OLLI Spring 2026_pageturn - Flipbook - Page 37
Frank Lloyd Wright and Modern Architecture
Tuesdays, April 21 – May 26
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Frank Lloyd Wright designed nearly 1,000 buildings
and helped define modern architecture. This
course explores highlights of his practice, from
Prairie houses to Fallingwater and the Guggenheim
Museum, alongside lesser-known projects like
affordable housing and city planning. We’ll
examine how Wright’s work reflected cultural
shifts in technology, science, and politics, offering
a deeper understanding of his lasting influence on
architecture and modern design.
$65 – Jennifer Gray, PhD, is Vice President of
the Taliesin Institute at the Frank Lloyd Wright
Foundation, where her research examines how
modern architecture advanced social change
Seats available: 13
Great Science Stories
Thursdays, April 9 – May 14
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Science is full of surprises. Dyes, accidentally
discovered, launched the modern
pharmaceutical industry. A failed experiment
opened the door to new physics. Discoveries are
moments of creativity, struggle, and chance with
far-reaching consequences. In this course, we
will explore the human side of science, tracing
breakthroughs in biology, chemistry, physics, and
more. We will ask not only what was found, but
how and why it matters.
$65 – Dr. Johnnie Hendrickson, Professor in the
School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State
University and author of Chemistry in the World.
Seats available: 13
AI for Regular People
Thursdays, April 2 – May 7
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Back by popular demand, this updated course
offers a clear, engaging introduction to Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and how it’s rapidly transforming
our world. From self-driving cars to chatbots and
precision medicine, we will explore how AI works,
where it’s headed, and what it means for society.
No tech experience needed—just curiosity! With
fresh examples and timely updates, participants
will gain a solid understanding of the opportunities
and challenges AI presents today.
$65 – This course is co-taught by Hod Lipson, PhD, a
Columbia University professor and leading robotics
researcher, and Melba Kurman, a technology
analyst and author. Together they co-authored
Driverless and Fabricated and are frequent
speakers on AI.
Seats available: 13
The Scopes Monkey Trial: Then and Now
Tuesdays, March 31 – May 5
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
In July 1925, Clarence Darrow, William Jennings
Bryan, and others converged on Dayton,
Tennessee, for the Scopes Monkey Trial—an eightday clash over religion, science, public education,
free speech, and textbooks broadcast nationwide.
One hundred years later, these debates continue.
This course explores why the trial happened in
Dayton, how Bryan and Darrow became involved,
what occurred in the courtroom, whether Inherit
the Wind reflects reality, who won and lost, and
why it still matters today.
$65 – Doug Mishkin is an experienced trial
lawyer who partnered with Americans United for
Separation of Church and State to foster dialogue in
Dayton, Tennessee, the site of the Scopes Monkey
Trial.
Seats available: 13
Writing the Personal Essay: Finding Your Story
Saturdays, April 18 – May 23
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
The personal essay, one of the oldest forms of
creative nonfiction, blends storytelling, reflection,
and analysis to give voice to lived experience. In
this course, we will explore the personal essay as
both art and self-expression. Through readings,
discussion, and writing exercises, we will study
elements such as narrative arc, scene-setting, and
reflection. We will draft our own essays, discovering
how this enduring form helps us find our voices
and tell our stories with clarity.
$65 – Lisa Stolley is a professor of English at the
University of Illinois Chicago and Northwestern
University and a published fiction author.
Seats available: 13
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