The following video programs are previously recorded OLLI courses. Learn at your own pace, at your convenience. All 35+ hours of programming are available to you for a single cost of $30. You will receive a link in your registration confirmation email to access all recordings. The link will be active from the first day of the term until one week before the next term starts.
All programming originates from OLLI at UNL and is provided with closed caption.
BONES, BODIES, AND BESTSELLERS - Dr. Kaitlin East (1 session)
Crime fiction is even more fun when the science holds up. Whether you’re a fan curious about the facts behind your favorite mysteries, or an author eager to sharpen your storytelling, pull back the curtain on science in crime fiction. Explore forensic anthropology and how, when accurately utilized, it can improve mystery stories, learn how a forensic anthropological investigation works, and review literary examples that succeed in incorporating accuracy.
HIGHWAY ARCHAEOLOGY - Nolan Johnson (4 sessions)
The Highway Archeology Program at the Nebraska State Historical Society enables significant cultural resources, both below and above ground, to be taken into consideration when road construction is planned. This partnership with the Nebraska Department of Transportation has been in existence since 1960 and has changed a lot over 65 years. Learn how it came to be and how it continues to protect our shared Nebraska heritage.
READING AMY TAN - Susan Major (4 sessions)
Delve into one of Amy Tan’s highly acclaimed novels, The Kitchen God’s Wife. The story is infused with vivid details of Chinese life and traditions, spanning continents and centuries. It presents a memorable portrait of a courageous woman and a tale that celebrates the bond between mother and daughter.
SPIES AMONG US: A WWII GERMAN SPY IN OMAHA - Anthony Foreman (1 session)
Would you believe that the most famous German spy during World War I had previously been a Nebraska resident? Some other questions might arise: What was he doing here? What did he do as a spy? What happened to him? Tony Foreman has pieced together answers to these and many other questions through archival research in Nebraska, Germany and Great Britain. This is a session about heroism, romance, cruelty, war and espionage.
THE ROMAN REVOLUTION: 133 BCE-11CE - Vanessa Gorman (6 sessions)
The fall of the Roman Republican government was fueled by financial inequalities, class struggles, incompetent leadership, military expansion, and the rise of populist generals. The people learned that they were indeed sovereign and proceeded to vote away their political power in favor of dictators, like Marius and Caesar who brought them bread and circuses, but also decades of civil war, until Augustus was the last man standing and established a principate.
BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE LINCOLN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - Multiple Instructors (4 sessions)
Learn about the process of putting together a Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra concert, then attend “Experience the Intrigue.” Executive director Barbara Zach Lee will discuss what an orchestra means to a community, Maestro Edward Polochick will give insights on how orchestras provide transformative experiences, composer Julia Adolphe will share how it feels to hear her compositions performed live, and viola soloist Rita Porfiris will talk about life as a professional musician, and what inspires her.
LINCOLN’S LIBRARY OF THE FUTURE - Ryan Wieber (1 session)
Lincoln’s long-awaited new Central Library in the heart of downtown will open for service in 2028. Designed as a modern library with flexibility and space for community partners to complement library activities, the new library will provide traditional services and collections yet incorporate what is now expected in modern library design, function and sustainability. Walk through the virtual plans for the new facility and discover what will make this a world-class library and help transform O Street.
EIGHT PILLARS OF YOGA: IT’S MORE THAN EXERCISE - Jessica Jewel (1 session)
Yoga is known for physical postures, but its roots are far deeper. Explore the eight limbs of yoga as outlined by the sage Patanjali in his Yoga Shastra. Discover the ethical, physical, and meditative foundations of yoga. Learn how this ancient practice supports clarity, peace, and meaningful living. These teachings provide both a historical perspective and a framework for its true purpose: quieting the churnings of the mind and body.
CAN NUCLEAR POWER GO GREEN IN NEBRASKA? - Multiple Instructors (1 session)
For decades, nuclear power has gotten a bad rap in popular culture, but actual data show that despite some high-profile accidents, few deaths have resulted. With climate change looming, new modular designs with advanced safety features and new applications make it worth a fresh look. Learn how modular nuclear power could help generate ammonia for fertilizer in rural Nebraska.