U.Va. Engaging the Mind http://www.virginia.edu/engagingthemind/date.html Engaging the Mind provides opportunities for people throughout Virginia to engage with UVa's top scholars and teachers in a free public forum. Since 2001, over 5,000 people have attended Engaging the Mind lectures in 11 different regions across the state. en-us Engaging the Mind Season Schedule http://www.virginia.edu/engagingthemind http://www.virginia.edu/engagingthemind Visit our website for the upcoming season and past seasons. Engaging the Mind Fall 2006: Wrong Diagnosis: Myths and Realities of American Health Care

Aren't you tired of hearing that the American health care "system" is broken? Well, it is: your bill that can't be understood-or paid; your 8-minute doctor visit; your own child who was just laid off, and whose family has no health insurance. Our health care system will not be fixed by those in back rooms; each of us, in our own way, will have to work on it-whether directly as practitioners or indirectly as voters-or our health will continue to get worse.

We will discuss together American health care, ways in which it is tarnished and ways in which it shines. We must have a common set of information; but our current information comes from "sound bites" that on their surface seem perfectly reasonable, but on closer examination are wrong. We will deal with the most common of these myths, explode them and provide the facts so that we can fit the pieces together, take part in the decision-making process, and propose better solutions.

a U.Va. public talk by Dr. Arthur Garson, Jr., Dean of the School of Medicine and a Vice President of the University of Virginia.

Friday, November 17, 2006
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Fairfax County Government Center
12000 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA
directions

 Engaging the Mind Fall 2006: Space Flight: A Human Perspective

In this "Space Age" we are just beginning to explore the solar system, and human space flights into Earth orbit are our first baby steps off our home planet. Why do we go to space? What do we do there? What will we learn in this environment that will benefit future explorers? A four-time space flight veteran will describe her experiences in space and opportunities for future explorers.

a U.Va. public talk by Kathryn C. Thornton, Professor of Technology, Culture, and Communication in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

October 6, 2006
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Virginia Air and Space Museum
600 Settlers Landing Rd.
Hampton, VA
directions

 Engaging the Mind Fall 2006: Moving Towards Plurality: Emerging Domestic Markets in America and What They Mean for Business and Governments

This lecture will provide information on how demographic and social change in America is producing opportunities for uncommon growth for businesses and governments that are prepared to harness their potential. The presentation will combine data, anecdotes from the field, and state-of-the-art practice leading to new thinking about ways communities can come together to create new jobs, wealth and standards-of-living across communities. New initiatives and models that are being developed by other communities around the nation will be discussed and will be examined in terms of their relevance here in Virginia. The session will be informative and interactive, provocative and interactive.

a U.Va. public talk by Gregory B. Fairchild, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, in the Darden School of Business Administration.

This lecture is a partnership between the University of Virginia and Virginia Union University.

October 18, 2006
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Performing Arts Center, The Belgian Friendship Building
Virginia Union University
Richmond, VA
directions