Tuesday   

The Southwestern United States is home to an amazing array of different types of hummingbird. In this presentation, you’ll learn why this is so and you will get to see all of the fifteen or more species that occur here on a regular basis. We will also cover what makes the hummingbird one of the most unique members of the avian world. They have so many interesting behaviors and special adaptations. Finally, you will learn exactly where to go to see all of these hummingbirds!

Most technology headaches, security risks, costs, and electronic waste are preventable. This course explains the IT industry in plain English, including a look at recent trends such as the Windows 11 cash grab. Participants will learn the core components of computers and tablets, why traditional antivirus software is largely obsolete, and the four major modern threats. The course also covers proper backup practices, avoiding fake rental Wi-Fi, how to extend a computer’s lifespan to up to 15 years, ways to save money on printing, and includes time for questions.

*Please Note: Date in printed catalog is incorrect. Date has changed to Tuesday, April 28*

Step onto the home turf of the Arizona Diamondbacks and experience Chase Field like never before! This exclusive guided tour for OLLI members offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of Major League Baseball’s most unique ballparks – complete with a retractable roof, poolside areas, and air-conditioned comfort in the heart of downtown Phoenix. During this 90-minute experience, participants will walk through the main concourse, dugout, and suite level, visit the luxury suites and Diamondbacks Hall of Fame exhibits, and tour the premium season ticket locations where Advantage Members sit. The experience also includes a Q&A session with members of the Diamondbacks ticket sales staff (TBD). Bring your curiosity, comfortable walking shoes, and your love of baseball – or simply a love of seeing how things work behind the scenes! Parking will be free at the Chase Field Parking Garage.

In 1993, a mysterious and deadly disease outbreak struck the Four Corners area, killing young Navajos. What came to be understood as a novel hantavirus represented a wave of newly emerging infectious diseases around the world. We will get an inside look into the life of an epidemiologist investigating notorious disease outbreaks – from hantavirus to West Nile, from Valley fever to plague, and from COVID to bird flu. We will go into the deep past to understand how pathogens have moved around the world, explore the threat of bioterrorism and man-made disease outbreaks, and learn what it might all mean for responding to future pandemics.

Previous technology systems, such as the railroad and electrification, dramatically changed human, natural, and built systems at regional and global scales – but that’s nothing compared to what today’s rapid – and accelerating – evolution across the entire frontier of technology might do. Even today, AI writes music, novels, and Ph.D. dissertations, and creates fascinating paintings and videos from simple verbal commands. It is becoming impossible to know whether a picture, video, or voice is real or fake. That call from your mother might actually be from an AI, which could then use your voice to scam money from your friends and bank accounts. Meanwhile, many start-up companies are developing “brain chips” that could enable telepathy between humans, as well as metacognitive mixtures of AI and human cognition that may surpass the most gifted humans. Scientists are increasingly treating the human aging process as a curable disease, believing that our children may live healthy lives of 150 to 200 years – perhaps much longer. These are only a few examples in a future where our planet, and humans themselves, become design spaces subject to deliberate change in ways never before possible. The psychological, political, economic, and social implications are vast, but we are not helpless: there are ways to think about and prepare for this turbulent period of change.

As artificial intelligence and autonomous systems advance, many futurist technophiles predict a world where machines will fight wars for us, thereby reducing human suffering and political risk. Yet history and strategy suggest otherwise. Dr. Amos C. Fox argues that the increasing reliance on unmanned and autonomous systems may actually make future wars longer, more destructive, and less decisive. Drawing on his recent research on attrition and decision-making in war, Dr. Fox explains that when policymakers no longer bear the full political cost of losing soldiers, they may be less inclined to end conflicts quickly. Destroying a fleet of drones does not carry the same emotional or political weight as losing human lives. Thus, wars may extend into multiple “phases,” compounding destruction and exhausting national resources. This talk explores the limits of technology in changing human behavior and strategic decision-making. Ultimately, Dr. Fox contends that war remains a deeply human endeavor – shaped by will, emotion, and political purpose. Machines may characterize the battlefield, but much of what we know about war will remain.

"Superman" (1978) – the classic big-screen treatment of the Man of Steel – ushered in the modern superhero genre and made audiences believe a man could fly. ASU film professor Dr. Joe Fortunato will screen, discuss, and provide live commentary on this 1978 classic. The class will begin with a brief discussion about the background and making of the film. During the screening, live commentary will offer insights into the filmmaking process and guidance on how to read a film creatively. After the film, we’ll discuss what we’ve learned and debate whether it lives up to its reputation as one of the great superhero films and a landmark in American cinema.

The light visible to human eyes represents only a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared light has longer wavelengths than visible light – although we cannot see it, cameras equipped with special detectors can. In this class, we’ll explore electromagnetic energy and demonstrate an infrared camera in action. Infrared observations are invaluable for studying the Earth, as well as other planets, moons, and asteroids. We will also discuss their role in monitoring global warming and greenhouse gases on our planet.

The supplement industry thrives on promise – but how much of it is backed by science? In this course, we’ll examine the evidence behind some of the most popular products, from vitamin D to CBD (a best-seller that’s technically illegal to market as a supplement). Along the way, we’ll explore the regulatory gray areas, discuss why supplements remain largely unpoliced, and learn how smart consumers can separate hype from health – and spend their money where it matters.

Towering above the desert sands for over 4,000 years, Egypt’s pyramids remain some of the most iconic and enduring symbols of human ingenuity. In this three-session study group, we’ll explore the story behind these massive monuments - from the earliest experiments in stone architecture to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Our journey begins with the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the first of its kind, and continues through the reign of Snefru, the “Master Builder” pharaoh whose innovations laid the foundation for the Giza pyramids. We’ll take a close look at the engineering techniques used to build these colossal structures, the workers who labored to bring them to life, and the religious beliefs that gave them purpose. Along the way, we’ll explore enduring mysteries—including a still-unexplained void inside the Great Pyramid, uncovered by modern scanning technologies. We’ll discuss what we know, what we guess, and what still puzzles experts today. Whether you're fascinated by ancient engineering, intrigued by pharaohs and the afterlife, or just want to better understand one of the world’s greatest architectural traditions, this study group offers a window into a civilization that quite literally moved mountains.