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Biochemistry converts DNA genomes into RNA, and this RNA gets transcribed into protein. Since the 1990s, we have learned that this is only part of the story. Scientists have found that RNA does much more than carry information. It can regulate expression of genes, act as an enzyme, and bind to specific targets - just like proteins - and each of these roles has been engineered in the lab. This course will provide a short survey of some of the surprising new roles researchers have found for RNA.

 

The Berlin Wall opened in November 1989, ending forty years of German division following the Second World War. But what came after the celebration? A proliferation of Holocaust memorials in Berlin post-1989 served to help Germany atone for its dark past and educate the world on the horrors of genocide. For many East Germans, reunification was a time of great disruption and loss. The return of German nationalism was also accompanied by a spike in xenophobic violence against refugees and asylum seekers and the surging support for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party.

 

Exploring how people created living spaces is a glimpse into their culture itself.  Each building is designed around visionary use and practical needs.  Within the Russian Empire and Soviet Union, buildings are also time capsules that trace history.  This series gives brief glimpses into the variety of building types and styles that define architecture.  

This is the second part of a multi-part series on US Presidents. (No prior course required.) This term will include four talks including 1) The best prepared presidents 2) The most impactful presidents 3) The unexpected presidents and 4) post-presidencies. 

This course will explore conversations and topics about Shakespeare's King Lear. Throughout the session, we will watch video clips from Gielgud to Cumberbatch to enhance our understanding of this tragedy. Required reading: King Lear, any edition.

 

The seventeen string quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) have been considered defining examples of chamber music composition since their first appearance between the late 1790s and mid-1820s, a perpetual source of intimidation for composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. The characteristic style of the composer’s early, middle, and late periods of writing are each represented brilliantly among ten opus numbers, the last six so innovative and individualistic that they constituted a prototype for the concept of the avant garde as cultivated in music composition of the 20th century.

This course provides participants with opportunities to engage in playful experiments with words on the page during free writing. By slowing down and paying attention to whatever turns up, participants can expect to hone their observational skills. Opportunities to share writing are provided but not required. The last three sessions will center on free writing done by participants between classes. Listeners will be asked to tell us exactly where in the piece they felt surprise, interest, wonder or the desire to ask the reader a question.

 

Create impactful photographs by editing your images. Editing will make your images mirror the feeling or mood you had when pressing the shutter. The class goal is to learn and improve image editing skills with practice, patience, and passion. Anyone with a serious interest in photography is welcome and can use any camera. RAW file format is required – even cell phones shoot RAW. This course will start with Adobe Lightroom Classic and finish editing in Photoshop, using the new TK9 v4 Plugin for Photoshop. 

Required Software: Editing software is an investment for long-term use and is essential for proper image editing; subscription to Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Photoshop.  Purchase the Photography Plan that includes Lightroom Classic and Photoshop at adobe.com  $19.99 mo. TK9 v4 Plugin for Photoshop, available from Tony Kuyper at his website goodnight.us.

Join us for discussions of favorite mystery movies facilitated by Bonnie Nelson, Tom Rooney and George Dow. Viewing parties will take place on Wednesday evening before each Thursday class discussion. The tentative lineup will include these movies: The Big Sleep, Death Trap, The Rainmaker, Gosford Park, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Get Out, and Killers of the Flower Moon.

This 1975 novel follows a group of workers in 1937 Berlin struggling to resist fascist society.  They confront ancient art, contemporary culture, failed revolution, and everyday horrors in a project of self-education to inspire their own history-changing practice.  The course will aim to find resonant passages in this poetic and philosophic novel, to inspire our interpretations and perhaps challenge our commitments. Contextual information will focus on the art, selected historical figures and events. This course will read as far as Part I of Volume I. 

Required reading: The Aesthetics of Resistance by Peter Weiss (J Neugroschel & J Scott, trans), Duke University Press, 2005. Vol. 1.

 

This course will walk through one of the most famous studies of fascism across time, Robert Paxton's Anatomy of Fascism. Each week, will cover the main ideas from a chapter of the book, as well as advances in the field since its publication in 2004. Learners are invited but not obligated to read each chapter at home before each class. Note: this class meets twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Recommended reading: The Anatomy of Fascism, by Robert Paxton, Vintage, any edition. 

 

From Martians building canals to human travel, we have long dreamed of life on Mars. Our knowledge of Mars has changed dramatically since the turn of the century, making now the perfect time to explore. This three-session course covers the evolution of our understanding. Session one will explore Mysterious Mars: the early history and early mission successes and failures. Session two will explore Rovers on Mars: the advanced rovers and their groundbreaking findings. Session three will explore Humans on Mars: the realities of travel, living, and ethics of exploration in space. All are welcome; no previous space travel required!

Economics plays a central role in  every aspect of society. This course addresses a set of prominent policy issues where economics is at their core. We will explore their origins as policy matters, the underlying data and evidence, and what policy levers are available to deal with them. Lectures will be standalone, taught by a subject matter expert – all of whom have a Ph.D. in Economics. Potential topics include Climate Change, Social Security, Economic Inequality, and many more. The topics will be determined by what is most topical at the time of the course.  No reading is required. Course guide correction: The first meeting of this course is on Thursday, October 8th. 

Jackson was a military leader and the President of the United States. This course will discuss all aspects of Jackson's life, including but not limited to: his early life, plus his marriage and family, his status as a slave owner, involvement in pistol duels, his experiences in the War of 1812 (including the major battle at New Orleans and treatment of troops), involvement in Native-American removal westward, his presidency, controversies, an assassination attempt, and the Slave Revolt by Nat Turner with Jackson's response.

Friday, 10/23: Todd Lefko, U.S. Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy

U.S. trade and tariff policies have shaken global economic norms. What’s the rationale behind this shift in economic policy, and what are the implications for multilateral trade and geopolitics?

Todd Lefko is President of the International Business Development Company, an import-export firm dealing with water purification equipment, kilns, linen, art, and new technologies.

10/30 - No class.

Friday, 11/6: Christi Silver, The Future of Human Rights and International Law

As democracy and human rights retreat globally—and the U.S. pulls back—how can civil society and legal norms remain effective in a divided world? What is the role and force of international law in this era of impunity?

Christi Siver is a Professor of Political Science at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. 

Friday, 11/13, No class.

Friday, 11/20: Anne Linnee, U.S. Foreign Policy: America and the World

The federal administration has broken from 80 years of U.S. foreign policy leadership, embracing an “America First” approach. This session explores the impact of isolation and diminished influence in relation to current U.S. foreign policy. 

Anne Linnee retired from the State Department in 2023 following a more than 20-year career as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. 

 

The adoption of new technologies and the mass commercialization of culture has opened the door for more deceptive advertising. This course will examine how deceit and scams manifest in multiple forms of contemporary advertising, from ads that don’t look like ads, misleading verbiage, consumer tracking/targeting, ponzi schemes, and plain old snake oil peddling. What are the rhetorical strategies of deceptive ads? Are devices really listening to you? How do we regulate advertising? And most importantly, how do you spot a scam? 

Recommended reading: Doublespeak: From “Revenue Enhancement” to “Terminal Living”: How Government, Business, Advertisers, and Others Use Language to Deceive You by W. Lutz, Ig Publishing, 2015; "The Importance of Being a Complainer: You have the Power to Hold Deceptive Marketers Accountable," B. Patten, 2024, https://truthinadvertising.org/blog/the-importance-of-being-a-complainer/.