Russell Blackford is an Australian writer, philosopher, and literary critic, based in Newcastle, NSW. He is Conjoint Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Newcastle, a Fellow of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, editor-in-chief of The Journal of Evolution and Technology, a regular op.ed. columnist with Free Inquiry, and a Laureate of the International Academy of Humanism. From 2004-2009 he taught a wide range of subjects in the philosophy and bioethics curriculum at Monash University. In addition to several novels, he is author of several acclaimed nonfiction books including: Humanity Enhanced (MIT Press, 2014); 50 Great Myths About Atheism, co-authored with Udo Schuklenk (Wiley-Blackwell, 2013); and Freedom of Religion and the Secular State (Wiley-Blackwell, 2012). Of that book, A.C. Grayling says: "This is a must-read: Blackford has given us a forceful and persuasive book that will have a big impact on the debate it addresses." Blackford has debated on national radio and television in Australia. Other major appearances in recent years have included presentations at The Amazing Meeting Las Vegas in and the World Humanist Congress in Oxford. He posts at The Conversation’s Cogito blog  and on his personal blog, Metamagician and the Hellfire Club.