Science & Technology   

Participants will hear from a variety of guests who will describe what they, and their organization, have done, and equally important, are planning to do, to meet the challenges of climate change. These guests come from business, government organizations, and the private sector. There will be an emphasis during each session on Q and A and discussion with members. Expect a lively class.

Bird flu is in the news every day. This class will explore the many questions surrounding avian influenza: What is it? Where does it come from? How is it affecting us? What is the impact on society? And where is it going?

The Pew Research Center estimates that seventy-seven percent of Americans connect to the internet daily. However, most people don't understand what cyber attacks they may be subject to, nor do they understand the methods commonly used to secure online transactions as well as to attack or hack these systems they use. This class will describe the types of attacks most commonly used by cyber criminals and explore the mechanisms used to secure the internet.

Almost everyone has spent time in the ER (emergency room). And we wonder why one person is treated before another person. How do emergency responders think so quickly in diagnosing a malady amongst such a vast array of possible acute medical issues? Welcome to the ER. This class will be using a Great Courses DVD selection for part of the class time. 

Since 1965, scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Duluth have been working to make our environment cleaner and healthier. This class will explore the research arm of the EPA. Discussions will include pollution and toxicology as it relates to our largest freshwater resource, the Great Lakes, and the EPA’s role in remediation, restoration, and revitalization of them. The class will also include the history of the EPA lab and a lab tour.

Sometimes it’s not what you don’t know that gets you in trouble; it’s what you think you know for sure that just isn’t so. This applies to science as well. This class will examine many common misunderstandings about science. Topics will include electricity and magnetism, radiation, evolution, alien life, genetically modified foods, human and artificial intelligence, statistics, relativity, the big bang, quantum theory, and many others. Selections from The Great Courses will be supplemented with slides and classroom discussion.