Feb. 27 Astronomy Lecture Explores Weird Beliefs

admin January 30, 2009

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Institute of Technology’s Astronomy and Astrophysics Public Lecture Series will present “Why People Believe Weird Things” on Feb.
27 at 8 p.m. The free lecture, in the F.W. Olin Engineering Complex auditorium, Room EC118, will be presented by Terry Oswalt, Ph.D., Florida Tech head and
professor of the department of physics and space sciences.

The skies have long intrigued humankind and have been the object of scrutiny for many scientists over the years. Throughout history, beliefs about the
unknown and the unexplained have fallen into and out of fashion. This presentation will discuss astronomy-related “weird beliefs” such as UFOs, planetary
alignments and astrology. Dr. Oswalt will discuss how and why the methods of science can and should be used to assess such beliefs.

The F.W. Olin Engineering Center is located on University Boulevard. For more information, call (321) 674-7717, or visit www.fit.edu/aapls online.