Academic Programming
Our faculty, made up of current and retired educators and subject matter experts, deliver a variety of university-quality, non-credit courses and lectures for curious adults. Membership is required to register for fall/spring semesters; the winter/summer sessions are open to all.
Winter Series begins January 15
Grab a hot beverage and get cozy for the Osher Winter Series. Open to members and non-members, registration is $10 per lecture or $50 for all six.
Cosmic Update 2026 with Shelley Bonus
Thursday, January 15 at 1 p.m.
Madmen and Murderers with Mikita Brottman
Wednesday, January 21 at 1 p.m.
The Theology of Die-hard Christian Trump Support with Matthew D. Taylor
Thursday, January 29 at 1 p.m.
Understanding the Middle East Conflict Through Maps with Mitchell Bard
Wednesday, February 4 at 1 p.m.
The Science of Ha! with David Misch
Thursday, February 12 at 1 p.m.
Rose Tint My World: 50 Years of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Arnold Blumberg
Wednesday, February 18 at 1 p.m.
Osher Lecture Samples
A Superexplosion Opens a New Window on the Universe
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away two objects collided and generated a set of waves that revolutionized the study of the cosmos.
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Together: Baltimore Faith Leaders Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges
Learn about initiatives being taken by two congregations and the positive outcomes that have come from relationship building.
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The Rise of Benny Goodman
How did the child of Russian Jewish immigrants go from abject poverty to eminent stardom in American music by the time he was a mere 26 years old?
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Why Are Bees Declining?
Learn about the five main reasons bee populations are declining—pathogens, parasites, pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change. Natural or human-impacted stressors for each factor are addressed for both social and solitary bees. Updates on Tropilaelaps and giant hornets are discussed briefly.
The Education of the Educators: What the Coronavirus Pandemic Taught Us
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered our understanding of critical infrastructure and systems: criminal justice, education, finance, healthcare, housing and law enforcement. This panel explores the experiences, perspectives, and strategies of educators who experienced unprecedented upheaval.
The Return of Brood X: The Mysterious Magicicada
Periodical Cicadas, Magicicada spp, remain a mystery to biologists. The public becomes aware of their existence only when vast numbers emerge from the ground synchronously, every 13 or 17 years. While their presence is hard to ignore when they are out and about, what they are doing the rest of their lives and why they are doing it is only partially understood.
What is it about the Number 4?
No one wants to be #4. You can’t win an election or even a Scrabble game by placing #4. What is it about the #4? We begin at the dawn of civilization and then look at the polytheistic gods of Egypt, Babylon, and Greece. Next, we’ll look at the 4s in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Then there were the #4 kings in France, England, and Germany. Who tells Chaucer’s 4th tale? What's Shakespeare’s 4th play? You'll never see the #4 the same way again.
Dust Bowl
If asked to pick the most important event between the two World Wars, the answer may be the crash of 1929 and the ensuing depression. Few would answer the “dust bowl.” But the suffering, the deaths, the displacements caused by the dust storms should put it in the same league. The Dust Bowl started in 1931 with the beginning of a drought and ended in 1939. However, the dust bowl is not yet over. It’s a work in progress.
The Jersey Boys—Oh What a Night!
What launched these four kids from the toughest section of Newark, New Jersey into rock and roll history? Hear the amazing story of Frankie Valli’s trip to stardom with its highs and heartaches. Learn how his legendary life became the subject for a smash musical and movie. Movie and song clips with lots of singing and dancing promised!
Casablanca (1942) and the Films it Influenced
"Casablanca" is one of the most popular, critically acclaimed, and simply beloved American films and at the top of critics' polls as one of the top films in world cinema history. Learn about the film's making, casting, and its influences on modern cinema.
Holocaust Remembrance: Connecting Memory and Responsibility
Deepen your understanding of the art and architecture of The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum from archival and personal photographs and video. The thinking of survivors Elie Wiesel and Viktor Frankl will serve as a thematic thread.