Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Courses (STEM)   

Remember when there were only three commercial television networks? One or two local newspapers? No internet? Times have changed! Join us to explore how to navigate the present-day bombardment of our senses with media messages through learning to “read” media like we learned to read books as children: step by step, source by source. We will examine a variety of current and historical examples from sources including advertising, TV, movies, and social media.

Life is a complicated tapestry of continuous endings and beginnings. We have all experienced those pivotal moments in life when some destabilizing event occurs that shakes us to the core. It might be the death of a loved one, a divorce, a life-altering diagnosis, or some traumatic brush with death. Blending psychological insight, practical, evidence-based self-care tools, and mindful practices designed to explore self-awareness and enhance support during life transitions, you're encouraged to embrace change with courage, confidence, and compassion. This class offers a steady guide and a hopeful perspective to help you reimagine who you truly are when life changes and to discover what gives your life meaning and purpose.

Please join us for 4 weeks of humor, all that it entails and insights into the benefits it provides. Humor can be used for influence, well-being, and entertainment. What's amazing: 1. Memory recall increases 23% after watching a funny video. 2. In anticipating humor, stress decreases by 39%. 3. A person is 2 times more productive after taking a humor break. We'll explore what science and research have to offer on the subject and most importantly, we'll gain connection with others who value humor and who seek more humor in their lives. Bring your funny stories and your funny bone. We'll have a blast getting healthier and happier with humor.

In this course, we will explore the three fascinating realms of the cosmos: nearby planets and moons; the stars; and the galaxies (the great island of stars that turn out to be the building blocks of the universe.) Our discussion will be in everyday language, without any math, and will be accompanied by remarkable color images from the latest space probes and the world's largest telescopes, including the latest breathtaking images from the James Webb Space Telescope.

How does DNA reshape our understanding of ancestry, colonial society, and identity in the Americas? In this course, we will explore the science and methodology of genetic genealogy through the lens of first contact between European and Indigenous peoples. Using the New Mexico DNA Project as a central case study, we will examine how Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA can confirm, complicate, and challenge traditional research. Topics include Y-DNA Adam, Indigenous maternal haplogroups, the Spanish castas system, and colonial identity. We will consider the ethical and political implications of DNA testing and the limits of what genetic evidence can, and cannot, reveal about race and belonging.

This course introduces the scientific study of life, with an emphasis on real-world applications and the societal, social, ethical, and legal consequences of biological advances. We will place key biological principles within the context of issues that affect individuals and society, highlighting the connection between biology and everyday life. Designed for non-scientists with little or no recent college-level science experience, the course encourages discussion and reflection. Many topics are at the leading edge of scientific discovery, and we will examine the ongoing ethical and legal debates surrounding how and whether these advances should be applied.

What really changes when we read beyond the abstract? In this interactive course, we will open real research papers (many in health and nutrition) and explore what scientists actually look for. We will explore how small design choices can dramatically shape a study’s meaning, and why headlines rarely tell the full story. No technical background is required – just curiosity. By the end of the course, we will never read “studies show…” the same way again.