Undergraduate Innovation and Research Conference

The department's Undergraduate Innovation and Research Conference took place on Saturday May 1 this year with a new format. Previously, the awards and conference had only been open to undergraduates at BGSU, but this year, we joined up with the Philosophy Department at Ohio Northern University.

The keynote speaker was Dr Sandy Goldberg of the University of Kentucky, who spoke on "The Epistemic Dimension of the Extended Mind" and almost convinced the Fish that those arrangements of gravel she makes on the bottom of her tank as her "To Do" list are, in fact, her mind.

A photograph capturing the moment Dr Goldberg's mind extended from his body via his right ear

There's an old joke that goes something like "I went to a philosophy colloquium last night and a panel discussion broke out." (Oh well, the Fish thought it was funny.) This gathering was no exception and to round off the day, Dr Elaine Sternberg, Dr Marvin Belzer, Dr Sandy Goldberg and Dr Pat Croskery took the gloves off and went at each other for forty minutes. It was brutal, dirty but at the same time enthralling and life-affirming. Rather like a rugby match, the Fish commented afterwards.

Everyone present enjoyed the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with our close philosophical neighbours. Many thanks to "The Dixon Connection" (Kathleen and Mark) at both institutions for their efforts in bringing this to fruition.

The award winners along with keynote speaker Dr Goldberg and organizer Dr Kathleen Dixon

And the winners were...

Jacob Castillo, BGSU, "Another Compatibilist ... From the Flip Side."

Brent Domann, BGSU, "Ayer's Epistemological Skepticism on Scientific Theorization."

Jason Dunlap, BGSU, "An Inquiry into the Psychological Continuity Criterion for Personal Identity."

Nathan Howe, ONU, "The Minimum Condition Necessary for Deserving Moral Consideration."

Peter Kuebeck, BGSU, "Aries and Death in The Hour of Death: the Final Reckoning."

Eric Stencil, BGSU, "Determinism and Moral Responsibility."

Levente Szentkiralyi, BGSU, "Capitalism's Perpetuating Inequality."

Timothy Underwood, ONU, "Justice in Same-Sex Marriage."

Other 2004 BGSU Undergraduate Philosophy Award Winners

• The Ramona Cormier Award went to Michael Leslie
• The Robert Goodwin Award went to Bryan MacAffee
• The Tom Tuttle Award went to Gregory A. Malkin