November 26, 2012
Drs. Carolyn Smith-Morris and Brigitte Kovacevich were featured as 2012 Godbey Lecturers this fall. Each presented a talk to Dallas' community leaders and SMU supporters on issues relevant to the times.
Dr. Smith-Morris presented her talk, "Is Your Diagnosis Chronic or Acute?" over three Wednesday evenings beginning on October 17 and concluding on November 7, 2012. Her talk spoke to today's techno-prejudice to health which has transformed the notion of 'chronic' versus 'acute' disease. People adjust their expectations based on the epidemiology of their generation, their class, their nation and available biotechnologies. This affects not only the diagnosis of disease, but also perceptions of health, life and personhood.
Dr. Kovacevich was featured November 5, 2012 and gave a talk "Feeling Fine as the World Ends: Maya 2012 Predictions Decoded". Her talk focused on December 21, 2012, as the day ancient Maya of Mesoamerica calculated as the last day of one of their many calendar systems. Predictions for this date range from the apocalyptic to the transcendental and have spawned a multibillion dollar industry of movie, television and pseudo-scientific texts. Learn about the Maya, what their texts actually say and what this date means for the future of the world.