The University at Buffalo has announced the slate for its 23rd annual Distinguished Speakers Series, headlined by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The lineup also features author and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson; political satirist Bill Maher; novelist and poet Margaret Atwood; Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez; and American philosopher and critic Cornel West.

"This year's series of speakers will make us read, make us think, make us care and perhaps even make us laugh," said Dennis Black, vice president for student affairs. "In these busy times, too often we fail to pause and reflect on our neighbors, our world and our universe. The 2009-10 lectures will give our campus and community a great opportunity to consider all that surrounds us."

The series will begin Sept. 16 with Annan, the undergraduate student choice for speaker. Blair, selected by UB graduate students, is to appear on Oct. 7, followed by Lopez on Oct. 28.

West is to speak on Feb. 5, Atwood on March 3 and Tyson on March 31. Mahar will conclude the series on April 24.

Five of the seven lectures will be held in Alumni Arena on UB's North Campus in Amherst, while the talks by West and Atwood will take place in UB's Center for the Arts, also on the North Campus.

Series subscriptions can be purchased through www.specialevents.buffalo.edu or at the Center for the Arts box office.

Individual seats will go on sale Aug. 10, with tickets for the Annan, Blair, Lopez, Tyson and Maher events available from the UB Alumni Arena box office, Tickets.com and Tops Markets locations, and tickets for the West and Atwood lectures available through the UB Center for the Arts ticket office and TicketMaster.