The Bertrand Russell Distinguished Scholars Critical Thinking Lecture Series    
This new feature of the conference will highlight the work and thinking of distinguished thinkers within subjects, fields, disciplines or about specific topics or issues. This year's scholars include Michael Shermer and Ethan Watters. All conference participants are invited to these lectures.

Dr. Michael Shermer

Dr. Michael Shermer is the Publisher of  Skeptic  magazine, a monthly columnist for  Scientific American , and author of many books including  Why People Believe Weird Things . He was a college professor for 20 years, and has appeared on such shows as The Colbert Report, 20/20, Dateline, Charlie Rose, and Larry King Live. Dr. Shermer was the co-host and co-producer of the 13-hour Family Channel television series, Exploring the Unknown. 



Ethan Watters

Ethan Watters is the author of  Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche  and coauthor of  Making Monsters , an indictment of the recovered memory movement. A frequent contributor to The New York Times Magazine, Discover, Men’s Journal, Details, Wired, and PRI's This American Life, he has appeared on such national media as Good Morning America, Talk of the Nation, and CNN. His work has been featured in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series.

William I. Robinson

William I. Robinson is professor of sociology, global studies, and Latin American studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara.  He is a scholar-activist who participates in social justice movements in Latin America and the United States.  Among his seven books are A Theory of Global Capitalism (2004) and Latin America and Global Capitalism (2008).  His web page is www.soc.ucsb.edu/faculty/robinson.