AIDS Denialism Talk and Other Upcoming Events

I’ve written on climate change denial and evolution denial, but I’m less familiar with AIDS denial. That will change after this Saturday, when author Nicoli Nattrass will talk about her book, The AIDS Conspiracy: Science Fights Back. She’s the speaker this month for the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking. Here’s what their newsletter says about her talk and AIDS denial:

She will argue that AIDS denialism also gains social traction through organisation around four symbolically important roles: hero scientists, living icons (HIV positive people refusing antiretrovirals), cultropreneurs (offering alternative unproven remedies) and praise singers (sympathetic journalists and film makers). Her talk will conclude by showing that these roles have also provided targets for the pro-science community to fight back.

According to Phact, Dr. Nattrass is the director of the AIDS and Society Research Unit at the University of Cape Town, and a regular visiting Professor at Yale where she teaches courses on development and the AIDS epidemic.

The date is Saturday, Sept. 21. The Time is 2:OO pm.

The place is the Community College of Philadelphia’s Main Campus in Center City. The room is C2-28, which is in the Center for Business and Industry at the corner of 18th and Callowhill. We can check on the progress of the old Inquirer Building’s conversion into a casino.

Information on her recent publications is available here:

http://www.cssr.uct.ac.za/researchers/nattrass;

and here: http://www.amazon.com/Nicoli-Nattrass/e/B001H6OQWE/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

And on Friday, September 20, the Philadelphia Area Center for History of Science (PACHS) will present an all day “introductory symposium” on various topics. Here’s what the PACHS website has to say:

Join prominent as well as up-and-coming scholars as they present non-stop, ten-minute lectures during a scholarly marathon on the history of science. Learn about x-ray paintings, science in early African-American publications, and the history of the relationships between art and mental illness, as well as many other topics.

The event is to be held in Franklin Hall of the American Philosophical Society, 427 Chestnut Street, starting at 12:30 and ending with a reception at 5 pm. It’s free, but RSVPs are appreciated. You can do that through the website here:http://www.pachs.net/events/archive/2013_introductory_symposium/