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The next ������Ƶ Downtown Conversation, “What’s Right and What’s Wrong with American Education,” is a panel discussion lead by local educations specialists at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 17, at the University Club, 1332 Santa Barbara St. Panelists include Peter MacDougall, former president of Santa Barbara City College; Gerri Fausett, superintendent of Hope Elementary School District; Lynne Cavazos, interim director of UCSB’s Teacher Education Program and director of the county Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program; and ������Ƶ education Professor Andrew Mullen.

Poet and playwright Jeanne Murray Walker will read from her new collection of poems, “A Deed to the Light,” 3:30 p.m. Feb. 17 in Hieronymus Lounge, ������Ƶ. Refreshments will be served. She also will speak in ������Ƶ’s chapel 10:30 a.m. Feb. 18. Both events are free and open to the public.

The Institute for the Liberal Arts at ������Ƶ presents Naomi Shaefer Riley, author of “God on the Quad: How Religious Colleges and the Missionary Generation Are Changing America,”  who will speak at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, in Hieronymus Lounge on the upper ������Ƶ campus.  The event is free and open to the public.

On the occasion of his retirement after 35 years, ������Ƶ philosophy Professor Robert Wennberg will speak on “Bringing Back the ‘Evangelical’ In the Evangelical College” 7 p.m. Feb. 7 in Hieronymus Lounge, Kerrwood Hall on the upper ������Ƶ campus.

The event is free and open to the public.

Writer Jon Christensen will present “From the Tide Pool to the Stars” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the San Rafael Room of Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort. Christensen will recount his expedition retracing John Steinbeck’s 1940 voyage with marine biologist Edward Ricketts exploring marine life along the coast of the Baja Peninsula.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

Representing the best mathematical minds of their schools, approximately 100 students will compete at ������Ƶ’s 19th annual High School Mathematics Contest 1 - 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12.