Professor Rock will present and discuss the scientific lines of evidence supporting the scientific consensus view of human-caused global climate change. Beginning with the known natural causes of past climate change (volcanic eruptions, variations in solar output and changes in the Earth's orbital patterns), Rock will compare these natural climate forcings with the over-riding effects of greenhouse gas emissions, urban aerosols and land cover change associated with human activities. Rock will also discuss the impacts of current and future warming on New England forests, with a focus on climate changes that have occurred over the past 100 years as well as what climate models suggest are likely changes over the next 100 years. He will present some of his own research on the recent (since 1970) climate impacts on both white pine and sugar maple.

Using TED talks and discussion, we will explore how technology is tracking, analyzing and ultimately influencing our decision making (https://is.gd/DigitalFootprints). Freedom isn't free, and neither is the Internet. This course may help you pop your filter bubble and get a better idea of who is doing what to you, and why, when you are online. This is an expansion of the Digital Footprints course that has been taught previously.

This course offers a deeper understanding of weather, just beyond an introductory course. We will review weather terminology and take a more detailed look into how weather forecasts are made. The class will review large scale weather patterns, discuss differences between high and low pressure and analyze current weather maps. We will also read through the National Weather Service "forecast discussion" and define terms and bring clarity where things are cloudy.

This course offers a beginners guide to Facebook. It will cover setting up and utilizing Facebook, protecting your information and utilizing tools unknown to the average user. This course is designed for windows PC users and will not address iPad, Iphone, or Android users.

This course offers a beginners guide to Facebook. It will cover setting up and utilizing Facebook, protecting your information and utilizing tools unknown to the average user. This course is designed for windows PC users and will not address iPad, Iphone, or Android users.

Pigments are the remarkable agents that impart color to paints and dyes. In this course we will examine some of the rich history of selected pigments and depending on the class’s tolerance, try to understand the chemistry and physics that allows them to work. No knowledge of science beyond high school is assumed. Anyone who has read recent works by Victoria Finlay, “Color, A Natural History of the Palette;” Philip Ball, “Bright Earth, Art and the Invention of Color;” or Amy Butler Greenfield, “A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire” will recognize some of the stories.

There have been a number of bear sightings in NH this year. This presentation covers basic bear biology including denning habits and family dynamics. We will look at why bears spend time in human-populated communities and how to prevent unwanted visits from bears; discuss this opportunistic omnivore's natural food sources and common food attractants people may unwittingly set out for these food-driven animals, and learn methods to deter bears from frequent visits to neighborhoods. The program will discuss ways to educate your neighbors, community and town officials on effective ways to deal with human/bear conflicts. There will be an opportunity to view plenty of bear photos and share bear stories.

"Figures don't lie, but liars figure." Some people intentionally use numbers to deceive and mislead us; some unconsciously use numbers inappropriately; and some actually know what they're doing with data. This course explores some of the many ways data and numbers are misinterpreted so we can understand what reported facts and figures really mean, separate reality from hype, and tell fact from fiction.