Coastal Carolina University will host its fifth Celebration of Inquiry conference, two days of lectures, presentations and performances, from Feb. 15 to 17. The university-wide academic conference is designed to unite all the various disciplines on campus in discussions on a common theme. All events are free and open to the public.

The conference theme for the 2006 event is Living the Questions: Creating, Connecting, Changing. The theme was inspired by a quote from the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke: Live the questions now . . . someday far into the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.

The keynote speaker for the conference is Frans Johansson, entrepreneur and author of The Medici Effect: Breakthrough Insights at the Intersection of Ideas, Concepts & Cultures. In his keynote address on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Wheelwright Auditorium, he will discuss how to initiate innovative ideas by combining different fields and cultures. Johansson will also lead a question and answer session on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. in Wall Auditorium.

The conference will also feature Dr. Sally Rhine Feather, a clinical psychologist and co-author of �The Gift: ESP, the Extraordinary Experiences of Ordinary People.� Feather, the daughter of J.B. and Louisa Rhine, the founders of scientific parapsychology, will speak on The Reach of the Mind Friday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. in Wall Auditorium.

Coastal students, faculty, staff and community leaders will lead numerous other sessions on a wide range of topics. On both days of the event all Coastal classes will be re-directed to conference sessions. Many Coastal students will be involved as presenters in the sessions, which will include workshops, performances, panel discussions, lectures and other interactive formats to promote inquiry.

The conference will conclude with Jazz After Hours with Dan OReilly, featuring CCUs big band led by music professor OReilly, on Friday, Feb. 17 at 2:30 p.m. in Wall Auditorium.

For more information about the conference and a list of sessions, visit http://www.coastal.edu/inquiry/.