SPEAKERS’ BIOGRAPHIES

PZ Myers

PZ Myers is an associate professor of biology at the University of Minnesota-Morris and author of the popular science blog, Pharyngula, which covers culture, politics, religion, and most notably, the evolution/intelligent design debate. He received the 2005 Koufax Award for Best Expert Blog, the 2006 Weblog Award for Best Science Blog, and was named the world’s top science blogger by Nature magazine. He is an outspoken member of the scientific community against creationism and the promotion of “intelligent design.”

Jim Lippard

Jim Lippard was the founder and executive director of the Phoenix Skeptics (1985-1988), editor of The Arizona Skeptic (1991-1993), web administrator for the Skeptics Society (1994-1997) and president of the Internet Infidels (2003-2005). He has written articles for Skeptic magazine, Creation/Evolution Journal, the Reports of the National Center for Science Education and Perspectives in Science and Christian Faith, as well as chapters in Joe Nickell's Psychic Sleuths, Gordon Stein's The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal and Ed Babinski's Leaving the Fold.  He is currently the media representative for the Arizona Coalition of Reason (ArizonaCOR). Lippard holds a B.A. in philosophy from Arizona State University, an M.A. in philosophy/cognitive science from the University of Arizona and is a Ph.D. student in Arizona State University's program in Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology.

Maggie Ardiente

Maggie Ardiente is the director of development at the American Humanist Association, where she coordinates the AHA's fundraising programs and serves as editor of the AHA's membership newsletter, Free Mind. She also teaches "Humanism 101" classes at the Mary and Lloyd Morain Humanist Center in Washington, D.C.. She graduated with a B.S. in sociology and second major in religion from James Madison University and served as Vice President of the JMU Freethinkers, a campus group for atheists, agnostics and humanists. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Secular Student Alliance.

Fred Edwords

Fred Edwords began his humanist activism in 1977 as vice president of the Humanist Association of San Diego. He became president the next year, expanded his reach as American Humanist Association West Coast regional coordinator in 1979 and became national administrator for the organization in 1980. He then served for fifteen years as AHA executive director (1984-1999) and twelve years as editor of the Humanist magazine (1994-2006). Today he serves as a management and PR consultant to the AHA while taking on a new role as the head of the United Coalition of Reason, a new organization that promotes local cooperation among humanist and freethought groups in cities across the United States.