From barnacles to sea stars to gumboot chitons, invertebrates living in the intertidal zone of the Pacific Northwest coastline are some of the most wonderfully weird, well-adapted animals in the ocean! Find out how these hardy creatures thrive in the turbulent, competitive and extremely variable habitat between the tides. Raised sea kayaking, surfing and hiking, Chelsea Behymer established an early connection to her surroundings. She received her BS in marine biology from Hawaii Pacific U where she was fascinated by the interconnectedness among and within ecosystems. After five years as an onboard naturalist in Alaska, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Iceland, Patagonia and the Pacific Coast, she realized a passion for teaching and the value of experiential learning, completing an MS in environmental education from Southern Oregon U. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in environmental science at OSU, with a focus on informal science communication.

The years from 1875-1896 were some of the most tumultuous in US history. Emergence of the modern American economy created some of the largest corporations in the world. By 1896 America was a global economic power and leading producer of food, coal, oil and steel, creating fortunes for men such as J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller. Completion of the transcontinental railroad and the invention of the telephone and electric lights also saw the rise of labor unions and many political movements as Americans wrestled with problems created by widespread economic inequality, poverty and political corruption, raising many of the questions we struggle with today. What role should the government play in economic development? Do corporations have too much political power? Should government policy foster economic equality or economic opportunity? James Rigali earned his PhD in history at UW and has taught American history at PLU, North Seattle CC, UW and CRI.

We will emphasize the spiritual tradition the Celtic people bequeathed to Ireland. A brief excursion into Celtic history will provide context and perspective to our examination of this legacy. A theme running through our discussions will be the timeless and sacred sensibility of the Celtic imagination. We will honor the Celtic passion for nature and the divine along with appreciating the Celtic sense of soul. The suggested text for the course is the brilliant book by the Irish poet, philosopher and scholar John O'Donohue: Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom. In his book O'Donohue celebrates such things as solitude, friendship, light and the beauty of landscape, love and the mysterious ways of the heart, and much more. Join us for this magical journey into the lyrical world of Celtic culture. Instructor Robert Stahl has taught previous CRI courses on poetry (Rumi, Mary Oliver, and Rilke), Eastern thought (Buddhism, Taoism, Zen, and Haiku poetry), and Thomas Moore's Care of the Soul.

The European Union (EU) is facing challenges from Brexit to new political leadership of member nations - its most serious threats to date. We will study an increasingly conflicted geopolitical climate for member nations, as well as challenges from assertive non-members, such as China and Russia. The origin and impact of conflicts in the Middle East and Africa will be evaluated as the state of perpetual war continues to pressure the strength of the EU. We will consider that what presents as radical extremism has its origins in economic and political policy from decades past, contributing to political instability within the EU and widespread unrest across the globe. Maria Montalvo holds an MA in political science and economics. She is a columnist for the Edmonds Beacon, and works as Executive Director in the non-profit education sector.

The Pacific Northwest has some of the most complex and dynamic geology of any place on Earth. Learn how this beautiful region was created by plate tectonics during the past 800 million years. The land has been faulted, folded, intruded and metamorphosed during this time. Finally the land was molded by forces of erosion, particularly continental glaciers from the north during the past 2.5 million years. Donn is professor emeritus of geology at Shoreline CC. He earned his MS in geology from UW, taught in Seattle Public Schools and at Shoreline CC. He was elected to the Washington State Legislature, where he served for 14 years. Donn has presented courses in geologic topics for CRI since 2003.

One hundred years ago The Great War raged in Western Europe; spread across the globe and is seen as one of the great disasters of human history. It shattered political, social and economic structures of Europe and ignited a series of changes still challenging us today. The series begins with causes of the war: rise in German power, inevitability of conflict and fragility of peace in a structure driven by kings and small elites. Session two covers the war in the trenches and moves on to the home front, including conscription and new roles for women. The final session covers the military endgame, the Treaty of Versailles and America’s new role as a world power. Laurence Kerr is a Career Member (Retired) of the US Senior Foreign Service. Following military service, he had a twenty-five year career in the US State Department including assistant professor of Grand Strategy and National Security Studies at The Eisenhower School, part of the National Defense University.

Building on the foundations of the original of this class, the present sessions will concern the phenomenon of "economism" - the ways in which distortions of the subjects taught in Econ 101 have contributed to the growing inequality of society. The topics of supply and demand, market equilibrium, social welfare, labor markets, taxes, finance, health care and international trade, among others, and their effects on political discourse will be explored. The important insights of economists Thomas Piketty and Robert Gordon also will be addressed. A popular instructor for CRI, Sorrel R. Paskin has an MA in philosophy (NYU) and MS in accountancy (Univ. of Mo). He has taught courses in the history of philosophy and in the works of selected thinkers at numerous colleges and universities.

In 1848, a year of political upheaval across Europe, a group of revolutionary artists in England named themselves the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and changed the course of British art. Our first session will examine Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais and the other members of the PRB and how their modernity involved turning back to the medieval period. In week two, inspired by Rossetti, the Renaissance man William Morris revolutionized Victorian design while decrying capitalism. Morris’s example spawned the Arts and Crafts Movement. In class three we will look at workers’ collectives like the Century Guild, country homes that embody the Arts and Crafts aesthetic, and the continuing influence of the PRB on a new generation of artists. This course will complement the Victorian Radicals exhibit opening at SAM June 13. Rebecca Albiani has a BA in art history and an MA in Renaissance art history. She is a popular lecturer at the Frye Art Museum.