Humanities Washington is introducing its 2012 to 2014 Speakers Bureau, providing low-cost programs for community organizations to offer to local audiences on a variety of topics, including popular culture, photography, architecture, literature, food, film, and history. Urvasi Dance Ensemble artistic director Ratna Roy, University of Washington professor Anu Taranath, author Shawn Wong, and others are featured speakers as part of the Speakers Bureau. Wong will speak from personal experience on the creative process behind writing a novel. Taranath will introduce literature written by a wide range of Washingtonians to promote discussion about the diversity of perspectives in Washington. Roy will lead a discussion on the parallels between Western science and Eastern mysticism and how these two seemingly opposed schools of thought may lead to similar understandings. (end)