Cousteau to open 2014-15 Voyages of Discovery series

Internationally renowned underwater explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau will present the premiere lecture of the 2014-15 Voyages of Discovery lecture series Oct 1 at East Carolina University.

Jean-Michel Cousteau

Jean-Michel Cousteau

Cousteau, an environmentalist, educator and film producer, will discuss “The Great Ocean Adventure,” including illustration with original film clips.

The series continues Nov. 18 with the Lawrence F. Brewster Lecture in History presented by Julian Bond, a historian and leading figure in the civil rights movement. Bond’s lecture at ECU last January was rescheduled due to adverse weather. He will discuss “Crossing the Color Line: From Rhythm ‘N Blues to Rock ‘N Roll.”

Two lectures will follow in spring 2015. The Jarvis Lecture on Religion and Culture on Feb. 24 will feature Dr. Raymond Moody, emeritus professor of consciousness studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Moody will discuss “Life After Life: The Meaning of Near-Death Experiences.” Rounding out the series on March 24, the Thomas Harriot Lecture will feature Dr. Ilona Bell, Samuel Fressenden Clarke Professor of English at Williams College. A leading authority on the metaphysical poetry of John Donne, Bell will discuss “Sex and Seduction in John Donne’s Poetry.”

“ECU’s College of Arts and Sciences is proud to host this speaker series, and we invite our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community friends to attend,“ said Dr. William M. Downs, dean of the college. “One mark of a great university is how well it promotes discussion of important issues. The Voyages of Discovery Series annually ensures that East Carolina University is ‘the’ venue for such discussions.”

“This, our eighth season, offers a superior slate of intellectual leaders whose multifaceted, even provocative presentations, will surely stimulate, with meaning and passion, our campus and community,” said Dr. John A. Tucker, director of the series.

The Voyages of Discovery Lecture Series is made possible through contributions from Harriot College’s Dean’s Advancement Council, various university organizations, and many friends and supporters. To contribute, contact Major Gifts Officer Jennifer Tripp at 252-737-4201 or trippj@ecu.edu.

For more information about the series and its speakers, contact the director, Dr. John A. Tucker at 252-328-1028, or email tuckerjo@ecu.edu. Additional information also is available on the series’ website at www.ecu.edu/voyages.

All lectures are open to the public and begin at 7 p.m. in Wright Auditorium on the campus of ECU, unless otherwise noted. Tickets for the Jean-Michel Cousteau lecture and Julian Bond lecture are $10. One complimentary ticket is available to ECU students with a valid ECU ID. All other lectures for the 2014-15 series are free to all attendees. For advance tickets, call the ECU Central Ticket Office at 252-328-4788 or 1-800-ECU-ARTS.

Individuals requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should call 252-737-1016 (voice/TTY) at least 48 hours prior to the event.

— Lacey Gray, Thomas Harriot College of Arts & Sciences