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The Evolution of Beauty
03/17/2024
Gordon Orians

Gordon Orians discusses what beauty is all about from an evolutionary perspective. Orians is Professor Emeritus of Biology, University of Washington. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1989 and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1990.

Humanist Action Ghana
03/10/2024
Yvonne Stennicke Larsen & Jeff Strang

Presentation by Yvonne Stennicke Larsen and Jeff Strang about Humanist Action Ghana (HA Ghana) which trains low-income women in vocational subjects to improve their economic situations. Yvonne grew up in a devout Christian home in Southern Ghana. Everyone she knew believed in witchcraft. Joining HA Ghana in 2013, she worked in a camp for women accused of witchcraft. HGP member Jeff Strang will also speak about his experience meeting Yvonne and traveling to Ghana this past November. Jeff was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana around 1980, and has visited there since.

Elections: What Are They Good For?
03/03/2024
Jeff Seward

Presentation by Jeff Seward. Are free and fair elections really essential to democracy? Are some forms of election subversive of real democracy? How do authoritarian systems use elections? What reforms of our elections would make them more democratic? Jeff has a Ph.D from Stanford. He has had a career in public television as a political reporter, news anchor, and film producer. A retired professor in the Department of Politics and Government at Pacific University, he has presented to us many times in the past.

Hallucinogenic Mushrooms
02/18/2024
Michael Beug

Presentation by Michael Beug, author of “Mushrooms of Cascadia: An Illustrated Key”.In a 1957 Life Magazine article “The Discovery of Mushrooms that Cause Strange Visions.” North Americans  were introduced to psilocybin mushrooms. Late in the 1990s, research on psilocybin continued. Since 2010, we have discovered many roles for these compounds in psychotherapy. They also produce mystical experiences, generally increasing empathy. Psilocybe mushroom therapy has the potential to make the world a more caring place. Michael Beug completed his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Washington in 1971. He taught for 32 years at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Michael started mushrooming in 1968. His photographs have appeared in over 80 books and articles on mushrooms.

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