The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter has announced its course offerings for the fall semester, which begins Wednesday, Oct. 12.

Taught by FAU professors and distinguished guest lecturers, course offerings include such varied subjects as foreign policy, political science, film, music, art history and literature. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute provides seasoned adults the opportunity to enrich their lives through non-credit, university-level courses with no homework or tests.

Fall one-time lectures, performances and courses take place in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute complex at FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus, 5353 Parkside Dr., in Jupiter, and include:

• On Thursdays, beginning Oct. 13 at 9:30 a.m., “Stephen Sondheim: Revered Icon of American Musical Theater,” presented by Rabbi Paul Offenkrantz, D.M., who has served congregations in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and West Palm Beach. This multi-week course will explore Sondheim’s unique genius with musical illustrations and video clips.
• On Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 9:30 a.m., “The Russian Bear Unchained: Putin Attacks Georgia and Ukraine, Threatens NATO,” presented by Andrew Kahn, Ph.D., a James Madison Fellow in constitutional law at the University of Indiana, and a Commonwealth Fellow in American and European history at Swarthmore and Haverford colleges in Pennsylvania. This one-time lecture will examine the invasion of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014 and 2022.
• On Friday, Oct. 21 at 2:30 p.m., “Botticelli: Florence and the Medici,” presented by By Experience, a company that broadcasts world-class theater and the Bolshoi Ballet productions to cinemas in the U.K. and internationally. This one-time presentation examines the Renaissance Florence of Lorenzo de’ Medici, known as the Magnificent, a powerhouse of art and culture coexisting with a dark side. This program focuses on Sandro Botticelli.
• On Monday, Oct. 24 at 9:30 a.m., “Midterm Madness,” presented by Kevin Wagner Ph.D., a professor of political science at FAU. This one-time lecture will investigate and review the midterm elections using a combination of media, images, polling, political history, and public opinion data.
• On Mondays, beginning Oct. 24 at 5 p.m., “Zany Sophisticates: Great Screwball Comedies,” presented by Kurt Stone, D.D., a bestselling author of two books on the U.S. Congress and currently working on a massive history of Hollywood titled “In the Land of Mink-Lined Pools.” During this multi-week course, participants will view eight comedies, including “Twentieth Century,” “Bombshell,” and “Theodora Goes Wild.”
• On Monday, Oct. 31 at 2:30 p.m., “Tai Chi Class: Practice Balanced and Happy Living,” taught by Kalindi Yuan, a certified yoga and Tai Chi instructor. This one-time lecture will introduce the practice of Tai Chi and its health benefits.
• On Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 9:30 a.m., “Face Recognition by Humans and Computers,” taught by Oge Marques, Ph.D., professor of engineering and computer science at FAU. This one-time lecture will explore several aspects related to how well we recognize faces and discuss how some of these findings have been used to empower computers with comparable abilities.
• On Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m., “The Songs of Eric Clapton and Van Morrison,” performed by Rod MacDonald and The Humdingers. This one-time performance celebrates these musicians along with their greatest hits, such as “Layla,” “Tears in Heaven,” “Gloria” and “Brown-Eyed Girl.”
• On Thursday, Dec. 1 at 9:30 a.m., “Human Genetic Diversity and Personalized Genomics” taught by Ericca Stamper, Ph.D., a biology instructor at the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College at FAU. This one-time lecture will provide participants a brief overview of how DNA encodes genetic information, and how changes in the DNA sequence make each human genetically unique.

For more information about the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute or to receive a free course catalog, call 561-799-8547 or 561-799-8667.

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