Contact: Ralph Derickson

“Arts and Sciences Geek Week allows us to highlight the accomplishments of our diverse faculty, to bring visiting scholars to the university, and to prepare students for future academic and professional endeavors through targeted workshops. In hosting Arts and Sciences Geek Week, the Ambassadors have done an excellent job of demonstrating the diverse interests of the college.”

-- Steven L. Hoch,
dean,
College of Arts and Sciences,
University of Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 4, 2005) -- Arts and Sciences Geek Week 2005 – a campus-wide celebration of the liberal arts and sciences scheduled for Feb. 21-25 – kicks off at noon Monday, Feb. 21, in the Main Building on the University of Kentucky campus. UK Provost Michael T. Nietzel and Steven L. Hoch, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will speak. A live step performance by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity members and an exhibit of books written by the college’s faculty follows.

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) correspondent and author Philip Short will discuss his forthcoming book, “Pol Pot: The History of a Nightmare,” in a keynote lecture at 6 p.m. Mon day, Feb. 21 , in the UK Student Center Theater. A reception follows the event.

History comes alive at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, in the Student Center Theatre with “February One,” a feature documentary written and co-produced by Daniel Smith, UK professor of history. The film documents the lunch counter sit-in by the “Greensboro Four,” one of the pivotal moments in the Civil Rights movement.

Associate professor of biology James Krupa demonstrates how to look at bones and “read” them like crime investigators on forensic TV programs such as “CSI.” The “Reading Bones” open house is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, in the Thomas Hunt Morgan Biological Sciences Building.

UK psychology professor Jonathan Golding discusses “Eyewitness Testimony in the Courtroom” at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, in 230 Student Center. A reception follows.

Participants can learn “ How Many Dimensions Does the Universe Have ... Really?” during a lecture by Eric Adelberger, professor of physics and adjunct professor of astronomy at the University of Washington, Seattle. Scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, in Memorial Hall, this keynote address is part of the “Einstein and Beyond” lecture series celebrating the international World Year of Physics 2005.

Arts and Sciences Geek Week ends Friday, Feb. 25, with two science events that are popular in the community. “Chemistry Reaction” begins at 7:15 p.m. in 139 Chemistry- Physics Building. It is followed at 8:30 p.m. by the “Physics Spectacular” in 155 Chemistry- Physics Building.

The UK College of Arts and Sciences houses 17 academic departments and 14 interdisciplinary programs in the humanities, social sciences, and natural and mathematical sciences. Arts and Sciences Week promotes each discipline’s unique contributions to furthering knowledge and advancing society. The annual event is planned and orchestrated by the Arts and Sciences Ambassadors, a group of 15 undergraduate students in the college.

“Arts and Sciences Geek Week allows us to highlight the accomplishments of our diverse faculty, to bring visiting scholars to the university, and to prepare students for future academic and professional endeavors through targeted workshops,” said Dean Hoch. “In hosting Arts and Sciences Geek Week, the Ambassadors have done an excellent job of demonstrating the diverse interests of the college.”

Each day of Arts and Sciences Week includes informative lectures, workshops, film presentations, panel discussions and more. All events are free and open to the public. Visit a detailed calendar of Arts and Sciences Geek Week 2005 events.