Upcoming Lectures and Events
All lectures and most events are free and open to all OLLI members; advance registration is required unless stated otherwise.To register for lectures, log in to your OLLI account (click on the My Account link above) and then the blue "Login" button. Choose “Lectures 2023” under Select Semester, and then select the “Register” button associated with the lecture. For hybrid events please choose either “in person” or “on Zoom.” The Zoom link will be included in your registration confirmation email from OLLI.
Please note differing days/times of these lectures.
April 8, 2024: Experience the Solar Eclipse at the Winery
Solar Eclipse Viewing and Wine Tasting
Monday, April 8, 2024
8:00 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Fox Creek Vineyards and Winery, Olney, IL
OLLI Bus Trip. Cost: $40.00 + $5.00 ($60 + $5 for guests) suggested cash for bus driver tip and wine tasting
Limited to 104 people (two buses).
Don’t miss the upcoming total solar eclipse! Join OLLI members on a trip to Olney, IL – a town located in the path of the total solar eclipse – to view the eclipse. During the day, members also will have an opportunity to take part in a tour of the vineyards and winery and sample the wines produced at Fox Creek Vineyards and Winery.
Schedule:
8:00 a.m. Leave M2 building. Andrew Jones will deliver a lecture on solar eclipses on the trip down. (There will be a brief stop halfway for him to change buses.)
10:30 a.m. Arrive at Fox Creek Vineyards and Winery
10:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Tour Vineyards and Winery, View Eclipse, Wine Tasting
3:15 p.m. Depart Fox Creek
5:45 p.m. Arrive back at M2 building
(All times are approximate, except for the 8:00 a.m. departure time. Please be aware that the ETA back in Champaign assumes no delays. As you likely know, traffic jams were common following the solar eclipse of 2017. After discussing potential scenarios with Dave Leake, we’ve decided to leave our viewing site approximately 15 minutes before the end of the eclipse in an attempt to avoid a similar experience on our return trip.)
Please note: Fox Creek Vineyards and Winery is a local business eager to welcome OLLI members for this special day. They plan to provide live music during times before and after totality and will have a taco stand serving handmade tacos from the Blind Pig caterers. They recommend that you bring your own picnic lunch as well. (Fox Creek does not serve food, and the vineyard is not within walking distance of any local eateries.) You may not bring alcohol onto their grounds. When we arrive at the vineyard, they will meet us at the buses, hand out tasting tickets for wine, and give any last-minute instructions. They will also have commemorative event items, such as T-shirts and large insulated cups, available for sale as souvenirs. OLLI members will need to provide their own food for the day’s excursion. OLLI will provide some basic snacks and water for the bus trip and during the wine tasting.
There are picnic tables at the vineyard, but you might prefer to bring your own chair or blanket for viewing the eclipse. You will also need to provide your own solar eclipse glasses.
Cancel by March 18, 2024: a full refund will be given.
Cancel after March 18, 2024: no refund will be given. Please let OLLI know if you must cancel after March 18, 2024.
*Physics and Baseball: An Intersection of Passions Alan Nathan Alan Nathan has been a physicist all his professional life, but he’s been a baseball fan even longer. After reading Robert Adair's classic book The Physics of Baseball over 25 years ago, he thought he knew everything there was to know about the subject. Since then he has learned much, much more, due in large part to some superb tools that are now available, allowing detailed studies that were not available to Adair at the time he wrote his book. The advances have come in two broad areas: the aerodynamics of a baseball in flight and the physics of the ball-bat collision. Not only have these advances furthered our understanding of the physics, but they have also had a practical application to the game itself. Nathan will give several examples, including some of the following: OLLI Happy Hour Thursday, April 18, 2024 Join the OLLI Membership Committee for happy hour on Thursday, April 18 at Harvest Market at 4:30 pm. No need to sign up, just come and enjoy the company. You can bring your own snacks or purchase food from the store (you can even bring a pizza if you like). Beer, wine, bourbon, and limited spirits are available for purchase. There is a $5.00 corkage fee for wine purchased by the bottle in the store. *Rosalyn Schwartz in her Studio: A Conversation and Demonstration Rosalyn Schwartz, Professor Emerita, School of Art and Design, UIUC For this discussion Rosalyn will be opening her art studio in East Urbana where you will have the opportunity to see how one artist sets up her studio practice. Enrollment will be limited to ten people for each session. The first hour will be an overview of how Rosalyn sets up her studio. She will also show a sampling of her drawings and paintings from early work to more recent work. The second hour will be devoted to a demonstration of how she begins an oil painting. We will conclude with some time to ask a few questions. For those of you who are able it might be possible to extend the discussion for a few minutes after 12pm. Rosalyn Schwartz has been exhibiting her work for the past thirty years, both nationally and internationally. She is the recipient of numerous grants, fellowships, and awards, including an NEA Fellowship, a Bush
Foundation Fellowship, and a McKnight Foundation Fellowship. In 2010 Schwartz had a twenty-year survey
exhibition of her work at the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ Gallery 210 that was accompanied by an
illustrated catalogue with an essay by Lilly Wei, independent curator and art critic for Art in America magazine.
In the fall of 2013, Schwartz had a solo exhibition, “A Brief History of Seduction,” at the McNay Art Museum in
San Antonio, Texas. In August 2014, Schwartz’s work was included in the group exhibition “Beauty Reigns: A
Baroque Sensibility in Contemporary Painting” at the McNay Art Museum which then traveled to the Akron Art
Museum in Akron, Ohio, in January 2015. A major, illustrated catalogue accompanied this exhibition. Most
recently she had a solo show in November 2020 at deveingprojects.com in Chicago. Schwartz’s work has been reviewed in Artforum, Art in America and The New York Times. She received her BFA in painting from Washington University, St. Louis, and her MFA in painting from Fontbonne College, St. Louis. In May of 2008, after serving as Professor of Studio Arts in the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign, Schwartz decided to take an early retirement so that she could focus fulltime on her studio work
and prepare for several upcoming exhibitions. Prior to coming to Champaign-Urbana in 1988, Schwartz taught
painting and drawing at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, the Minneapolis College of Art and
Design, and West Virginia University in Morgantown. OLLI Annual Meeting and Dinner 2024 Save the Date: Monday, June 17, 2024 The OLLI Membership Committee and OLLI Council invite you to the 2024 Annual Meeting and Dinner on Monday, June 17, 2024. You will hear about OLLI’s year in review, vote on new OLLI Council members and officers, and enjoy socializing with other members. *America’s Upcoming Solar Eclipse! David Leake America will get to experience its second total solar eclipse in seven years on April 8, 2024. Dave Leake will talk about what is happening, why it is happening, what you might possibly see, where to see it and how to safely see one of nature’s greatest spectacles. Approved eclipse glasses will be available for $1.00 each following the lecture. Proceeds support the CU Astronomical Society.
SHORT BIO: Dave Leake (Director, William M. Staerkel Planetarium, Parkland College (retired); co-founder, Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society) retired from Parkland College in 2019 where he taught physics and astronomy plus ran shows at the William M. Staerkel Planetarium for 30 years. Dave co-founded the CU Astronomical Society in 1986. CUAS operates an observatory southwest of Champaign. In addition to being a Solar System Ambassador, Dave was instrumental in getting Dark Sky Park status for the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, currently the first and only DSP in the state. Dave led an eclipse expedition to southern Illinois for the 2017 event.
*Prophecies and Divination Molly Banwart Beliefs and practices about prophecies and divination are found in many cultures around the world. We will examine a selection of documents that deal with divination practices and prophecies, from popular instances in literature to examples and responses about the everyday folk practices, spanning antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and into our modern day. *Estate and Charitable Planning with Retirement Assets Meg Cline OLLI’s Development Committee invites you to join Meg Cline at a session at which she will share ideas about how estate and charitable gift planning objectives can be achieved with retirement assets. She will showcase ways you may plan for the future, take care of loved ones, and be charitable. Whether you want to help OLLI, the local food bank, your church, a local school, or another charity dear to you, come join us to learn more about how retirement assets might best fit into your estate and charitable gift planning objectives. *Winter Trivia at OLLI Thursdays, February 15 and March 14, 2024 Join us for two fun-filled afternoons of trivia at OLLI. John Best will MC the February 15 session, and Esther Muhr will MC the March 14 session. *Krannert Uncorked: Nadirah Shakoor Thursday, February 29, 2024 On behalf of the OLLI Membership Committee, we invite you to join us for Krannert Uncorked – an opportunity to gather informally in the main lobby of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Join us for the music of Nadirah Shakoor. This event is presented in collaboration with Illinois Soul 101.1 FM in celebration of Black History Month. *Dealing with “Dune: Part One” Fred Christensen On Friday Feb. 23, the science-fiction film “Dune” Part One will be shown and discussed at OLLI, one week before the March 1 release of the much-anticipated Part Two. Part One was released in 2021, was very well received (winning six Oscars), and is regarded as one of the best adaptations of a classic SF novel to film. The story portrays a far-future universe in which computers and AI have been replaced by advanced human mental and physical skills, but in which power struggles between individuals, groups and dynasties continue as they always have. At this OLLI event, Fred Christensen will discuss “Dune,” providing background information about the fictional cultures and characters portrayed and will show Part One of the film (2 ½ hours), followed by more discussion. Since the two parts tell one continuous story (much like the trilogy of "The Lord of the Rings"), this showing will allow viewers to refresh their memory of the tale's first half, or to be introduced to it, before seeing the second half. *What’s Happening at the Champaign Public Library? Presentation and Tour of The Studio Join Maura Stutzman, Program and Events Librarian at CPL, along with OLLI members, for a tour of The Studio and presentation about the Library. *OLLI New and Returning Member Coffee Join the OLLI Membership Committee and staff for a welcome “coffee” at our office at the M2 building located at 301 North Neil Street, Suite 201, Champaign, IL. You will have an opportunity to tour our facilities and learn about OLLI programs and benefits as well as meet volunteer leaders and OLLI staff. Light refreshments will be served. This event is open to all OLLI members. Please join us to welcome our new OLLI members! *OLLI Poetry Reading Friday, February 16, 2024 Members of the OLLI study group “Writing and Performing Poetry” have been busy this session writing poetry and sharing it with each other. Now they’re ready to share it with you. OLLI members, friends, and family are invited to join in person or on Zoom. There is no need to register for this event. The Zoom link is below. *William Morris & The Kelmscott Press Emma Wise Join Emma Wise for a talk about English artist William Morris and the Kelmscott Press. Morris founded the press in 1891, and the press published titles until 1898. Come see a copy of Morris’ Kelmscott Chaucer, and other printed works produced at the Kelmscott Press, and to discuss 19th century printing and decorative books. *The American Presidency: Pivotal Elections Thursdays, February 1 – February 15, 4:00 – 5:15 p.m. UT OLLI-Austin extends an invitation to OLLI at Illinois members to join in a special synchronous online seminar series that explores pivotal presidential races of the past that featured sharply contrasting agendas, personal styles, and dire predictions for our nation's future. *Talking with Racist Uncle Joe: Strategies for having difficult conversations Facilitators: Joe Minarik and Joycelyn Landrum-Brown This 1.5-hour intervention offers participants the opportunity not only to identify ways of engaging someone who is making racist comments, but also to explore the risks of intervening in such situations. The aim of the exercise is to both expand the kinds of interventions one might use in the future, and to explore the role of social identity status differences in intervening. Thus, participants are encouraged to explore the differences intervening might have for people of color versus white people, both at individual and collective levels. The exercise has been used among a wide range of learners, including 8th grade and high school students, faith groups, social service organizations, etc *Tour of Beckman Institute Thursday, February 1, 2024 The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology is a barrier-busting, interdisciplinary research facility and community of innovation. During the OLLI group tour, participants will learn about research happening within Beckman’s walls. They will visit a variety of research spaces including the (dis)Ability Design Studio. The (dis)Ability Design Studio focuses on interdisciplinary design research centered around the lived experiences of people with disabilities. In addition, the group will view exhibits about the institute founder Arnold Beckman and the history of MRI at Illinois. *El Niño – How a Pacific Ocean Pattern Impacts Illinois and the World
Jim Angel El Niño is a fascinating weather and ocean pattern that develops every 3 to 7 years in the eastern Pacific Ocean. In the past several decades, scientists have learned a considerable amount about them. As a result, they have become an important forecast tool for predicting everything from mild winters in the Midwest and drought in Australia. This talk will examine El Niño and our understanding of its predictability and impact on Illinois and elsewhere. *Building Your Strength with Vivo Information Session Join the Vivo director (Eric Levitan), one of the company’s scientific advisors (Dr. Katie Starr), and Vivo trainer (Kevin Snodgrass) for a presentation about its online personal training program to build muscle strength and improve balance, mobility, agility, endurance, and energy. This three-person presentation will provide information for the OLLI/Vivo Spring 2024 course that will be offered on Thursdays, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., February 29 – April 18. There will be ample time for Q&A during the presentation. *Napoleon, Film and History Fred Christensen Ridley Scott’s film “Napoleon” had an opening date of November 22, 2023. This lecture, presented two weeks later, will discuss the film, its accuracy and its interpretation of the character of history’s most famous conqueror. Bonaparte’s nature and personality, his relationship with his first wife Josephine, his accomplishments in conquering, remaking, and losing control of Europe—these topics and others will be discussed. Some of Scott’s other movies (“The Duellists,” ”Gladiator,” ”The Last Duel”) were very good at portraying the atmosphere, culture and mentality of past ages. They were also visually splendid. We’ll see if this film has the same qualities. *Let’s do dinner and a movie! Friday, December 1, 2023 The OLLI Membership Committee invites you to join OLLI members and friends for dinner and a movie on Friday, December 1, 2023. We will meet for dinner at Big Grove Tavern, across the street from the OLLI office, at 1 East Main St, Champaign. The film is part of the Virginia Theatre’s Arthouse Experience. It begins at 7:00 p.m. and is $7.00. To purchase tickets, go to https://thevirginia.org and click on event listings – and locate the movie in upcoming events and click on buy tickets. *The Past, Present, and Future of the “Independent State Legislature” Theory Vikram Amar Professor Vikram Amar will analyze the so-called “Independent State Legislature” theory, what its embrace would allow, and what the Court’s rejection of it in Moore v Harper means going forward. *The Destruction of Stars by Supermassive Black Holes Decker French Stars that venture too close to supermassive black holes can be ripped apart by strong tides from the intense gravity of the supermassive black hole. Large surveys of the sky have begun to identify these events in real time, allowing us to study the extreme processes around supermassive black holes in new detail. Professor French will present recent work being done at UIUC on these extreme events and give a preview into what upcoming facilities may tell us in the next decade. *Grave Ideas: The Gravestone Poetry of Bea Nettles Bea Nettles During her travels to cemeteries since 2011, Bea Nettles has photographed over six thousand last names on headstones that are parts of speech. With these words she has created books that investigate language, history, and some of life’s events. Nettles will share some of these books with the audience at this lecture. *Women in Science. How I Used Genealogy to Solve a 200-Year-Old Mystery: Who was Margaret Bryan? Gregory Girolami Margaret Bryan, an educator and author who lived some 200 years ago in England, has long been one of the mystery women of science, about whom almost nothing was known. As headmistress of a boarding school for young ladies, she wrote two well-regarded textbooks on astronomy and physics intended for female readers, A compendious system of astronomy (editions in 1797, 1799 and 1805) and Lectures on natural philosophy (1806), along with a smaller volume, Astronomical and geographical class book for schools (1815. Despite over 200 years of interest in her and her life, however, no information had been available about when and where she was born, her maiden name and the names of her parents, husband, and children, and when and where she died. This talk will be a detective story: it will describe how a small clue followed up with genealogical resources led to a trail of historical records that have – for the first time – brought Margaret Bryan out of the dark shadows in which she has been shrouded for two centuries. *Authority without Power Martin Srajek Based on the work of the philosopher and rabbi Emannuel Levinas, “Authority without Power” will question whether power as a source of authority is necessary or if authority can stand on its own. Is it possible to have authority without having power? What does it mean to be powerless and have authority? How do we arrive at authority without the help of power? Martin and attendees will together work on possible answers to these questions to understand their wide-ranging implications for issues ranging from “living authentically” to “parenting” to “addiction,” “care,” “burn-out,” “international relationships,” and more. *Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, School Desegregation Battles, and My Family Casey Sutherland This lecture is a re-working of a session prepared for the Fall 2021 study group on Famous Trials. This version omits some of the more esoteric legal details, adds more about the social aftermath of school desegregation in the South in the 1950s and 1960s, and added a section about current attempts to ban books and revise any history that might make some white folks uncomfortable (e.g., the so-called anti-woke movement). *Oppenheimer and Los Alamos (beyond the movie) Gordon Baym Beyond the movie “Oppenheimer” is the remarkable history of the development of atomic bombs at Los Alamos, the hidden city in northern New Mexico, led by physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. In this informal and non-technical talk, Gordon Baym will discuss a little of the historical setting, the establishment of Los Alamos, the basic science of nuclear weapons, and the involvement of the American scientific community in the project, as well as Oppenheimer himself as a scientist. *OLLI Happy Hour Thursday, November 9, 2023 Join the OLLI Membership Committee for happy hour on Thursday, November 9 at Punch! Bar & Lounge at 4:30 pm. No need to sign up; just come and enjoy the company and refreshments. *Creating a Lasting Memory Meg Cline Join Meg Cline, Vice President of Gift Planning and Trust Services with the University of Illinois Foundation, as she shares ways in which you can achieve your financial priorities while also fulfilling your charitable intentions to provide sustained support for the charities most important to you. Come learn more about effective strategies for giving through your estate plans, providing income and support for surviving loved ones, and learn about recent changes around Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRAs. *The Liberal Arts: Advancing the Humanities in an Emerging Multipolar World Christopher Chaves For decades liberal arts education has been steadily marginalized in the United States in spite of its brief revivals in some higher education institutions; a chief justification for this marginalization is that the liberal arts component of higher education offers non-utilitarian value for those, understandably, concerned about life-long job security. Its marginalization in our controversial neo-liberal economic era has only increased, in spite of warning signs pointing to the continued decline in the cultural, political, and ecological dimensions of our national life. But is it possible to receive an education for meaningful work, protecting ecological systems, and human flourishing? Are we simply only graduating highly trained technicians and not broadly educated human beings with an ability to apply empathy for others’ interests in our world? Dr. Christopher Ulloa-Chaves provides one credible response and invites your participation with these crucial questions affecting global higher education. *Conspiracy Deliracy “Declassified”: Composer Talk & Workshop Andrew Binder In a talk catered to music aficionados and conspiracy fans alike, Dr. Andrew Binder will discuss his process behind each composition within his new album “Conspiracy Deliracy,” including direct influences, allusions, and altered quotations of other music and musicians, including John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry, Beyonce, and more. Additionally, Dr. Binder will explain the concepts explored for musicians and composers to use in their own writing. *OLLI goes back to Broadway Announcing a day trip to Chicago to see "A Wonderful World"
Thursday, April 18, 2024
1:30 – 3:00 pm
Location: Illinois Classroom and Zoom
How does a baseball bat work?
Do all wood bats perform identically?
Why is aluminum better?
How do atmospheric conditions affect the flight of the baseball?
Why do fly balls carry better to centerfield?
What's the deal with the humidor?
Why the recent surge in home runs?
There should be something for everyone in this talk, whether your main interest is physics, baseball, or somewhere in between.
Alan Nathan is Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Illinois. After a long career doing experimental nuclear and particle physics, he now devotes his efforts to the physics of baseball. He has written many articles, both for academic journals and on-line baseball publications; he has given numerous lectures to a variety of audiences; and he maintains an oft-visited web site, baseball.physics.illinois.edu, that many people have found to be a useful resource. He is interviewed regularly by the media and has consulted for various organizations, including MLB, NCAA, USA Baseball, and several MLB clubs, as well as various technology companies. He anxiously awaits the return of the Red Sox to the postseason.
To register for this presentation, log in to your OLLI account with your username and password, choose “Lectures – 2023 – 2024 “ under Select Semester, and then select the “Register” button under this presentation. Click “Checkout,” agree to “Terms of Use,” click “continue” and then “submit.”
4:30 – 5:30 pm
Champaign Harvest Market
Upstairs bar
2029 South Neil Street, Champaign
Wednesday April 24,2024, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Monday April 29, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
*Enrollment limited to ten people per session. You may attend one session only, not both.
Alice Campbell Alumni Center
601 S Lincoln Ave
Urbana, IL 61820
This year’s meeting and dinner will be held at Alice Campbell Alumni Center. Parking is available in Lot D22. Dinner will be catered by University Catering.
Cost is $40.00 per person
Full Cash Bar
4:30 pm – Sign in and socialize.
5:15 – 6:00 pm - Annual Meeting
6:00 – 7:00 pm – Dinner
Registration and other details for this event will be available in early May. Please feel free to invite a non-OLLI member (or two!) as your guest. We would love to share OLLI’s story and successes with others!
If you have any questions, please contact OLLI by phone at 217-244-9141 or email olli@illinois.edu
PAST LECTURES and EVENTS
Thursday, March 28, 2024. 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Hybrid: Illinois Classroom & Zoom
Wednesday, March 27
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Location: Rare Book & Manuscript Library, 346 Library, 1408 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801
http://www.library.illinois.edu/rbx/
Maximum number of participants: 15, registration required
RBML appreciates it if first-time visitors to RBML can create a reader account with RBML, using this URL:https://armarium.library.illinois.edu. Returning visitors may want to log in and update contact information. If anyone is having difficulty with the registration process, they should just come on over to the library and they’ll sort out the problem on site. Visitors will need to show a valid photo ID (I-Card, driver’s license, etc.)
Further Information: Rare Book & Manuscript Library, 217-333-3777 or send an email to askacurator@library.illinois.edu
Thursday, March 21, 2024
1:30 – 3:00 pm
Location: Illinois Classroom and Zoom
Guests are welcome to attend.
Margaret A. (Meg) Cline serves as the Vice President for Gift Planning and Trust Services at the University of Illinois Foundation where she is responsible for the team of professional staff that oversee all aspects of gift planning, deferred gift administration, and all gift documentation for the University of Illinois System and its three universities. Prior to assuming this role in February 2015, Meg served for five years as the Associate Dean for Advancement for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Come with a group of friends (members or non-members) or come by yourself and we will pair you with others. Teams will consist of 4 – 8 people. Varying themes and categories will be included. Please bring a friend or a few to join in the fun.
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
500 South Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL
Wines will be available for purchase by the glass at the cash bar, along with a full selection of other beverages. These gatherings have been popular and well-attended, giving our members the chance to mingle with familiar faces and new friends.
No reservations are needed; just look for the signage where OLLI members are congregating and join the fun! We hope to see you there!
Friday February 23, 2024
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Osher Classroom
To register for this event, log in to your OLLI account with your username and password, choose “Events” under Select Semester, and then select the “Register” button under this event. Click “Checkout,” agree to “Terms of Use,” click “continue” and then “submit.”
Maura Stutzman
Wednesday February 21, 2024
10:00 – 11:00 am
200 W Green St, Champaign, IL 61820
The Studio at the Library is an innovative, new 8,000 sq. ft. space on the lower level of the Main Library, including a makerspace, recording booths, computer lab, and gaming area. Creative tools include 3D printers, sewing machines, Cricut machines, and Glowforge laser cutters.
The Studio hosts activities for teens after school, creative workshops for adults in the evening, and is open to community members on weekends.
The tour and presentation is limited to 20 members. Maura will meet OLLI members at 9:50 am in the Lobby of the library.
Thursday, February 22, 2024
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Location: OLLI
To register for this event, log in to your OLLI account with your username and password, choose “Events” under Select Semester, and then select the “Register” button under this event. Click “Checkout,” agree to “Terms of Use,” click “continue” and then “submit.”
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Illinois Classroom and Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting https://illinois.zoom.us/j/87877474007?pwd=aHF4V1cxNk10d0sycVVNQzYzZk5nZz09
Meeting ID: 878 7747 4007
Password: 907792
Wednesday, February 14
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Location: Rare Book & Manuscript Library, 346 Library, 1408 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801 http://www.library.illinois.edu/rbx/
Maximum number of participants: 15, registration required
To register for this lecture, log in to your OLLI account with your username and password, choose “Lectures – 2023 – 2024.” under Select Semester, and then select the “Begin Registration” button under this lecture. Registration is required.
RBML appreciates it if first-time visitors to RBML can create a reader account with RBML, using this URL: https://armarium.library.illinois.edu . Returning visitors may want to log in and update contact information. If anyone is having difficulty with the registration process, they should just come on over to the library and they’ll sort out the problem on site. Visitors will need to show a valid photo ID (I-Card, driver’s license, etc.)
Further Information: Rare Book & Manuscript Library, 217-333-3777 or send an email to askacurator@library.illinois.edu
See OLLI weekly email for registration details.
Please contact the UT OLLI office with any questions at (512) 471-3124 or utolli@austin.utexas.edu.
The series is in partnership with the LBJ Library on the UT Austin campus. There is no charge for this seminar series. Members do not have to attend all the sessions to participate.
February 15: Jon Ward, author of Camelot’s End: The Democrats’ Last Great Civil War
Friday, February 2, 2024
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Osher classroom
Open to the public. To help us anticipate the number of participants, OLLI members are encouraged to register.
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Beckman Institute, 405 N. Matthews Ave, Urbana, IL
The group will meet in the rotunda, located at the south entrance.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
1:30 – 3:00 pm
Hybrid: Illinois Classroom and Zoom
Dr. Jim Angel is the former state climatologist for Illinois. In that role, he has studied a wide range of weather and climate features that impact Illinois and the Midwest, including El Niño and La Niña, extreme precipitation, and climate change. He is also a leading author of the Midwest Chapter of the 2018 National Climate Assessment and the 2021 Illinois Climate Assessment. He is also teaching the Spring Olli course on climate change in Illinois.
To register for this free lecture, log in to your OLLI account with your username and password, choose “Lectures – 2023-2024” under Select Semester, and then select the “Begin Registration” button under this lecture.
Friday, January 5, 2024
1:30 – 2:30 pm
ZOOM
Eric Levitan is the founder and CEO of Vivo. As he witnessed the decline of his parents’ quality of life as they got older, he realized he wanted to better understand the aging process and help them. That’s why he started Vivo – to create awareness and a safe, engaging, and impactful program to guide older adults to a safer and healthier life.
Katie Starr, PhD, RD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and Research Health Scientist at Durham VA Medical Center. Dr. Starr is also Co-Director of the Duke Center for Aging Clinical Nutrition Laboratory, and her research and professional experience focuses on understudied, older adult populations at high risk for chronic health conditions and functional disability. She is also the Chief Scientific Officer for Vivo.
Kevin Snodgrass, NASM – CPT, CES, FNS, SFS, ACE, is the head trainer for Vivo. He is a corrective exercise specialist helping individuals with chronic health issues and injuries improve their strength and mobility, with the goal of returning to their normal activities. In his current role, he is responsible for designing the signature Vivo strength training fitness program, including exercise levels and variations for participants of all ages and abilities.
Please note: Vivo is a private company that develops exercise programs for older adults with scientific advisors from Duke University and Emory University. OLLI at Illinois is joining with other OLLIs to offer Vivo's Strength-Building online exercise program to our members. Students will be invited to continue with Vivo's own program at the end of the OLLI course. There is, however, no obligation for students to continue with Vivo at the end of the 8 weeks.
Friday, December 8, 2023
1:30 – 3:00 pm
Illinois Classroom and Zoom
Fred Christensen presented “Movies of the Age of Napoleon” as a study group last spring and wishes this film had been available then.
Dinner at 5:15 p.m. at Big Grove Tavern
Movie at 7:00 p.m. at the Virginia Theatre – “Synecdoche, New York” (2008)
About the film: Life is looking pretty bleak for theater director Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman). His wife and daughter have left him, his therapist is more interested in plugging her new book than helping him with his problems, and a strange disease is causing his body to shut down.
Caden leaves his home in Schenectady, New York, and heads to New York City, where he gathers a cast of actors and tells them to live their lives within the constructs of a mock-up of the city.
Watch the OFFICIAL TRAILER Here
Friday, December 1, 2023
1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Online only: Zoom Webinar
Vikram Amar returned to UC Davis as a Distinguished Professor of Law in 2023 after serving as the dean and the Iwan Foundation Professor of Law at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign College of Law since 2015. Amar is one of the most eminent and frequently cited authorities in constitutional law, federal courts, and civil procedure. He has produced several books and more than 60 articles in leading law reviews. He writes a biweekly column on constitutional matters for Justia.com, is a frequent commentator on local and national radio and TV, and has penned dozens of op-ed pieces for major newspapers and magazines.
A strong proponent of public and professional engagement, Amar is an elected member of the American Law Institute and has served as a consultant for, among others, the National Association of Attorneys General, the United States Department of Justice, the California Attorney General’s Office, the ACLU of Southern California, and the Center for Civic Education.
Thursday, November 30, 2023
1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Hybrid: Illinois Classroom & Zoom Webinar
Professor French received her SB degrees in Physics and Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences in 2011 from MIT, and her PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the University of Arizona in 2017. She was a Hubble Postdoctoral Fellow at the Carnegie Observatories in Pasadena, CA. Professor French joined the faculty at UIUC in 2020. Her research interests include galaxy evolution, transient astronomy, and optical and radio observations. She uses multi-wavelength observations to study how galaxies evolve over time and co-evolve with their supermassive black holes.
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
In-person only: Illinois Classroom
Bea Nettles, Mixed-Media Photographer and Professor Emerita, UIUC School of Art and Design, began her exhibition career when her work was shown in “Photography Into Sculpture,” at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, 1970. Her images have been featured in exhibitions worldwide and regularly reviewed in the media: The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Art in America, Art Week, Art News, and several photography magazines in the USA, Italy, Portugal, Australia, England and France. Widely recognized, Nettles has taught thousands of students since 1970 and delivered lectures and workshops internationally.
Monday, November 27, 2023
1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Hybrid: Illinois Classroom and Zoom Webinar
Gregory S. Girolami, UIUC William and Janet Lycan Professor of Chemistry, has been recognized by a Naval Research Young Investigator Award, a Sloan Foundation Fellowship, a Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, a University Scholar Award, a Campus Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, and election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the American Chemical Society. His research involves several themes, especially mechanistic studies of organometallic reactions such as the polymerization of alkenes and the activation of saturated alkanes, and the chemical vapor deposition of thin films from designed molecular precursors. Among his hobbies are collecting rare books, the history of science, and genealogy.
Friday, November 17, 2023
1:30 – 3:00 pm
Illinois Classroom and Zoom Webinar
Martin Srajek was born in 1961 in former West-Germany. After finishing his coursework in theology at the University of Hamburg in 1985, he moved to Philadelphia where he received a Ph.D. in Philosophy and World Religions from Temple University. Martin taught at various schools on the East Coast and the Mid-West before earning master’s degrees in Human and Community Development and Social Work. Since 2000 Martin has worked as a psychotherapist in private practice in Champaign, Illinois.
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Location: Osher Classroom/ ZOOM
Casey Sutherland is a retired librarian and OLLI member since January 2014. She has facilitated several study groups over the past 9 years, but this is her first formal lecture for OLLI. She is not an academic but enjoys doing research on topics of interest. She has an indirect connection to the Brown case, having been born and raised in New Orleans.
Thursday, November 9, 2023
1:30 – 3:00 pm
Location: Hybrid
Gordon Baym is the George and Ann Fisher Professor in Engineering Emeritus, and Center for Advanced Study Professor of Physics Emeritus. Professor Baym received his bachelor's degree in physics from Cornell University in 1956, his A.M. in mathematics from Harvard in 1957, and his Ph.D. in physics from Harvard in 1960. He joined the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois as an assistant professor in 1963. Professor Baym has been a major leader in the study of matter under extreme conditions in astrophysics and nuclear physics. He has made original, seminal contributions to our understanding of neutron stars, relativistic effects in nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, quantum fluids, and most recently, Bose-Einstein condensates. His work is characterized by a superb melding of basic theoretical physics concepts, from condensed matter to nuclear to elementary particle physics.
4:30 – 5:30 pm
Punch! Bar & Lounge
Located in Hyatt Place Champaign/Urbana
217 N. Neil St., Champaign
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
1:30 – 3:00 pm
Location: Illinois Classroom/ ZOOM
Margaret A. (Meg) Cline serves as the Vice President for Gift Planning and Trust Services at the University of Illinois Foundation where she is responsible for the team of professional staff that oversee all aspects of gift planning, deferred gift administration, and all gift documentation for the University of Illinois System and its three universities. Prior to assuming this role in February 2015, Meg served for five years as the Associate Dean for Advancement for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Thursday, October 19, 2023
1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Dr. Chaves earned his doctorate in higher education from the University of Southern California and has over ten years of interdisciplinary teaching experience in higher education; he is author of the well-received book on this topic titled Liberal Arts and Sciences: Thinking Critically, Creatively, and Ethically. His book was recommended by US Review of Books, the Association of American Colleges & Universities, and was cited in The Integration of the Humanities and Arts with Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Higher Education: Branches from the Same Tree (2018), a publication of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. Dr. Chaves also has lectured about liberal arts education in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, and Vietnam. His peer-reviewed article published as a result of participation at the Ca'Foscari University of Venice, Italy will serve as the basis for this lecture and can be requested.
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Osher Classroom. In-person ONLY
Conspiracy Deliracy, the brainchild of bassist and composer Andrew Binder, features original compositions crossed between modern jazz, pop music icons, their music, and conspiracy theories. Recipient of a 2023 Urbana Arts Grant, the music is tongue-in-cheek commentary on today’s delusional era of misinformation, sensitively interpreted by some of the Midwest’s top jazz musicians.
Bigfoot, Area 51, and the faked moon landing... birds are actually government surveillance drones... Stevie Wonder isn't actually blind... Avril Lavigne is dead and replaced by a doppelganger... Katy Perry is a shape-shifting reptilian... and Beyoncé is a part of the Illuminati? You won't believe it until you hear it for yourself.
This event is a precursor to an event at the CU Jazz Festival, October 26-29. On Sunday evening, October 29, Dr. Binder will be at The Space performing pieces from his “Conspiracy Deliracy” album with his full band, ending with a jam session. At the OLLI event, he will be talking and demonstrating his processes for getting from concept to music.
(A new musical about the life and loves of Louis Armstrong)
Trip Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Registration now closed except for wait list
Trip Details: Departs at 7:30 a.m.; returns to Champaign - Urbana at appoximately 7:45 p.m.
Cost is $150 per person ( includes orchestra ticket to perfomance, roundtrip motor coach, and light snacks on the bus).
Departure Location: OLLI office, 301 N. Neil St, bus will pick up on Hill Street