For more information, see:
http://debate.uvm.edu/debateblog/better/

Blog for news and updates see:
http://betterworldconference.blogspot.com/

Third International Conference on Argumentation, Rhetoric, Debate and 
the Pedagogy of Empowerment -- THINKING AND SPEAKING A BETTER WORLD.

Two previous conferences have been held, one in Koper and the other in 
Ljubljana, Slovenia. The third conference is planned for October 
22-23-24, 2010. The conference will be hosted at the Department of 
Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor, http://www.ff.uni-mb.si

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

ARGUMENTATION:
RASTKO MOCNIK - Teaches Theory of Discourse and Epistemology of the 
Humanities at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Ljubljana. 
Graduated from the University of Ljubljana in Sociology and Comparative 
Literature in 1968. Studied semiotics from 1969 – 1975 at l’Ecole 
pratique des hautes etudes, later École des hautes études en sciences 
sociales (Paris), with Algirdas J. Greimas. Obtained doctorat du 
troisième cycle in linguistics - literary semiotics at the Université de 
Paris X (Nanterre). In 1983, doctorate in sociology from the University 
of Ljubljana. Post-doctoral Fulbright fellow at the Department of 
Philosophy, University of California at Berkeley,1985. 1987-89 
vice-rector of the University of Ljubljana - as the result of a campaign 
which led to the first fair and open election of the University 
leadership under the regime of the time. Recent publications: 
Altercations - essays on "totalitarianism”, the "alternative”, 
nationalism; Belgrade, 1998 - in Serbian; How Much Fascism? - essays on 
post-communist politics; Zagreb, 1998 - in Croatian; Theory for Our 
Times. Levi-Strauss, Mauss, Durkheim - a study in three retroactive 
movements; Skopje, 1999 - in Macedonian; Three Theories - Ideology, 
Nation, Institution - a rationalised presentation of respective theories 
and their mutual articulation, *cf., Ljubljana, 1999 - in Slovene; 
Encounters: histories, transitions, beliefs – essays on the theory of 
institution, nation, media, contemporary speech-practices, artistic 
practices and film; Sofia, 2001 – in Bulgarian.

DEBATE:
SAM GREENLAND - Currently President of the World Universities Debating 
Council. Sam has debated for Oxford and has also been a successful 
schools coach, directing the Hong Kong team at numerous World Schools 
Debating Championships. Recently he has been representing the University 
of Sydney Union in competitions, and reaching the WUDC semifinals among 
other advanced elimination rounds. He has been very active in creating 
the standards for non-native speakers to participate in international 
tournaments such as the WUDC. Sam has also been working on now debate 
can be used as a tool for teaching English and how debating improves the 
overall academic performance of students.

PEDAGOGY:
DEBBIE NEWMAN - Has experience of teaching debate around the world at 
all levels. She is now focused on using debating and other active 
techniques to improve classroom methods. She is a previous English 
national debating champion, president of the Cambridge Union Society and 
world champion schools debate coach. She has been on the faculty of the 
World Debate Institute, IDAS and the UK Debate Academy and is a former 
Head of the Centre for Speech and Debate at the English-Speaking Union 
in London. Although Debbie is an experienced university trainer, her 
focus is on schools debating: both working with children, from 8-18, and 
also working with teachers to help build their skills and confidence in 
training and judging debate. Training is always tailored to meet the 
needs of the hosts and will aim to be both challenging and enjoyable. 
Whether beginners learning the skills of debating for the first time, or 
the more experienced looking to hone their talents, all students and 
teachers will develop their abilities in a supportive and positive 
environment.

-- 
Alfred C. Snider aka Tuna
Edwin Lawrence Professor of Forensics
University of Vermont
Huber House, 475 Main Street, UVM, Burlington, VT 05405 USA
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