Eight York professors have made the first cut in TVOntario’s competition for Best Lecturer 2007.

Producers of “Big Ideas” have selected political science Prof. Olivier Courteaux; humanities Prof. Andrea Davis; theatre Prof. Robert Fothergill; law Prof. Allan Hutchinson; education Prof. Heather Lotherington; political science Prof. Stephen Newman; biology Prof. Mark Vicari; and law Prof. Alan Young. They are among 71 chosen from 155 eligible candidates nominated by students and alumni of 19 Ontario colleges and universities.

“Big Ideas” launched its first search for best lecturer in 2004. It wanted to find lecturers whose lectures engaged, inspired and riveted audiences. Students nominated 64 contenders. Over several weekends last fall, “Big Ideas” aired lectures by 10 finalists, including two York professors — musicologist Rob Bowman and astronomer Paul Delaney — and asked viewers to vote for their favourite. They gave Arne Kislenko, Ryerson University history professor, the top score for his lecture, WWII: The Russian Perspective. He won the inaugural title as Ontario’s Best Lecturer 2005 and Ryerson received a $10,000 TD Meloche Monnex Scholarship.

Altogether six York professors contended for the 2005 title: social science Prof. John Dwyer and communication studies Prof. Dalton Kehoe made the top 30; and environmental studies Prof. Roger Keil and political studies Prof. Saeed Rahnema were among the original 64 who made the first cut.

If a York professor wins Best Lecturer 2007, the University will receive a $10,000 TD Meloche Monnex Scholarship, not to mention the prestige associated with winning in the competition.

The top 10 finalists selected by an independent three-person jury will be asked by TVO to deliver special lectures to be aired on “Big Ideas” this coming fall. Viewers will get the chance to vote online or by telephone for their favourite, following each broadcast. A winner will be named early in 2007.

Last year’s candidates taught everything from ethnomusicology and astronomy to business and Russian political history.

To see a list of the 71 nominees and video clips of their lectures, visit TVO’s Best Lecturer Web site. Watch the site for updates as judges narrow the field of competitors down to the top 10.