Browse Curriculum

Join us at the Yanke building for the start of a new semester at the Osher Institute! Drop in to enjoy refreshments, mingle with friends, and pick up your membership name badge and a new parking permit. This event is free, but registration is required.
Date and time: Tue., Aug. 6, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

We often think about words like “nature” and “environment” as being apart from our urban lives, but this is not the case. This lecture will draw on the ideas of environmental history to examine how urban parks have changed—and continue to change—our cities. We will explore famous parks such as Central Park and the Emerald Necklace, as well as lesser-known but impressive parks like Al-Azhar Park in Cairo. The Boise River Greenbelt also will make a guest appearance.
Presenter: Quinn Anderson, environmental and urban historian
Date and time: Wed., Aug. 14, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is an always-fatal nervous system disease found in cervids (deer, elk, moose, reindeer). To date, it has been found in wild or captive cervids in 33 states, five Canadian Provinces, Norway and South Korea. CWD was detected in Idaho County north of Riggins in fall 2021. In this lecture, we will discuss CWD, how it is spread and what Idaho is doing to mitigate the disease in our wildlife populations.
Presenter: Tricia Hosch-Hebdon, Assistant Chief of Wildlife, Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Date and time: Wed., Aug. 14, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Einstein was famously disinterested in details, wanting only to know the big picture: the theory that was the underpinning of all other theories. In a poetic moment, he called this theory of everything “God’s Thoughts.” In this lecture, we will examine the quest to find a theory of everything and will describe in practical terms what it would take to get there.
Presenter: Dr. Don Lincoln, scientist, Fermilab
Date and time: Thu., Aug. 15, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Join other Osher members for an entertaining afternoon at the Osher Institute where we will share a staff-selected documentary to enjoy. There will be time to socialize before and after the program. Refreshments are included. This free program has been created just for Osher members, but registration is required. The selection for this date is “Is Genesis History?”
Date and time: Fri., Aug. 16, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

We will experiment with a variety of short choreographic projects that cover a range of topics and approaches by using our bodies and our imaginations and by working collaboratively. Examples include scenarios that are brought to life such as traveling through a jungle and getting into quicksand; interpreting short word phrases and poetry; and communicating an idea moving with and without music. The intention is to express ourselves through movement and have fun. No dance experience is required.
Presenter: Marla Hansen, Founder, Idaho Dance Theatre
Date and time: Mon., Aug. 19, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership
Capacity: 40

We will discuss iconic feminist writer Virginia Woolf and her 1910 hoax on the British warship HMS Dreadnought. We will explore three fascinating stories: a scandalous prank and its afterlife; Woolf’s ideas about race and empire; and the true Black experience in Britain, from real princes to Caribbean writers and South African activists.
Presenter: Dr. Danell Jones, author
Date and time: Tue., Aug. 20, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

This lecture will explore the risks inherent in revising the U.S. Constitution through a convention of the states. We will discuss whether potential benefits of a revised Constitution outweigh those risks. We also will hold our own mock convention to illuminate the intricacies of amending the constitution through state delegations.
Presenter: McKay Cunningham, former law professor and Director, On-Campus Experiential Learning, The College of Idaho
Date and time: Tue., Aug. 20, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Hailing from Boise, Idaho, Elizabeth Barchas Prelogar is the 48th Solicitor General of the U.S. and serves as the fourth-ranking individual at the Department of Justice. The Solicitor General is responsible for conducting and supervising all Supreme Court litigation on behalf of the U.S. Solicitor General Prelogar was nominated by President Joe Biden on August 11, 2021, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and received her commission on October 28, 2021. She resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband and two sons. Join Dr. David Adler in conversation with Solicitor General Prelogar and awarding her the John and Abigail Adams Award.
Presenter: Dr. David Adler, President, Alturas Institute, and Elizabeth Prelogar, U.S. Solicitor General
Dates and times: Tue., Aug. 20, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Location: TBD
Cost: $25
Capacity: 165
For more information, visit alturasinstitute.com. Seating is limited, and refunds are not available. No calls to the Osher Institute, please.

Back by popular demand! This two-day event will showcase an extraordinary and award-winning slate of speakers from a multitude of industries including law, film, arts, journalism, academia, government, and business. Panels and interviews will focus on stimulating conversations about challenges for women, our nation, and democracy.
Presenter: Dr. David Adler, President, Alturas Institute, and slate of speakers
Dates and times: Wed. and Thu., Aug. 21 and 22, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Location: Yanke Research Park
Cost: $165
Capacity: 165
For more information, visit alturasinstitute.com. Seating is limited, and refunds are not available. No calls to the Osher Institute, please.

This lecture will discuss German broadcasting to the U.S. during World War II. German broadcasts included music with propaganda lyrics and radio shows hosted by American citizens.
Presenter: Dr. David Walker, Professor of History, Boise State University
Date and time: Mon., Aug. 26, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

The railroads were responsible for the growth and popularity of Yellowstone National Park and the Union Pacific Railroad had the most popular route to reach the park. The Union Pacific built extensive facilities at West Yellowstone to accommodate tourists. These facilities remain in use at West Yellowstone, although for other purposes. This lecture will give background on the construction of the line to the park and the services offered by the railroad.
Presenter: Thornton Waite, author and retired project manager, Idaho National Laboratory
Date and time: Tue., Aug. 27, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Oregon and Idaho share a long border, have many similar characteristics and were once in the same legal jurisdiction. Now one is considered a red state and one blue, a distinction growing to the point that a significant number of people in one state would like to break off and join the other state. This lecture will explore how this happened, what it means now for Oregonians and Idahoans and where it may go next.
Presenter: Randy Stapilus, journalist and author
Date and time: Tue., Aug. 27, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

This lecture will discuss global warming and the Arctic’s role and response to this phenomenon. A hands-on activity will include ice-melting blocks, which will demonstrate heat transfer by conduction in the form of a magic trick.
Presenter: Dr. Michael Steele, physical oceanographer
Dates and times: Wed., Aug. 28, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

The history of medicine is replete with advances of maverick doctors who made astonishing progress against humankind’s deadliest diseases and other traumas. One thing spurred more medical breakthroughs than any other: war. This lecture will reveal how D-Day, Luftwaffe bombing raids and aerial dogfights during World War II bequeathed humanity with innovations in surgery, cancer treatment and trauma care that still serve us today.
Presenter: Andrew Lam, MD, retina surgeon and author
Date and time: Wed., Aug. 28, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

This lecture will describe genetic modification in plants and global adoption of these crops. We will review how the safety of GM crops is assessed and review some of the concerns raised about this technology. Examples of applications in Indonesia, Bangladesh and African countries will illustrate how this technology is being used in developing countries.
Presenter: Muffy Koch, Senior Regulatory Manager, J.R. Simplot Company
Date and time: Thu., Aug. 29, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Through examination of literature, music and firsthand experiences, we will explore the culture of the Ladinos, a people of Judeo-Spanish heritage who originated in North Africa and Spain during the Middle Ages. We will focus on the Sephardic Jews, many who spoke the Ladino language, and their dispersion from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa to destinations around the globe. This program is presented in partnership with Idaho’s Jewish Festival, the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora, and the Osher Institute.
Presenter: Oliver Thompson, musician
Date and time: Thu., Aug. 29, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Idaho Public Television host and producer Marcia Franklin will illuminate the creative and logistical processes involved in bringing stories to life. Using examples from her 40 years in broadcast journalism, she will share her techniques for producing complex documentaries and engaging her interviewees in resonant conversations. She also will cover some of the challenges involved in long-form journalism.
Presenter: Marcia Franklin, producer and host, Idaho Public Television
Dates and times: Wed., Sep. 4 and 11, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25

In this lecture, we will discuss the Idaho Education Association (IEA), its members, their role in shaping public education in Idaho and likely public education issues in the coming legislative session.
Presenters: Mike Journee, Communications Director, IEA, and Matt Compton, Associate Executive Director, IEA
Date and time: Thu., Sep. 5, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Join other Osher members for an entertaining afternoon at the Osher Institute where we will share a staff-selected documentary to enjoy. There will be time to socialize before and after the program. Refreshments are included. This free program has been created just for Osher members, but registration is required. The selection for this date is “Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine.”
Date and time: Fri., Sep. 6, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine prompted a call for a revision of the way the history of Russia is presented, not only from Ukrainians but from former Soviet republics in Europe and from non-Russian ethnic groups still within the Russian state. We will examine the ways that this reviewing of Russian history has induced greater attention to the Russian empire’s colonizing period, as well as to the stresses that caused the USSR to come apart in 1989.
Presenter: Dr. Megan Dixon, Lecturer on Environmental Studies, The College of Idaho
Dates and times: Mon., Sep. 9, 16, and 23, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $35

Bowhead whales are one of the most fascinating animals in the world and are the longest-lived mammal. Because of their long baleen, thick blubber and large bones, bowheads have been hunted sustainably for millennia by Indigenous peoples. However, bowheads were hunted to near extinction by commercial whalers. We will explore the unique aspects of bowhead whales and the subsistence hunt in Alaska. We also will discuss the global management of whales by the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
Presenter: Dr. Robert Suydam, retired Chair, Scientific Committee, International Whaling Commission
Date and time: Mon., Sep. 9, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

This lecture will explore the story of King Arthur, who was mortally wounded in battle and carried to the Island of Avalon. King Arthur’s tales were written in the twelfth century, a time when our ancestors didn’t understand the concepts of extinction or fossilization. They had no knowledge of dinosaurs, but they did believe in dragons. Avalon is the same place where Joseph of Arimathea landed with the Holy Grail.
Presenter: Dr. Trent Stephens, retired professor, Idaho Dental Education, Idaho State University
Date and time: Wed., Sep. 11, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Engage with Boise’s three NASA astronauts in a fireside chat as they share their experiences. Dr. Ellen Ochoa, NASA’s first Hispanic female astronaut, flew on four space shuttle missions and served as the Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Dr. Steve Swanson served as Commander of the International Space Station on a long-duration mission and is a veteran of two space shuttle missions and one Russian Soyuz flight. Barbara Morgan served on one space shuttle mission and served as the back-up for Christa McAuliffe in NASA’s Teacher in Space Program.
Please note: This session will feature extended Q & A with the astronauts.
Presenters: Dr. Ellen Ochoa, former Director, NASA’s Johnson Space Center; Dr. Steve Swanson, Distinguished Educator in Residence, Boise State University; and Barbara Morgan, Emeritus Distinguished Educator in Residence, Boise State University
Date and time: Thu., Sep. 12, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Frédéric Chopin is known as the poet of the piano. His special affinity for this instrument yielded music with memorable melodies and gorgeous harmonies beloved by audiences around the globe. This course will examine Chopin’s formative years in Warsaw and conclude with his mature years in Paris. His fascinating journey ties directly to the aesthetics that produced music that is universally enjoyed and admired. After discussing the origins and significance of each piece, Dr. Parkinson will perform some of Chopin’s best-known works, including Fantaisie-Impromptu, Minute Waltz and Heroic Polonaise.
Presenter: Dr. Del Parkinson, Professor of Piano, Department of Music, Boise State University
Dates and times: Thu., Sep. 12 and 19, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: Morrison Center Recital Hall
Cost: $25

Taken as a whole, Asia comprises the world’s largest economy, largest population and most rapid center of change. This course will look at how to work effectively and succeed with the world’s most important economic region. We will look at the key trends and factors particularly as they impact the U.S. and Idaho.
Presenter: Dr. Jack Marr, Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Global Programs, College of Business Education, Boise State University
Dates and times: Fri., Sep. 13 and 20, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $25

Join us for an onsite tour of the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse, the vision of which is to provide opportunities to pursue wellbeing through outdoor activities and athletics and to create collaborative experiences that strengthen community. The Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse is the headquarters of Mission43 and the Challenged Athletes Foundation. The seven-acre campus is a place for members of these two organizations to physically, mentally and professionally live up to their full potential.
Please note: Due to anticipated interest, this event is offered twice. Please select only ONE option. There are no refunds available for Osher tours.
Presenters: Bryan Madden, Director; Julia Fishman, Director of Operations; and Brad Blair, Special Programs Director; all of Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse
Tour One date and time: Mon., Sep. 16, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Tour Two date and time: Thu., Sep. 26, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse, 3211 E. Barber Valley Dr., Boise
Cost: $10 each tour
Capacity: 30 each tour

Successful aging is often defined as the process of growing older while maintaining physical health, cognitive abilities and strong social relationships. The lectures and discussions in this symposium will focus on awareness of aging issues and improving YOUR quality of life. Experts in a variety of industries will share information on relevant topics, including balance and falls, heart and brain health, mindfulness, Medicare and supplemental insurance, caretaking and long-term care planning, and more. An optional morning walk on the Greenbelt (weather permitting) with a coffee stop at Zero Six Coffee Fix, our community partner, will get your day off to a great start! The first day’s conclusion will feature a resource panel.
PROGRAMS INCLUDE:
Your Brain and Dementia with Dr. Patricia Quinlisk
Falls: Reducing Risks and Preventing Injuries with Erin Olsen
Medicare Supplemental Insurance: What You Need to Know with Andrew Ip
Mindfulness and Meditation From a Neurological Perspective with Abhilash Desai, MD
Helping the Helpers: Supporting Caregivers Across the Lifespan with Sheila Weaver, LCSW, ACADC
Fostering Healthy Intergenerational Relationships with Dr. April Masarik
Dental Care and Healthy Aging with James Osterkamp, DMD
Dates and times: Tue. and Wed., Sep. 17 and 18, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Location: Yanke Research Park, Osher classrooms 207 and 510
Cost: $99 (includes light breakfast and lunch each day)

Federal law defines human trafficking as “modern slavery.” Traffickers use force, threats, fraud and coercion to lure victims of all ages into labor and/or commercial sexual exploitation. This lecture will provide participants with a glimpse inside this crime by examining real cases that were adjudicated in Idaho. We will discuss signs of human trafficking, victim/perpetrator dynamics and obstacles to successful investigations.
Presenter: Mike Miraglia, retired detective, Violent Crimes Unit, Boise Police Department
Date and time: Sat., Sep. 21, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $15

With climate change, disasters are becoming more frequent and intense. In 2021 alone, more than 40% of Americans lived in a county struck by a climate disaster. We will discuss the impact of climate change, what the American Red Cross is doing to adapt our programs to meet the needs and how you can be prepared prior to a disaster.
Presenter: Scott O’Connell, Regional Disaster Officer, Red Cross
Date and time: Mon., Sep. 23, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Surrealism is strange juxtapositions of ordinary subjects, and Surrealists believed art should release the mind from the shackles of conventional thought. They often used art and word games to access their subconscious, their dreams and their inner selves. This workshop will use Surrealist parlor games to imagine new poetic possibilities and surpass the sense-making need of the mind.
Please note: There are no refunds available for Osher workshops.
Presenter: CMarie Fuhrman, author; Director of Poetry and Nature Writing Faculty, Western Colorado University; and 2021-2023 Idaho Writer in Residence
Date and time: Tue., Sep. 24, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $15
Capacity: 30

This lecture will focus on the changing political landscape of the Gem State from the 1960s to today. Jim Jones has been involved in Idaho politics and public service for six decades. During his journey, he met a wide variety of interesting political figures and dealt with some difficult issues.
Presenter: Jim Jones, former Idaho Attorney General and Idaho Supreme Court Justice
Date and time: Tue., Sep. 24, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Join us for a discussion on what foster care looks like in our community. We will examine media portrayals of the child protection system contrasted with what a typical child protection case actually looks like. We will cover the timeline of a child protection case, the role of guardians ad litem, the impact of volunteers on the lives of foster children and other social issues in child protection cases.
Presenter: Maggie Thompson, Director, 4th Judicial District CASA Program
Date and time: Wed., Sep. 25, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

In our search for the origins of familiar holidays, we will dig into the myths and rituals that once marked special days, many of which were first associated with astronomical observances and the need to live in harmony with the seasons. We will explore the power of ritual, communal celebration, story and tradition in building physical, psychological and community wellbeing. We also will ask what our own holidays mean to us and how we can enrich our own marking of sacred time.
Presenter: Tracey Kindall, folklore scholar and history teacher, North Fork School
Dates and times: Wed., Sep. 25, Oct. 2, and 9, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $35
Capacity: 60

Using examples of recent volcanism, this lecture will explore volcanoes and their effect on the environment, life and human societies.
Please note: This lecture will be held in the Osher classroom.
Presenter: Dr. Brittany Brand, Professor, Geosciences Department and Director, Hazard and Climate Resilience Institute, Boise State University
Date and time: Thu., Sep. 26, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

This daylong field trip will explore several ancient volcanoes of the Western Snake River plain, including Initial Point and Sinker Butte Volcano. Participants will learn about the deposits of non-explosive and explosive volcanism. The field locations are within one hour of Boise. Walking short distances will be required.
Please note: Transportation and lunch/beverages are participants’ responsibility. Driving directions will be provided closer to the trip date. There are no refunds available for Osher tours.
Presenter: Dr. Brittany Brand, Professor, Geosciences Department and Director, Hazard and Climate Resilience Institute, Boise State University
Date and time: Fri., Sep. 27, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Cost: $10
Capacity: 20

This daylong field trip will explore the remnants of Guffey Butte Volcano, an ancient explosive volcanic center. Participants will learn what drives explosive eruptions and witness the power of eruptions through the deposits left behind. This field trip requires a challenging three-mile hike to 800 vertical feet of elevation. Participants should be in good physical fitness and able to carry sufficient food, water and supplies for the day.
Please note: Transportation and lunch/beverages are participants’ responsibility. Driving directions will be provided closer to the trip date. There are no refunds available for Osher field trips.
Presenter: Dr. Brittany Brand, Professor, Geosciences Department and Director, Hazard and Climate Resilience Institute, Boise State University
Date and time: Sat., Sep. 28, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Cost: $10
Capacity: 20

The Osher Institute is partnering with Collette Travel to provide opportunities for Osher members to visit various locations. We will review itineraries and pricing for the following upcoming trips for 2024-2025:
European Christmas Markets (December 12-20, 2024)
Kingdoms of Southeast Asia (January 16-February 3, 2025)
Majestic Cities of Central and Eastern Europe (May 18-31, 2025)
Discover the Best of Eastern Canada (August 7-15, 2025)
Christmas on the Danube (December 3-11, 2025)
Presenter: Andy Boone, Travel Representative, Collette Travel
Date and time: Mon., Sep. 30, 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Cost: Included with membership

This introduction to the history of Irish dance will include music, dancing (in person and through video clips), information about the different styles of Irish dancing and its significance among the Irish diaspora and in Ireland itself. We also will cover various styles of Irish music and its intrinsic link to Irish dance rhythms.
Presenter: Rebecca Ingram, dancer and Founder, Irish Dance Idaho
Date and time: Mon., Sep. 30, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

This course will educate participants on how to recognize the many scams that are being perpetrated and how to protect yourself and others. We will discuss scams that occur through phone calls, emails, texts, lost/stolen devices, social media, shopping and browsing sites and Wi-Fi intercept. We also will examine other scams through credit/debit/gift cards, ATMs, fake charities and tax prep.
Presenter: Dr. Roger Longbotham, retired professor and statistician/data scientist, Microsoft
Dates and times: Tue., Oct. 1 and 8, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $25

What did the words in the Hebrew Bible and in the Old Testament mean, and how can we confirm that meaning? How did Hebrew die out in the Middle Ages, and what allowed it to become the most successful language “revival” story in the world? We’ll explore how the knowledge gained from modern speech and language sciences can help us understand Jewish history and the Hebrew language.
Presenter: Dr. Asya Pereltsvaig, linguist, author and educator
Dates and times: Tue., Oct. 1, 8, and 15, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $35

George Prentice will take participants behind the scenes to show them what it’s like to face a pre-dawn blank slate and then put together a broadcast of record. He will discuss Morning Edition’s infamous clock, some of his most challenging stories and how his love of movies intersects with his journalism career.
Presenter: George Prentice, journalist and host, Morning Edition
Date and time: Wed., Oct. 2, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Join us for a tour of the Warhawk Air Museum featuring military aviation history that spans from WWI to the current Middle East conflicts. The museum emphasizes personal aviation histories and memorabilia. After a brief introduction to the museum, members may tour the facility with docents available to answer their questions.
Please note: There are no refunds available for Osher tours.
Presenter: Jim Leonard, former medical evacuation helicopter pilot
Date and time: Thu., Oct. 3, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: Warhawk Air Museum, 201 Municipal Dr., Nampa
Cost: $12
Capacity: 50

Explore the hidden world of roly-polies, rove beetles and wasps in your garden. Uncover the intricate ecological ballet unfolding in an unsprayed backyard where the lives of plants, animals and your tomatoes, zucchinis and marigolds intertwine. This course will emphasize the interactions and ecological roles of our small creatures—from vital pollinators to nature’s clean-up crew—and will provide insights that extend beyond our backyards.
Presenter: Dr. Eric Yensen, Professor Emeritus of Biology, The College of Idaho
Dates and times: Mon., Oct. 7, 14, 21, and 28, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $45

Eleven species of owl regularly occupy Idaho, along with some occasional vagrant visitors. This group of species occupies diverse niches varying among nocturnal and diurnal activity, migrant and non-migrant tendencies, diet composition, nesting preferences and social behavior. We will celebrate the diversity and similarity of these owl species, as well as discuss their conservation status and key threats to the group and individual species. We will focus more deeply on two case-study species of conservation concern: the forest-dwelling Flammulated Owl and the open-country Short-eared Owl.
Presenter: Robert Miller, Research Biologist, Intermountain Bird Observatory
Date and time: Mon., Oct. 7, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Galileo taught us that “the humble reasoning of a single individual” is better than the opinions of all the world’s experts. This precept underlies our democratic system and the right to a jury trial. Galileo further taught us that beyond reasoning there is an even better method to approach truth—experimentation and numerical analysis. This lecture will present errors and solutions from wrongful convictions that rely on these Galilean principles.
Presenter: Dr. Greg Hampikian, Professor of Biology and Criminal Justice, Boise State University
Date and time: Wed., Oct. 9, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Lateral reading is the process by which we read around an information resource to determine its validity, bias, inaccuracy and hidden assumptions. We will cover the concept of lateral reading and discuss how using it creates a divergent set of ways of knowing from traditional information resource evaluation techniques. Participants will learn the theory behind lateral reading as well as its practical applications. The seminar will include hands-on activities that help participants learn to use lateral reading as a way to evaluate information resources.
Presenter: Dr. Anders Tobiason, Multimedia Development and User Experience Librarian and Assistant Professor, Boise State University
Date and time: Thu., Oct. 10, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

The black cottonwood riparian forest growing along most Idaho rivers is at risk. River regulation and irrigation diversions have altered the frequency, timing and magnitude of flood flows so that preparation of proper seedbeds for germination of seed and survival of seedlings in meaningful amounts is no longer possible. This course will examine the present status of the Boise River forest and the success of community conservationists to germinate seed and grow seedlings to maturity for its restoration. The second session will be an outdoor tour of a nature area.
Presenter: Dr. Robert Tiedemann, Principal, Clean Water Professionals, LLC and Owner, Ecological Design, Inc,
Dates and times: Thu., Oct. 10 and 17, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25

Join other Osher members for an entertaining afternoon at the Osher Institute where we will share a staff-selected documentary to enjoy. There will be time to socialize before and after the program. Refreshments are included. This free program has been created just for Osher members, but registration is required. The selection for this date is “Heal.”
Date and time: Fri., Oct. 11, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

This course will examine the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), a brutal conflict that pitted the elected government of Spain against an uprising of rebellious generals and their foreign allies. It was a precursor to World War II, and it was fought along the fault lines between democracy and fascism. The war and its atrocities, chronicled in Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia and Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls, determined the course of Spanish society through the Franco dictatorship that followed and across the years of reconciliation that continue today.
Presenter: Dr. Clyde Moneyhun, Professor, Department of English, Boise State University
Dates and times: Tue., Oct. 15, 22, and 29, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $35

This course will examine Edgar Allan Poe’s status as a master of the short story; as a Dark Romantic poet of melancholy and the sublime; his triumphs as a writer of detective fiction and failed bid as a philosopher; and his insights as a literary theorist and critic. In our readings, we will range among Poe’s best-known works, and we will sample some of his more esoteric and obscure writings. We will conclude with a look at Poe’s enduring presence in modern popular culture.
Presenter: Dr. Steven Olsen-Smith, Professor of English Literature and Director of Melville’s Marginalia Online, Boise State University
Dates and times: Wed., Oct. 16, 23, and 30, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $35

The history of life on Earth is the greatest story ever told. This course will provide a brief overview of the millions of fossils that span approximately 3.5 billion years, zooming in on a handful of pivotal transitions. These evolutionary quantum leaps will help us better understand where we come from and how things got to be the way they are now.
Presenter: Dr. Daniel Luna, Department of Geosciences, Boise State University
Dates and times: Wed., Oct. 16, 23, and 30, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $35

This lecture will examine the history of Idaho’s Black community, from Lewis Walker’s arrival in Silver City in 1864, to the integration of schools in 1871, to passing landmark civil rights legislation in 1961. We will discuss how today Idaho is the only state in the U.S. where Blacks sit atop the economic ladder and its exceptionalism reflects the state as a “community of communities.”
Presenter: Phillip Thompson, Executive Director, Idaho Black History Museum
Date and time: Thu., Oct. 17, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

The Ada County Highway District (ACHD) serves all who walk, bike, roll and drive throughout the 5,000+ lane miles within Ada County. We will tour the ACHD and the Yard and Traffic Management Center in Garden City.
Please note: There are no refunds available for Osher tours.
Presenter: Erin Johansen, Business and Community Relations Coordinator, ACHD
Date and time: Fri., Oct. 18, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Location: 3775 Adams St., Garden City
Cost: $10
Capacity: 50

This lecture will give a live demonstration of the Hemingway Center pipe organ. We will outline the various categories of sound found on most pipe organs and how they are used in different contexts. We will then hear a repertoire that represents the major schools and periods of solo organ composition, and explain the process of an organist adapting their repertoire to various instruments. We also will explore how an organist uses registration and improvisation to resonate with the emotion of a text.
Presenter: David Harrison, Canon for Music, St. Michael’s Episcopal Cathedral
Date and time: Mon., Oct. 21, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: Hemingway Center, 1819 W. Cesar Chavez Ln., Boise
Cost: $15
Capacity: 140

Mary Shelley’s seminal 1818 novel Frankenstein uncannily predicted many dilemmas of the modern world that raise humans to a godlike role, including genetic engineering, cloning, surrogacy and more recently, the meteoric rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the form of chatbots and other AI applications. We will read this classic novel with an eye to dilemmas facing us today. How does Shelley’s warnings about “The Modern Prometheus” shape our understanding of our current moment?
Presenter: Dr. Samantha Harvey, Professor of English Literature, Boise State University
Dates and times: Tue., Oct. 22, 29, Nov. 5, and 12, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $45

On July 16, 2022, 988 went live as the nationwide crisis and suicide prevention phone number. Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline is the organization responding to Idaho’s 988 contacts. What happens when a person calls 988? What training do crisis responders receive? Learn more about Idaho’s vision for crisis care and how to help raise awareness of 988 as a resource for all Idahoans.
Presenter: Lee Flinn, Director, Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline
Date and time: Thu., Oct. 24, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

We will cover important women who conducted bird studies and who took various leadership roles in ornithology in the U.S., such as Althea Sherman, Fran Hamerstrom, Margaret Morse Nice and Evelyn Cameron. We will examine their personal lives and discuss their professional contributions.
Presenter: Terry Rich, ornithologist, environmental educator and writer
Date and time: Thu., Oct. 24, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

This lecture will introduce the ancient Satoyama concept of integrated human-ecosystem landscapes; outline the mutual benefits of the system and efforts to restore it in Japan; and describe international adoption of the concept. We will end with an informal roundtable about adopting human-nature integration principles in a sage shrub ecosystem.
Presenter: Dr. Pei-Lin Yu, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Boise State University
Date and time: Sat., Oct. 26, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

In 1864, the Episcopal Church sent Reverend Michael Fackler to the city of Boise one year after its founding to spiritually lead the pioneers. This lecture will explore how the clergy and parishioners of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church have helped shape Boise for 160 years. We will discuss the opening of St. Michael’s Church in 1866, the building of St. Michael’s Cathedral in 1902, the opening of St. Luke’s Hospital six months later and the transformation of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for Girls into Boise Junior College in 1932.
Presenter: Eve Chandler, author and former City of Boise Arts and History Commissioner
Date and time: Mon., Oct. 28, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declares, “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.” The international community strives to do so in myriad ways, including the protection of humanity’s cultural heritage. This lecture will cover UNESCO’s overall effort and focus on the aspects of culture both tangible (nature, buildings) and intangible (languages, traditions).
Presenter: Dr. Bill Smith, Director, Martin Institute and Borah Foundation, University of Idaho
Date and time: Thu., Oct. 31, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched on Dec. 25, 2021, and commissioning was completed in early July 2022. Its cameras and spectrometers produce magnificent images and surprises about galaxies, active galactic nuclei, star-forming regions and planets. It extends the scientific discoveries of the Hubble Telescope and ties the most distant galaxies to their origin stories. In this lecture, we will explore how the JWST was built, why infrared is studied and what are the most exciting current discoveries.
Presenters: Dr. Brian Jackson, Associate Professor of Physics, Boise State University, and Dr. John Mather, Senior Astrophysicist, NASA GSFC, former JWST Senior Project Scientist, and Nobel Prize winner
Date and time: Thu., Oct. 31, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $10

This workshop will clarify some of the fog around digital photography. We will address and demonstrate a wide range of photography tips and techniques that will enable participants to take full advantage of the amazing capabilities of today’s modern smartphones. Each session will involve both classroom instruction and guided hands-on experience.
Please note: There are no refunds available for Osher workshops.
Presenter: Patrick Stoll, photographer
Dates and times: Thu., Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25
Capacity: 30

Year after year, we see record-breaking heat, severe and persistent drought and larger and more destructive wildfires. These changes are being driven by emissions of carbon dioxide from the use of fossil fuels and pose a real threat to our health. Instead of thinking of this change in a political framework, let’s consider it for the threat it is against human health. We’ll discuss factual evidence about climate change, its impact on our health from a medical perspective and ways we can work to save ourselves.
Presenter: Ethan Sims, MD, Emergency Medicine Physician and Medical Director for Sustainability, St. Luke’s Health System
Date and time: Mon., Nov. 4, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

We will explore the lives of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, three of the most famous and enigmatic figures of the founding generation of our nation. Long revered in history texts, recent scholarship has both reaffirmed their importance and challenged their status as near-secular saints. This course will examine the most important things they did and did not do, and perhaps the most revelatory aspect of each—their basic humanity at times of tremendous change and upheaval.
Presenter: Dr. Jared Day, former Professor of History, Carnegie Mellon University
Dates and times: Mon., Nov. 4, 11, and 18, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $35

In the 10 years before Lincoln’s unlikely presidential election, African American activists and their white allies had been building a national movement to focus Northern attention on the plight of Southern slaves. They used every tool at their disposal to advance their cause: polite persuasion, the call of Christian conscience, direct action to free the enslaved and the threat of all-out race war. This course will explore the antislavery fight in the Civil War era.
Presenter: Dr. Richard Bell, Professor of History, University of Maryland
Dates and times: Tue., Nov. 5, 12, and 19, 10:30 a.m.-noon
Cost: $35

For more than two centuries, American cities have evolved in response to changes in population patterns, variable resource bases, evolving technologies and other factors. We will focus on the development of America’s system of cities, exploring why some cities have become more prominent than others during different periods of development. We then will focus on internal dynamics and structures within cities. Maps, charts and photos will be used extensively, as well as specific case studies that complement discussions of more general trends.
Presenter: Tom Baerwald, retired, National Science Foundation and Osher Advisory Council member
Dates and times: Wed., Nov. 6 and 13, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $25

This course will offer a brief overview of the origins and evolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We will trace the development of the state of Israel from its pre-World War I Zionists roots to the 1948 War of Independence and later Arab-Israeli conflicts. We also will examine the conflict from the Palestinian perspective, including initial resistance to the creation of a Jewish state and subsequent—and at times violent—opposition to Israeli occupation and denial of a Palestinian homeland.
Presenter: Ralph Bild, retired CIA Intelligence Analyst, high school economics and history teacher and former Osher Advisory Council member
Dates and times: Wed., Nov. 6 and 13, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25

This lecture will include a review of how contemporary zoos contribute to protecting and conserving endangered species, including consideration of a scenario where endangered wildlife born in zoos is returned to a free-ranging condition.
Presenter: Harry Peachey, General Curator, Zoo Boise
Date and time: Thu., Nov. 7, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Prevention is about helping people stay healthy, happy and independent for as long as possible. Yet many Idahoans don’t get the recommended preventive health care services. As an emergency room physician, Dr. Bramwell will share his years of experience in hospitals to illustrate the importance of physical fitness, mental health or self-care and preventive care.
Presenter: Kenny Bramwell, MD, Senior Medical Director, SelectHealth, and ER Physician, St. Luke’s Health System
Date and time: Fri., Nov. 8, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Join other Osher members for an entertaining afternoon at the Osher Institute where we will share a staff-selected documentary to enjoy. There will be time to socialize before and after the program. Refreshments are included. This free program has been created just for Osher members, but registration is required. The selection for this date is “Minimalists: Less is Now.”
Date and time: Fri., Nov. 8, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

The use of public cameras and other monitoring devices by U.S. law enforcement agencies can evoke privacy concerns that “Big Brother” is watching. We will examine some of the commonly used technologies, their use in investigative processes and the ways law enforcement attempts to keep people safe while maintaining the public’s trust.
Presenter: Mike Miraglia, retired detective, Violent Crimes Unit, Boise Police Department
Date and time: Sat., Nov. 9, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $15

They are the artistic illustration of, usually, very short stories involving humor, drama and adventure. For many of us, comic strips were part of our early lives and may still be part of our daily routine. We will trace the origins of comic strips in the 18th century and explore their first appearances in U.S. newspapers. We also will examine various techniques used in comic strip art and storytelling as we move through the decades to the present.
Presenter: Dennis Hall, retired investment advisor and former Osher Advisory Council member
Date and time: Mon., Nov. 11, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

This lecture will discuss historical and current perspectives on the evidence-based lifestyle changes one can make to prevent cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes. Topics will include diet, exercise, sleep, stress, smoking/vaping/marijuana use, cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, diabetes, supplements, and prescription medications.
Presenter: Matthew Nelson, MD, Cardiologist, Saint Alphonsus Health System
Dates and times: Thu., Nov. 14 and 21, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $25

Over two-thirds of Americans attended the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. Shortly before the announcement of the fair, Idaho became a state. While the West was yet unsettled, Idaho designed, built and shipped to Chicago a unique, three-story building filled with the state’s bounty, including custom-designed furniture by Mary Hallock Foote. Take a walk back in time to understand the promise of Idaho goods and discover the incredible design of the Idaho Pavilion at the World Columbian Exposition.
Presenter: Janice Stevenor Dale, President, JSDA Inc.
Date and time: Thu., Nov. 14, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Boise State University hosts more than 400 international students and scholars from more than 80 countries. This lecture will provide information about international education in the U.S. and the impact of these global perspectives at our university. Participants will hear from international scholars about their collaborative research, as well as from a panel of Boise State international students about their journeys and their reasons for studying in the U.S.
Presenters: Dr. Gonzalo Bruce, Assistant Provost for Global Engagement, Boise State University, and Ruth Prince, Director of International Student and Scholar Services, Boise State University
Date and time: Fri., Nov. 15, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Millions of salmon once returned to Idaho. Now only trace populations remain in a select few rivers, and most historic fish habitat is blocked, extirpating salmon and steelhead entirely. This disappearance has robbed river communities of their lifeblood and Idaho’s Indigenous tribes of their cultural and religious foundation. Still, hope remains that we can restore abundant, harvestable populations of fish across the state. We will discuss this historic injustice and the work of organizations and tribes to bring iconic salmon back.
Presenters: Mitch Cutter, Salmon and Steelhead Associate, Idaho Conservation League, and Dennis Daw, Fish and Wildlife Program Director, Upper Snake River Tribes
Date and time: Mon., Nov. 18, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

We will examine the intersection between politics and private lives at a pivotal time in the history of Spain during the Franco dictatorship. The transition to democracy took some years, but the cultural and sexual revolution happened fast. It was a time of hope, but also of political and social conflict. With democracy under threat around the world, we will reflect on the impact that authoritarianism has on every aspect of a person’s life and the decades-long shadow it casts.
Presenter: Dr. Isidra Mencos, author and former Spanish, Literature and Creative Writing Professor, University of California, Berkeley
Date and time: Tue., Nov. 19, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

On rare occasions, the U.S. has resorted to the rough justice and reduced due process protection of military tribunals to adjudicate controversial criminal cases. When and why has it done so? This lecture will explore Revolutionary War practice, including the treason co-conspirators of Benedict Arnold; the enactment of Article III of the Constitution; prosecution of the Lincoln assassination co-conspirators during the Civil War and the Nazi saboteurs during World War II; and the 9/11 capital prosecutions now pending in the Military Commission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Presenter: David Nevin, founder and past president, Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Date and time: Wed., Nov. 20, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

This lecture will review the physics of atomic fusion reactions, the history of the various programs over the last 60 years and current progress towards attaining commercial fusion power.
Presenter: Paul Nelson, retired Senior Engineer, DRAM Research and Development, Micron Technology
Date and time: Wed., Nov. 20, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy is the most common genetic cardiac disease, and remains dramatically underdiagnosed. It can cause sudden cardiac death in young athletes. Mavacamten is a new oral medication developed by a group of four molecular cardiac biologists. Its outstanding initial clinical results suggest that it might alter the course of the condition for younger patients. We will examine the history of this condition, the evolution of our understanding of its genetic and molecular biology, and its treatment.
Presenter: David Hinchman, MD, Cardiologist, Medical Director of Cardiovascular Research, Cardiovascular Quality, and co-director of Thrombology, St. Luke’s Health System
Date and time: Thu., Nov. 21, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Join Dr. David Adler for an analysis of the 2024 post-presidential election. We will focus on the key social, economic and political factors that shaped and influenced the outcome of the presidential race, offering insights into the changing nature of Congress and its impact on the U.S. Supreme Court. The implications of the election for the future of American Constitutionalism and the nation’s foreign and domestic policy also will be discussed. There will be a break between sessions from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Lunch will not be provided, but members are welcome to bring a packed lunch or go offsite during this time.
Please note: In-person seats are reserved for current Osher members. Guest passes are available ONLY for livestream attendance.
Presenter: Dr. David Adler, President, Alturas Institute
Dates and times: Tue., Dec. 3, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25

Join other Osher members for an entertaining afternoon at the Osher Institute where we will share a staff-selected documentary to enjoy. There will be time to socialize before and after the program. Refreshments are included. This free program has been created just for Osher members, but registration is required. The selection for this date is “Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas.”
Date and time: Fri., Dec. 8, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Celebrate the end of another successful fall semester and the holiday season with the Osher Institute! Mingle with friends and make new ones while enjoying refreshments, a short program and live music. This event is free, but registration is required.
Date and time: Wed., Dec. 11, 3:00-5:30 p.m.
Location: Boise State University Stueckle Sky Center, 1200 W. University Dr.
Cost: Included with membership

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are member-led opportunities for learning and engagement outside of the classroom.

Come socialize with other Osher members before the start of class on Thursday mornings and enjoy coffee and breakfast at Elmer’s. This SIG is for Osher members only, and registration is required.
Facilitator: Mark Eubank
Meetings: Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Location: Elmer’s Restaurant, 1385 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise
Capacity: 30

Join Osher members for a monthly meetup at a Treasure Valley brewery to sample various local craft beers. There will be knowledgeable people on hand to introduce members to the world of craft beer and various styles of local beer to enjoy. Beer is at members’ own expense, but the company, conversation, and discovery are included at no charge. Information on the brewery, address, and links will be provided in advance.
Facilitators: Steve Easley and Todd Fraser
Meetings: One Wednesday or Thursday a month, times TBD
Location: TBD
Capacity: 35

Come explore Boise’s wonderful Ridge to Rivers trail system on moderately strenuous hikes of one-and-a-half to two hours in duration. Start from a different trailhead each week to experience the beauty of the open space surrounding our city. Information with details on date, time, and location will be emailed in advance of the planned hike.
Facilitator: Dennis Hynes
Meetings: Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Location: TBD
Capacity: 90

This SIG is a group of Osher members that meets every month in a seminar. Each member, in rotation, presents on a topic they have researched to the group. Topics cover a wide range of subjects, such as literature, history, sociology, and technology.
Facilitator: Diane Ronayne
Meetings: Second Friday of each month, 12:30-3:00 p.m.
Location: Smoky Mountain Pizza, 1805 W. State St., Boise
Capacity: 20

Join Osher members who enjoy films — both foreign and American — by gathering at The Flicks, Boise’s premier independent movie theater. Following each film, members will have the opportunity to meet in the theater for a short discussion. The Flicks utilizes best practices for social distancing and safety issues.
Please note: Due to robust interest in this SIG and the limited size of the theater, the film may sell out.
Facilitators: Bob and Toni Fontaine
Meetings: One Monday a month, around 4:30 p.m.
Location: The Flicks, 646 W. Fulton St., Boise
Capacity: Theater capacity

Join Osher members who are interested in personal writing (memoir, essays, etc.) in a supportive setting. Each meeting is peer led and will focus on a specific area of personal writing or a theme. No prior writing experience is necessary.
Facilitator: Merilee Marsh
Meetings: Every other Friday, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Yanke Research Park, Room 510
Capacity: 25

Do you enjoy playing piano and sharing music with others? Practice performing piano in front of others in this casual group format. All are welcome, beginners and advanced players alike.
Facilitator: Bill Donovan
Dates and times: once a month, times TBD
Location: Dunkley Music Recital Hall, 3410 N. Eagle Rd., Meridian
Capacity: 8

Take part in the beauty of the Boise River Greenbelt with other Osher members who want to get exercise while enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. Moderate to brisk walks that begin and end at the Yanke building will be at the core of this SIG.
Facilitators: Diane Ronayne and Sharon Bixby
Meetings: Fridays, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Location: 220 E. Parkcenter Blvd. Meet on the east side of the building
Capacity: 45