STEMM   

Both the Allies and the Axis Powers made tremendous advances in technology during World War II. Scientists and engineers were called on to develop new technologies, solve emerging problems, and address the technology needs of the military. This course examines how technology changed the face and dynamics of war, including the development of radar, codebreaking, synthetic rubber, mass-produced penicillin and many more.

The early 21st century was a period of great technological advancement at a rapid pace. In one short decade, dial-up internet was replaced by high-speed cable internet and the simple "phone" (now known as a landline) was replaced with the cell phone, the Blackberry, the smart phone, and the tablet. Apps and social media also became more popular than ever before. By the end of the course, participants will better understand this era of rapid technological change and how it made way for how we use technology today.

Nobel Prizes are generally considered to be the most prestigious awards in the world. What did the 2025 winners do that was so important? In this course, speakers who are familiar with the prize topics will explain the prizes awarded in October 2025. We will begin with an introduction about Alfred Nobel and how the awards process works. Then, we will have explanations of the achievements that resulted in the awarding of a Nobel prize, one prize per week. Recommended reading: https://www.nobelprize.org/all-nobel-prizes-2025/

April 1: History of the Nobel Prizes - Rajan Menon, Principal Scientist (Ret), TSI Inc

April 8: Physiology and Medicine - Christopher Pennell, Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota

April 15: Physics - Vlad Pribiag, Associate Professor, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota

April 22: Peace - Ramona Advani, General Counsel and Deputy State Auditor at Minnesota Office of the State Auditor

April 29: Literature - John Berube, Development Coordinator, The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis

May 6: Chemistry - Andreas Stein, McKnight Distinguished University Professor, Department of Chemistry

May 13: Economics - Varadarajan Chari, Paul Frenzel Land Grant Professor of Liberal Arts in the University of Minnesota Department of Economics

THIS COURSE WAS CANCELLED AFTER COURSE GUIDE WENT TO PRINT. 

We all know the climate is changing. How much it will change depends on many factors globally. However, impacts are happening now and will only increase. How can we as individuals and communities adapt and build resilience in our life? This course will briefly cover climate change factors and mitigation strategies. The majority of the course will focus on projected impacts, community climate adaptation planning, and active steps we can take now as individuals and community members. This course is different from Fred Rose’s previous OLLI course about climate change and there is no prerequisite.

The accelerating evolution of technology, specifically AI, has created a meta-system so complex and intertwined with all domains of human life that it effectively operates on a meta-level, shaping our reality and exceeding our control. To operate effectively inside this machine intelligence-human intelligence symbiosis, we must learn to think differently. We must adopt a “hacker” mindset – thinking critically, creatively, and systematically – to navigate this new reality.

The “Mapping the Mind” course will provide an introduction to the field of neuroimaging in neuroscience. It will follow both the successful and unsuccessful techniques neuroscientists have employed to collect and interpret signals from the brain. Students will gain insight into how various neuroimaging techniques work, their benefits and limitations, and their practical applications. Recommended reading: Neuroscience Online: An Electronic Textbook for the Neurosciences, http://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

With over 100 aquatic invasive species (and counting!) in the Great Lakes region, there is a critical need to understand and address this growing crisis. From zebra mussels to common carp, this course will explore how aquatic invasive species spread, their ecological and economic impacts, and the challenges and decisions involved in managing them. Participants will also gain hands-on experience in identifying common invasive plants and animals found in Minnesota lakes and rivers, and explore practical steps that individuals and communities can take to help prevent their spread. Recommended reading: The Costs of Aquatic Invasive Species to Great Lakes States by PL Anderson et al, Anderson Economical Group, 2012.

Are viruses alive? Why should melting glaciers matter to me? This course explores the invisible life shaping our planet. Sessions 1–3 cover what viruses are, how they differ from other microorganisms, how they spread, and how vaccines and antivirals help us fight them. Sessions 4–6 shift to polar and alpine microbes, revealing their hidden roles in Earth’s climate, their mysterious traits, and how global change threatens these fragile ecosystems. Real-life examples, audiovisual material, and hands-on activities will be included in this amazing course. Recommended reading: Virus: An Illustrated Guide to 101 Incredible Microbes by Marilyn J. Roossinck; Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen.

One of the oldest known sciences, wildlife tracking is the study of the tracks and behavioral signs left on the landscape by animals. Trackers identify and interpret tracks and signs to follow and find animals. Through this practice, we connect more deeply to the land, the other animals present here, and to ourselves and our community. During this series, we’ll explore the forests and riverbanks of the Mississippi to find evidence of these animals, distinguish the tracks of different species, and learn more about these fascinating individuals.

In this course, you will learn programming fundamentals to become a data science detective! We will be using a free programming software called R to produce insights about our lives through datasets. Beginning with collecting our own data, we will review key data science concepts including data reading, data wrangling, and various visualization strategies. Any background in programming is welcome in this course (including none!). By the end of the course, you will be able to answer the question: What can data tell me about my life? Recommended reading: Hands-On Programming with R (First edition) by G. Grolemund, G, O’Reilly Media, 2024; R for Data Science (2nd edition.) H. Wickham et al., O’Reilly, 2023.

This course explores how climate change is reshaping where wildlife lives. Using real-world examples from North America, this course reveals why species move, how traits and habitats influence their journeys, and what these shifts mean for the future of our natural world.

The course will provide an overview of the basic patterns of inheritance, the structure and function of DNA, and applications of genetics. We will review the technologies and applications for molecular genetics, with a focus on applications for disease biology and novel therapeutic approaches, as well as the ethical and societal implications of the collection and uses of genetic information. The course will also cover other applications of genetics including agriculture, forensics, and cancer.

We will conduct a Life Cycle Assessment of plastic focusing on the environmental impacts of plastic from its creation to its final resting place. During the first session we will discuss the different kinds of plastic and what their uses are. The second session will explore the various fates of plastic - landfills, recycling, degradation into microplastics - and effects on the environment and health of our bodies. Participants will have the opportunity to sign up separately for a field trip to Eureka Recycling's sorting facility. Recommended reading: The Problem with Plastic by Judith Enck, New Press, 2025.

Have you noticed all the recent news stories about decades old cold case homicides getting solved? This course will explain how law enforcement is combining cutting-edge DNA technology with traditional genealogy family tree building to solve some of the oldest and most prolific cold cases. DATE CHANGE! Class now meeting on Monday, April 13th.

We need to share secrets with those we trust. But how to communicate the secret if we're not face-to-face? And who should we trust? Powerful people and institutions have met their demise because of failures to communicate secrets to trusted parties. The science of cryptography is continually advancing. This leads to an unending battle between those who encrypt secret messages and those who try to intercept them and break the encryption. We will explore the history of cryptography and predict what lies ahead. Are we prepared to keep secrets in a future that includes quantum computing?

Witness innovation in action as fifty high school teams from Minnesota and beyond converge on the U of M's Mariucci Arena for a raucous robotics showdown! This two-part experience gets you up to speed on what goes on behind the scenes and then takes you to the action. We'll start with a Zoom session where you'll learn what makes the FIRST Robotics Challenge a STEM launching pad for tomorrow's engineers. Get the inside scoop on this year's challenge, peek behind the curtain at how student teams design and build their competitive robots, and learn what unfolds during the tournament's high-stakes matches. Then experience the energy firsthand! Student ambassadors will guide you through the tournament's buzzing pit area where teams prepare their machines, followed by a chance to watch robots battle it out in live competition. The place will be rocking as these young innovators put their creations to the test. Please note: The arena tour involves walking and climbing stairs. Parking info here. 

Sign up for one section
Section 1: March 25  on Zoom, 2:30-400 p.m. and  March 27 at Mariucci Arena, 1-3:00 p.m.
Section 2: April 1, on Zoom, 2:30-4:00 p.m. and  April 3 at Mariucci Arena, 1-3:00 p.m.

Witness innovation in action as fifty high school teams from Minnesota and beyond converge on the U of M's Mariucci Arena for a raucous robotics showdown! This two-part experience gets you up to speed on what goes on behind the scenes and then takes you to the action. We'll start with a Zoom session where you'll learn what makes the FIRST Robotics Challenge a STEM launching pad for tomorrow's engineers. Get the inside scoop on this year's challenge, peek behind the curtain at how student teams design and build their competitive robots, and learn what unfolds during the tournament's high-stakes matches. Then experience the energy firsthand! Student ambassadors will guide you through the tournament's buzzing pit area where teams prepare their machines, followed by a chance to watch robots battle it out in live competition. The place will be rocking as these young innovators put their creations to the test. Please note: The arena tour involves walking and climbing stairs. Parking info here. 

Sign up for one section
Section 1: March 25  on Zoom, 2:30-400 p.m. and  March 27 at Mariucci Arena, 1-3:00 p.m.
Section 2: April 1, on Zoom, 2:30-4:00 p.m. and  April 3 at Mariucci Arena, 1-3:00 p.m.