3:30 p.m., November 10, 2024
The Atheist Community of San Jose invites the Humanist Community to an in-person presentation by Bertha Vazquez. Here is the description from their announcement at: https://www.meetup.com/acofsj/events/304311948/
We all like to think we’re rational and logical, but the truth is that our brains are riddled with cognitive biases and shortcuts that can lead us astray. These mental shortcuts, once essential for our survival, now make us vulnerable to misinformation and disinformation. The abundance of information in the digital age exacerbates this problem, as we’re constantly bombarded with claims and counterclaims. To navigate this complex landscape, we must cultivate a healthy dose of skepticism and critical thinking. By recognizing our cognitive biases, questioning assumptions, and seeking credible sources, we can better protect ourselves from the dangers of misinformation and make informed decisions. Let’s explore together how we are successfully overcoming the shortcomings of our modern human brains as they have evolved over eons.
Bio:
Bertha Vazquez is a retired science teacher who taught middle school for 34 years in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. She is the Education Director and the Director of the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science at The Center for Inquiry, an international nonprofit organization that promotes reason and science. She runs a teacher-led network of over 100 teachers who have presented over 400 professional development sessions for their fellow teachers in all 50 US States. Her multi-faceted approach to teaching climate science has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, Earth magazine, and in a book and film series by Lynne Cherry titled, Empowering Young Voices for the Planet. Her efforts awarded her the 2008 National Environmental Education Charles C Bartlett Award, among others. She is the editor and contributing author of the book, On Teaching Evolution, published in 2021 and lead author of Corwin Press’ What Teachers Want to Know About Teaching Climate Change (February 2025). Ms. Vazquez has also worked in several translation projects, including the translation of Maria Jinich’s book into English, A Brief History of Four Billion Years of Evolution: Understanding Darwin. A regular contributor to Skeptical Inquirer magazine and speaker at skeptical and humanist conferences, Bertha is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.
Bertha Vazquez has presented several times at CSICon (including CSICon 2024) and the following review was published in the Skeptical Inquirer Magazine, March/April 2019:
“Watching her on stage at CSICon it’s clear that TIES (The Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science) owes much of its success to the force of her presence and personality. Her enthusiasm for her subject is utterly contagious. Her drive to learn, discover, and share her knowledge is undeniable. She’s a true renaissance woman.”
This event will be held at the Campbell Community Center, 1 W. Campbell Avenue # C-31 in Campbell, California. Go to the Mary Campbell Room number Q84, which is right next to the Community Center’s Campbell Parking Lot just off of Campbell Avenue.
