A new public lecture series gets underway at Douglas College this week that features a group of local and international experts hand-picked by students.
The Students’ Choice speaker series, sponsored by Knowledge First Financial, will feature Peter Jonason, an expert on personality psychology, Gabor Maté, a bestselling author and expert on addiction treatment, and Thierry Vrain, a former federal research scientist. They’ll visit Douglas College to discuss topics including the relationship between the dark side of human nature and mating behaviour, the risks posed by genetically modified crops and the consequences of living in a society that neglects genuine human needs.
“We are excited about this series because it gives our students the opportunity to decide which speakers to invite and what topics will be covered,” said Kathy Denton, vice-president, academic. “We want to engage our students here at Douglas College and this series is a great way to do that.”
Jonason, a lecturer at the University of Western Sydney in Australia, will kick off the series on Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. He’ll explore the role that personality traits such as narcissism and psychopathy play when men seek female mates.
The Students’ Choice speaker series takes place in the Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Theatre on Douglas College’s New Westminster campus at 700 Royal Ave.
The Feb. 26 talk features Vrain, a longtime soil biologist and genetic engineer from Vancouver Island, who will speak about the dangers of using genetically modified crops in North American agriculture. On March 31, Maté, a physician who has worked for more than a decade on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, will explain what having a cultural obsession with material gain means for people’s health.
Vrain’s Feb. 26 presentation runs from 12:30 to 2 p.m., while Maté’s March 31 presentation is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The talks are free and open to the public.
Stay tuned for an additional date, as organizers are planning an additional event with input from students in the Faculty of Language, Literature and Performing Arts.
For more information, visit www.douglascollege.ca.
