Albany Lifelong Learning Institute announces 6 fall courses
- NYS Writers Institute
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
This fall, the Albany Lifelong Learning Institute offers older adults six engaging courses that explore history, art, music, philosophy, science fiction and writing.
The courses -- some in-person and others via Zoom -- begin in early September, with each course meeting once a week for two hours over a six-week period.
The cost is $60 per course. Visit the Emeritus Center site to register.
The ALLI (pronounced “ally”) program, offering courses and activities designed specifically for older adults, is sponsored by the William L. Reese II, PhD, Emeritus Center, an association of retired University at Albany faculty, administrators and professionals who have been granted emeritus status.
Exploring Our Strange Universe
Instructor: Bob Berman, astronomy editor of the Old Farmers Almanac and contributing editor of Astronomy magazine
Day/Time: Mondays, 10 AM to 12 Noon
Dates: 9/14, 9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19
Location: Albany Guardian Society, 12 Corporate Woods Blvd 1st Floor, Albany, NY 12211
Overview: Everyone’s heard of black holes, quantum mechanics, and Einstein’s relativity. But how many know enough to truly enjoy them? The same is true of such commonplace phenomena as the three varieties of twilight, rainbows, and the fact that one section of the sky always displays a deeper blue than the rest.
There’s magic hidden beneath everyday happenings, secrets that will be increasingly obvious as we explore such basics as what nature’s colors are telling us.
Courts and the Crisis of Democracy: What Can We Really Expect from the Guardians of Justice
Instructor: Tassiana Moura de Oliveira, Visiting Assistant Professor, Political Science/UAlbany
Day/Time: Tuesdays, 2 to 4 PM
Dates: 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6 and 10/13
Location: ETEC Building, Room 203
Format: In-Person Only
Are the courts our last bastion of democracy, or are they accelerating its decline? Given the current state of political affairs, understanding the judiciary has never been more critical.
This six-session course is designed for lifelong learners and engaged citizens who want to demystify the federal court system and understand its profound impact on everyday policy.
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Murders That Mattered: Notorious Cases That Changed the Law
Instructor: Al Lawrence, Emeritus Professor of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, Empire State University
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 1:30 to 3:30 PM
Dates: 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, and 10/14
Location: ETEC Building, Room 203
Format: In-Person Only
The course will examine in depth the details of several notorious murder cases throughout American history and the effects they had on the law and legal and public policy as the result of legislation, administrative rules, case law and legal ethics.
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Revolutionary New York
Instructor: Aaron Noble, Senior Historian, New York State Museum
Day/Time: Thursdays, 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Dates: 9/10, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, and 10/15
Location: ETEC Building, Room 203. Special note - The class will not meet at ETEC 203 on 9/17. Instead, the second class will be be held at the NYS Museum on Sunday, 9/20 to visit the Revolutionary New York exhibit.
Format: In-Person Only
The course will explore 250 years of revolution in what became New York State. The American War for Independence raged from 1775 to 1783, but the ideas of American Revolution did not end there.
From the Battles of Saratoga to the birth of the Women’s Suffrage Movement at Seneca Falls to the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, New York has remained at the heart of this continuing Revolution.
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United States and the Middle East: Core Interests, Misreadings and Missed Opportunities
Instructor: James Ketterer, Senior Fellow, Center for Civic Engagement, Bard College
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 10 AM to 12 Noon
Dates: 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, and 10/14.
Format: Mr Ketterer is currently at the American University in Yerevan, Armenia, so all classes will be will be delivered remotely. Attend at home or elsewhere over Zoom.
This course will explore the core interests and dynamics at play in the U.S. relationship with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from the early 20th century to the present. We will explore the institutions at the center of U.S. foreign policy and how they interact with the MENA region; key aspects of the region; persistent American misunderstandings; and notable changes and consistencies in the region.
In addition, the course will analyze four case studies that highlight various aspects of U.S. policy: the landmark 1970s agreement between Egypt and Israel at Camp David; 9/11 and its aftermath; The Arab Spring and the challenge of revolt; and the fractured and fraught U.S. relationship with Iran.
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Health Communication and Artificial Intelligence
Instructor: Rukhsana Ahmed, Professor, Department of Communication, UAlbany
Day/Time: Fridays, 10 AM to 12 Noon
Dates: 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, and 10/16
Location: Albany Guardian Society, 12 Corporate Woods Blvd 1st Floor, Albany, NY 12211
Format: In-Person or Zoom
This course invites lifelong learners to explore how new technologies are changing the ways we learn about health, talk with providers, and make decisions for ourselves and our families.
Participants will not need any technical background, just an interest in understanding how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of everyday health conversations, from online searches and wearable devices to public health messages and medical decision tools.