Science, Technology & Medicine   

So, you believe you are the victim of a medical error. Now what? The course will cover attorney hiring considerations, phases of malpractice litigation, and client responsibilites. Members will learn about the most common errors, special rules for first responders, Good Samaritans, and federal government providers. Finally, we will cover trends/statistics, what tort reform is (and whether it has worked), and dispel some myths.

For those who are really interested in their Apple® products, this course will show you how to integrate your devices. We will explore iPhone and iPad while mixing in a bit of Mac, AppleTV, Apple Watch, AirPods, and even CarPlay.

Cognition and culture will be explored in animals, using evolutionary theory as the framework for this course. Topics include animal learning, the accelerated process of domestication, and an examination into our companion animals' behavior. However, the majority of the course will be dedicated to the culture of wild animal populations and their cultural behavior that includes hunting, foraging and thieving behavior—to name just a few. Short videos will be shown in class, and readings are available upon request.

This course considers Cardiovascular Organ Replacements (CVOR). The basic physiology of four organ systems will be reviewed (heart, lung, blood vessel, blood) and the medical, engineering, and societal considerations for CVOR systems discussed. The plusses and minuses of commercially available CVOR will be considered leading to discussion as to possible improvements of existing CVOR. The health inequities and disparities faced by underrepresented and underserved patients will be discussed along with challenges patients with CVOR and their families face daily. The business and economics of CVOR will also be discussed within the context of spiraling health care costs.

This course will be an exploration of the history of fossil energy use and how fossil fuel combustion products are contributing to changing climates. We will examine climate science and will discuss the politics of climate denial. Practical, achievable solutions will be presented to stabilize climate, such as the decarbonization of the electric power and transportation sectors of the economy and the removal of excess greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. Climate change affects us all, and informed citizens are critical for addressing this crisis.

The field of astrophysics literally covers the entire universe. Of the many possible topics, we will discuss the following: a brief history of ground-based optical telescopes, Einstein's incredible year of 1905, the origin of the elements, dark matter and dark energy, and space travel. The course is intended for non-experts; math and jargon will be kept to a minimum.