science, why is it difficult to tell the difference between science and non-science and why is it important to know the difference.

Details:
1:00-2:00pm
Friday 20th August
Elizabeth Murdoch, University of Melbourne
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Co-presented by National Science Week and the University of Melbourne Secular Society

Kristian Camilleri is a lecturer in the History and Philosophy of Science program in the School of Philosophy, Anthropology and Social Inquiry. After studying physics and HPS, he completed his PhD in History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Melbourne in 2005. Kristian has published in the history and philosophy of modern physics, and is currently engaged in research on the role of metaphors in science, and the different forms of reasoning historically employed in thought experiments. He is also interested in intellectual history, and in particular the interplay between science, philosophy, culture and ideology. In 2009 Kristian published a book on Werner Heisenberg’s philosophy of physics with Cambridge University Press, entitled Werner Heisenberg and the Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: The Physicist as Philosopher.

Gerhard Wiesenfeldt is a lecturer at The University of Melbourne in the School of Philosophy, Anthropology and Social Inquiry. Gerhard studied physics, philosophy and history of science at Hamburg University. He received his PhD for a thesis on experimental natural philosophy in 17th century universities. He has published on early modern Dutch science, the visual culture of experiments, science in popular movies, biographies of fameless scientists and romantic self-experiments.

The event will include reports from the President and Treasurer, elections for a new committee and ratification of changes to our constitution.

This is your chance to get involved in the club, put forward your ideas for the future of the club, or simply get a free lunch!

Click below to read the AGM Agenda and the new constitution (changes in red):

• AGM Agenda

• Amended UMSS Constitution

Details:
1pm Friday August 6th
Joe Napolitano Room B, 2nd Floor, Union House

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Free pizza will be provided to all members at the event, and UMSS merchandise (badges, tees, hoodies) will also be available to purchase.

Details:
Time: 1:00pm Wed 28 July
Location: Medley Theatre, Redmond Barry

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The DVD of the 2010 Global Atheist Convention can be purchased online from JB HI FI or EZY DVD.

For the latest edition, editor Kevin Childs invited Jason Ball, President of UMSS, to be the guest editor for a revamped edition, which includes a new-look design, a cover story on the rise of Gen Y freethinkers and contributions from several younger writers, including several UMSS members.

Also featured in this special edition is a piece on secular education by former High Court Justice Michael Kirby, and an interview with playwright and political activist Gore Vidal.

The journal is only $9.50 and is available to purchase from any Borders store, as well as a large number of newsagents across Australia.

We encourage you to go and pick up a copy today, and help support the Rationalist Society of Australia – who have been a huge sponsor and friend of UMSS over the years.

You might also like to consider joining the Rationalist Society, which is only $25 (conc.) and includes a one-year subscription to their journal.

However, the Attorney General Rob Hulls is steadfastly refusing to refer the matter of physician assisted dying for the terminally ill to the Victorian Law Reform Commission for community consultation.

UMSS are delighted to announce that Neil Francis, President and CEO of Dying With Dignity Victoria, will be joining us for ‘Q&A on Campus’ – the Secular Society’s weekly group discussion event.

Details:
Neil Francis – ‘The need for euthanasia law reform’
1-2pm
Thursday 27th May
Old Geology 1
University of Melbourne

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Who are the major players and pressure groups in this debate? Why is the government refusing to even let the debate be had? Is the right to die with dignity worth fighting for? These questions as well as your own will be up for discussion in what should be a fascinating conversation.

Details:
6:00 – 7:30pm
Wednesday 19th May
Upstairs of Prince Alfred Hotel, Carlton

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Featured guests will include Meredith Doig from the Rationalist Society of Australia, a think-tank devoted to promoting science, reason and secular values in Australian society, along with Labor MP Brian Tee (Eastern Metropolitan Region). Brain has served on the Victorian Legislative Council since 2006 and was involved in the sculpting of the Human Rights Bill in Victoria, and thus dealt with the issue of the many Church groups that attempted to secure exemptions from the Bill.

What role does religion play in influencing public policy in Australia? What role should it play? Is there a separation of church and state in Australia? These questions as well as your own will be up for discussion in this fascinating conversation.

Drink and food specials will be available at PA’s during the event.