The University of Lethbridge has a busy Thursday on tap today with a number of events that will pique the interests of students, staff and faculty alike.

The Centre for the Advancement of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CAETL) is presenting a graduate student workshop on marking and grading from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Prentice Institute Meeting Room (L1102).

Dr. Nola Aitken facilitates the workshop, a hands-on practical session that will introduce graduate students to the assessment process. All graduate students are welcome to attend.

Later this afternoon, the Women Scholars Speaker Series readies to kick off its schedule with the annual Fall Wine and Cheese Reception, from 3 to 5 p.m. in Andy's Place (AH100).

The annual speaker series welcomes some of the finest female scholars to campus to address a variety of issues. This year's lineup will be introduced at the reception.

On Thursday evening, the Owen G. Holmes Lecture series begins with visiting lecturer, Michael Shermer. He'll present, Why People Believe Weird Things, 7 p.m. in PE250.

The founding publisher of Skeptic magazine, executive director of the Skeptics Society and an adjunct professor of economics at Claremont Graduate University, Shermer penned the book, Why People Believe Weird Things in 1997 and produced a revised and expanded edition in 2002. In it, he explores a variety of so-called weird ideas, such as beliefs in UFOs, Bigfoot and paranormal activities, and how people come to be swayed by these falsehoods.