For a Tolerant World Where Rational Thinking and Kindness Prevail Welcome
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Northumbria Students Union 2 Sandyford Ford, Newcastle NE1 8SB 22-24 June 2018 Newcastle FOR A TOLERANT WORLD WHERE RATIONAL THINKING AND KINDNESS PREVAIL WELCOME Welcome to Humanists UK probed some of the bigger Convention 2018, in the questions about human nature stunning city of Newcastle. We and morality. hope, over this weekend, to be inspired and entertained as One of the most striking we bring together hundreds features of Northumbrian of like-minded people to think, humanism has been its laugh, eat, and discuss ideas outward-looking nature, under one roof. We’re all here exemplifying Harold because we are humanists: Blackham’s maxim that people who shape their own ‘Humanism is about the lives in the here and now. And world, not about humanism.’ as the national organisation The North East Humanists, a for humanists in the UK, it’s partner group of Humanists Humanists UK’s mission to UK originally founded in 1957, in. And you’ll have a chance champion ideas for the one is a great example of this. to ask questions of some of life we have. This weekend The group has been a great the foremost activists working we’ll dive deep into some of supporter of the Isaac Newton to build a fairer, more rational those ideas – and we hope High School in Uganda for society in the UK and around you’ll find the talks, debates, many years now, helping the the world. and entertainment we’ve Ugandan humanists ensure put on both stimulating and that a broad-based, liberal Whether this is your first ever rewarding. education is freely available Humanists UK event or your to both boys and girls, fiftieth, I hope you have a It’s good to be in Newcastle. irrespective of family income. fantastic weekend. Everyone Like many parts of the UK, North East Humanists also is here for the same reasons Northumbria has contributed devotes a portion of its income – to have fun, to celebrate a great deal to humanism every year towards other good humanism, to explore new around the world. It is the causes working in and beyond ideas, and to think and probe birthplace of many a famous the North East. some of the work we’re doing humanist, who display the to create a tolerant world breadth and depth of humanist We hope you’ll find that same where rational thinking and achievement. These include sense of outward-looking, kindness prevail. Members pioneering figures in science, compassionate, and optimistic are invited to come along like the physicist Peter humanism evident throughout to the Humanists UK AGM, Higgs – the man who first this weekend’s discussions. which will be held on Sunday postulated the so-called ‘God Our speakers are set to take us at 14:00, where you’ll have a Particle’ discovered at CERN, on a tour of human history, and chance to catch up on a year which has revolutionised our to examine the very nature of of great achievements for understanding of reality. The the scientific enterprise and Humanists UK. great Anglo-Polish humanist the search for truth. Others author Joseph Conrad also will probe what it really means But enough from me. Enjoy had strong ties to the city; it to be human, and to lead an this year’s Convention! was on cargo ships to and from ethical life. You’ll also hear Newcastle that he first learned from leading cultural, social, to speak English. He later and political critics and experts Andrew Copson went on to produce some of – who will bring a humanist Chief Executive the finest novels ever written perspective to bear on the in the language. His writing challenging times we are living YOUR TICKET Register and collect your name badge at the registration desk on the first floor, outside Escape. Registration for Humanists UK Convention is open from 08:30 on Saturday, and 09:30 on Sunday. Registration for Humanist Professionals Conference is open from 10:30 on Friday. Convention ticket plus lunch plus lunch and gala dinner Convention ticket-holders are In addition, please join us for a As well as teas, coffees, and welcome to join us at any talk or buffet lunch on Saturday and lunches, please join us for drinks panel discussion throughout the Sunday. in Reds from 19:00 on Saturday weekend. Teas and coffees are evening, and for the Gala Dinner included. in Domain at 20:00. Coffee is served at 09:55 and Lunch is served at 12:00 in Reds There is no designated dress 14:50 on Saturday, and 10:50 and and Habita on both days. code for the dinner; come as you 13:55 on Sunday. feel most comfortable! Pastoral Celebrant Support Section Leader Volunteer Young Humanists LGBT Humanists Local School Humanist Students Group Speaker Defence Humanists Leader FRIDAY EVENT VENUE 10:30 Humanist Professionals Conference Escape registration opens 15:00 Registration opens Escape 17:00 Pub quiz with Habita Jonny Berliner and Simon Watt 19:15 Comedy (doors open) Domain 19:30 Comedy Domain 20:15 Break 20:30 Comedy resumes Domain 21:30 Drinks at cash bar Habita Music and comedy featuring Dave Alnwick Simon Watt Jonny Berliner Iszi Lawrence Jay Foreman SATURDAY DOMAIN STAGE 2 09:00 Welcome Nick Brown MP 09:10 The future of humans in space Piers Bizony 09:55 Coffee break (Reds) Coffee break (Habita) 10:15 Supercharged: a humanist journey Will the UK ever with green energy legalise assisted suicide? (batteries included) Michael Irwin Saiful Islam 11:00 Break Break 11:10 Identity wars: the rise of The fight for humanist marriage populism in Europe and America Laura Lacole, Richy Thompson, Ian Dunt & Isabel Russo 12:00 Lunch (Reds) Lunch (Habita) 13:00 Crime: why so much of We should all be feminists what we’re told is wrong Emily McCullouch Nick Ross 13:50 Break Break 14:00 Backlash to the past Religion in the 21st century Catherine Nixey, Tim Whitmarsh, Sunny Hundal & Zoe Margolis Francesca Stavrakopoulou, & Natalie Haynes 14:50 Coffee break (Reds) Coffee break (Habita) 15:10 A brief history of Protecting Human Rights Defenders everyone who ever lived in a perilous world Adam Rutherford Mary Lawlor 16:00 Break Break 16:10 Lights in the distance Can science answer all Daniel Trilling the great questions? Peter Atkins & Saiful Islam 17:00 Close SATURDAY EVENING EVENT VENUE 18:00 LGBT Humanists Drinks Reception Escape 19:00 Young Humanists Saturday night social The Junction For humanists aged 18–35 Percy Street NE1 7PF 19:00 Gala Dinner Drinks Reception Reds 20:00 Gala Dinner Domain SUNDAY DOMAIN STAGE 2 10:00 Welcome back 10:05 The work of the Community Services team in the last year Teddy Prout 10:25 The work of Humanists UK in the last year Andrew Copson 10:50 Coffee break (Reds) Coffee break (Habita) 11:10 The many uses and abuses of Islam From heresy to witchcraft Arzoo Ahmed Deborah Hyde 12:00 Lunch (Reds) Lunch (Habita) 12:15 Getting involved with Community Services 13:00 Market fundamentalism and completing the Enlightenment Angela Eagle MP 13:50 Close 13:55 Coffee (Reds) Coffee (Habita) 14:00 Humanists UK AGM (Members Only) 16:00 Drinks with trustees SESSIONS Friday night entertainment Friday 17:00–Late | HABITA, DOMAIN A fun, easy, social start to the weekend! Join us for a pub quiz from 17:00, for comedy and music after 19:15, and why not stay for a few drinks with attendees old and new from around 21:30. Welcome Nick Brown MP Saturday 09:00–09:05 | DOMAIN Nick Brown MP, member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group and Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne East, welcomes Humanists UK. The future of humans in space Saturday 09:10–09:55 | DOMAIN 2018 marks 50 years since 2001: A Space Odyssey – a film that takes as read some Piers Bizony connection between our destiny and the wider cosmos. At the same time, we see privateers such as Elon Musk start to operate ‘sustainable’ rocket businesses, capable perhaps of revolutionising access to space. So – what next? Hawking and others say we have to spread ourselves into space to ensure our survival. Films and TV shows now exploit a common trope: Earth in chaos, with its upper orbits decorated by fleeing spaceships. But does extraterrestrial colonisation really offer hope of an ‘Earth B’, a ‘backstop’ in event of a terrestrial collapse? Or might it just lead to a spurious and dangerous fantasy? Supercharged: a humanist journey with green energy (batteries included) Saiful Islam Saturday 10:15–11:00 | DOMAIN A talk of two halves. Firstly, Saiful Islam will discuss his experience growing up in a Muslim household in north London and his outlook becoming atheist – despite his name(!). Secondly, he will take us through his research on green energy materials, for which he was invited to present the BBC’s 80th anniversary Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in 2016. With the aid of 3D glasses, Saiful will discuss his research on new battery materials for electric cars that help cut carbon emissions and air pollution, and leave a better world for tomorrow. Will the UK ever legalize assisted suicide? Michael Irwin Saturday 10:15–11:00 | STAGE 2 Why has it been so difficult to achieve a ‘right-to-die’ law in the UK, through Parliament or the Courts, in spite of overwhelming public support for such legislation? Michael Irwin, a ‘right-to-die’ activist for 25 years, will explain what he believes lies behind the difficulties. In order to illustrate the possibilities available should such a freedom be offered in the UK, he will describe some of his own personal experiences, including his witnessing of five doctor-assisted suicides in Switzerland since 2005.