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NASA astronaut Dr. James F. Reilly presented his perspective as a geologist and an astronaut in a lecture titled “Mars Exploration: Rovers to Human Geophysical Crews – A (Fun) Work in Progress” at Hamilton on May 1. Dr. Reilly discussed exploration of the Moon and on Mars; his lecture was complemented by an extensive power point presentation complete with photos and video of space exploration.

New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi presented the final lecture of the Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center series on the U.S. budget on Wednesday, April 27. Hevesi discussed in the New York state budget and the recent budget process in the context of a “historical reform movement.”

Described by Professor of History Maurice Isserman as the anti-Arthur Schlessinger, author Rick Perlstein presented a lecture at Hamilton on April 26 titled “Hell in the City of Angels: the Watts Riot of August 1965, and the End of the Liberal Consensus.” Perlstein shared the manuscript of the prologue to his new book, a sequel to the New York Times bestseller Before the Storm. He explained that the sequel will be much like the original except the red-thread, or the “anti-red thread,” of this book will be the story of Richard Nixon.

Charles Brumley, author of “Guides of the Adirondacks: A History” presented a lecture as part of Hamilton Environmental Action Group’s Green Week celebration on April 25. Brumley, a guide from the Adirondack State Park, discussed the history and preservation of the park, focusing specifically on the history and evolution of Adirondack guiding and guide boats.

Dinesh D'Souza, the Robert and Karen Rishwain Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, presented one of the final lectures in the 2004-2005 Levitt Center Lecture series at Hamilton on April 20. D'Souza discussed many of the ideas included in his most recent book, New York Times bestseller, What's So Great About America?

Members of the Hamilton community gathered on April 9 for a panel discussion titled, “Advocacy, Activism and Civic Responsibility on College Campuses.” It included presenters Stanley Fish, dean emeritus of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago; Elizabeth Minnich, senior fellow, the Association of American Colleges & Universities: Office of Diversity, Equity, Global Initiatives; Douglas Ambrose, Sidney Wertimer associate professor of history; and Maurice Isserman, professor of history. Maynard-Knox Professor of Government and Law Frank Anechiarico '71 moderated the panel discussion.

Seth Faison, the former Shanghai bureau chief for The New York Times and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, spoke at Hamilton College on Thursday, April 7. Faison discussed his experiences as a writer in China for 12 years in a lecture titled “Chinese Shadows: A Writer Reflects on Peeling Away Layers of Secrecy in Shanghai.”

University of Cambridge professor of philosophy Simon Blackburn delivered the Truax Lecture at Hamilton College on Monday, April 4. Blackburn’s lecture was titled “Religion, Liberalism, and the Foundations of Value.”  

Jeff Weeks, a freelance mathematician and MacArthur Fellow, presented a lecture titled “The Shape of Space on March 31 at Hamilton College.

Dr. Peter A Burke, the senior vice president and chief technology officer of STERIS Corporation, visited Hamilton College on February 26 to present a lecture titled “Bioterrorism: Challenges of Detection & Decontamination.” STERIS, a global leader in contamination prevention products and services, employs more than 5,000 people world wide and has annual sales of more than $1 billion.