Phillip Adams to chair Diversity Week panel

After taking on God in two bestselling books, Phillip Adams AO will chair a lively discussion on the state of modern spirituality during UQ’s 2008 Diversity Week celebrations.

The popular columnist, author, producer and host of Late Night Live will lead a special panel to explore the topic: “Wired for warfare? Packaged for peace? Does spirituality divide more than it unites?” at the UQ Centre on May 14.

The free event forms part of the Vice-Chancellor’s Equity and Diversity Awards, which honour inclusive and forward-thinking projects taking place at UQ.

Joining Adams will be Gold Coast Aboriginal elder and child-care advocate Aunty Mary Graham, Professor of Social and Cultural Development at Victoria University Hurriyet Babaçan and Dr Virginia Cawagas, co-Conference Program Chair of the recent Asia-Pacific Interfaith Symposium.

Running from May 12-16, this year’s events are themed around The Spirit of Diversity, and aim to showcase how sustainable connections can be created between people and their environments.

It follows the success of We all Count– the University’s year of focus on Indigenous issues.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Keniger said the 2008 program was particularly appropriate considering the UQ Interfaith Chaplaincy Centre marks its 40th anniversary this year.

“The UQ community is built up of people from many different religious, sexual, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and since 2003 we have marked Diversity Week to acknowledge and celebrate this,” he said.

“We encourage all our staff and students to get involved and to learn from others whose lifestyles, abilities and experiences may differ from theirs.”

Adams will lead the featured panel at 4.30pm on Wednesday, May 14, with the discussion available for podcast after the event.

Those interested in attending can register at www.uq.edu.au/diversity-week or by contacting Kristy Gan (k.gan@uq.edu.au)
Media: Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)