Browse Curriculum

Join us for a welcome orientation and preview of Osher programs and services for the Fall 2023 semester. We will provide information about new programs available to Osher members, new community partners of the Institute, and a sneak preview of programs with visits from new and returning presenters. You don’t want to miss this! The event is free, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link to attend.
Host: Dana Thorp-Patterson, Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Panel: Dr. Richard Bell, Sherry Briscoe, Dr. Ann Campbell, Dr. Reginald Jayne, Dr. Irving Lubliner, Ellie McKinnon, Paul Nelson, Dr. Del Parkinson, Dr. Thomas Weingartner, and Dr. Shelton Woods
Date and time: Monday, July 24, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Celebrate the start of a new semester with the Osher Institute! Stop by at your convenience and enjoy food and beverages while connecting with other Osher members and the Osher staff. Pick up your Osher membership materials, including your parking permit, and bus passes will be available as well. For new members and anyone interested, the Osher Director will present two sessions of “All About Osher,” a brief history and overview of the Institute. The event is free, but registration is required.
Please note: If you would like to invite a guest to the Osher Open House, submit their name here.
Date and time: Thu., Aug. 10, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Income inequality in the U.S. has risen to levels last seen just before the Great Depression. Wealth inequality has similarly increased, with the richest 1% of households holding more than one-third of all wealth. This course will address causes, consequences and potential policy responses. We will explore different ways to measure economic mobility and examine the extent to which people in the U.S. experience it, both in relation to other countries and earlier generations. We also will consider a desirable level of economic mobility, policy options that may be implemented to move closer to that level and barriers to upward mobility.
Presenters: Dr. Adina Ardelean, Senior Lecture, Economics, Santa Clara University, and Dr. Kathryn Wilson, Professor and Chair, Economics Department, Kent State University
Dates and times: Mon., Aug. 14 and 21, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25

In this course, participants will learn how capitalism can reinvent itself and how a post-pandemic reinvention with the principles of Partnership Economics leads to a more profitable and ethical form of capitalism that is a better way. Join us to explore and unleash mutually beneficial capitalism.
Presenters: Paul Knowlton, JD, Partner, Stanton Law, and Aaron Hedges, CEO, Inheritance of Hope
Dates and times: Tue., Aug. 15 and 22, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25

[PLEASE NOTE: This program has been cancelled for Fall 2023. It will be rescheduled for a later semester.]

Social change leads to changes in dance perhaps more than in any other performing art. Breaking barriers and reinventing dance, including ballet, has been a long and stimulating process. This lecture will explore the vast changes that have taken place in the performing arts and ballet, from state-sponsored propaganda and celebration of the monarchy to gritty social reform and the aspirations of outside artists.
Presenter: Peter Anastos, founding Director/Choreographer, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and former Artistic Director, Ballet Idaho

Join an expert panel for an overview of the issues facing the physician, nurse and healthcare workforce from a greater Idaho perspective. We’ll discuss the status of current and future healthcare challenges, and then explore potential solutions. Attendees will have ample time for questions to the presenters.
Presenters: Ted Epperly, MD, President and CEO, Full Circle Health; Gina Pannell, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care Division of Public Health, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare; and Dr. Randall Hudspeth, APRN-CNP, FRE, FAANP, Executive Director, Idaho Center for Nursing
Date and time: Thu., Aug. 17, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Learn how to use creative projects to relax, rejuvenate and increase your wellbeing. This workshop will provide participants with an overview of how simple visual art activities can increase mindfulness, reduce anxiety, improve mood and support healthy cognitive function. Each session will blend guided artmaking experiences that are easy, low-risk and lots of fun with information from scientific studies and class discussion. Participants will leave with practical tips and tricks for making creativity a regular part of their lives. All materials are included. No prior art experience is necessary.
Presenter: Terra Feast, K-12 Professional Development Manager and Adjunct Professor of Art Education, Boise State University
Dates and times: Thu., Aug. 17 and 24, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $35
Capacity: 20

Enjoy a morning at the Yanke Motor Museum to learn and experience a bit of the Yanke family’s history in the Treasure Valley. Members can view and explore the Yanke family’s extensive collection of cars (including 20 Ford Model Ts), trucks and motorcycles, as well as one of Boise’s earliest fire trucks. This is an open-house style of self-guided tour where members can peruse the collection at their own pace.
Please note: Due to anticipated interest, this event is offered twice. Please select only ONE option.
Tour One date and time: Fri., Aug. 18, 9:30 a.m.-noon
Tour Two date and time: Fri., Aug. 25, 9:30 a.m.-noon
Location: Yanke Motor Museum, 1090 Boeing St., Boise
Cost: $10
Capacity: 50 per tour

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.
Date and time: Fri., Aug. 18, 1:30-3:45 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

[PLEASE NOTE: This program has been cancelled for Fall 2023. It will be rescheduled for a later semester.]
Indigenous Idaho Alliance members are champions of sovereignty, land-back initiatives and decolonization. The organization uplifts and advocates the dynamic and colorful history of Idaho’s five tribes while nurturing community care and mutual aid, practicing abolitionism and advising on policy. The goal is to co-create and reimagine a world without oppression and violence in which future generations can thrive. This course will explore the intergenerational connections of tribal history in Idaho at the crossroads of our contemporary political and social work to bring tribal futurism to life.
Presenter: Tai Simpson, Community Organizer, Indigenous Idaho Alliance

Illegal drugs are prevalent, and drug abuse is a problem that involves communities and families as much as it does the individual user. Drug abuse can increase family stress, crime and significant health problems. This lecture will explore the drugs that are prevalent within our local communities, where the drugs come from, what is being done to combat them and their impact.
Presenter: Dr. Bryan Taylor, JD, Prosecuting Attorney for Canyon County
Date and time: Tue., Aug. 22, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

ChatGPT was released in November 2022, and since then millions have used it to do things such as answer questions, write articles, and even generate usable computer code. Learn how ChatGPT and other so-called Large Language Models work, how they are “trained” and what makes their knowledge of language different from how humans learn language. We also will discuss the implications of incorporating them into our work and education.
Presenter: Dr. Casey Kennington, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Boise State University
Date and time: Wed., Aug. 23, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Originally founded in 1973 to serve as a voice for conservation in the Idaho Legislature, the Idaho Conservation League (ICL) has evolved into the state’s leading voice for conservation. We will discuss the 50th anniversary of ICL and look back at how far it’s come, from a volunteer organization with a single staffer, to a professional organization with a $3.2 million budget and more than 30 staff. This anniversary also provides an opportunity to consider how the threats to Idaho’s environment have evolved, and what some of the areas of focus will be for the next 50 years.
Presenter: Jonathan Oppenheimer, External Relations Director, Idaho Conservation League
Date and time: Wed., Aug. 23, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

The Idaho Botanical Garden (IBG) is growing every day! Join us for a guided tour of the IBG grounds, highlighting areas of future expansion in the Garden’s new Master Plan. Following the tour, the IBG Education Director will share where the organization is headed in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) educational programming. Contributions directly support IBG’s ability to serve as an inspiring community educational resource, an advocate for the environment, and a gathering place for all.
Presenters: Erin Anderson, Executive Director, and Dr. Katie Peterson, Education Director, both of Idaho Botanical Garden
Date and time: Thu., Aug. 24, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Location: Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Old Penitentiary Rd., Boise
Cost: Included with membership
Capacity: 100

All civilizations have measured time and distance to go about daily life. This lecture will review progress from sundials and calibrated step measurements, to water clocks and mechanical length standards (tape measures), to the development of pendulum clocks and spring-wound pocket watches in the 16th century, and the introduction of the meter as a length defined by scientific means. Then came the quantum revolution. We now define lengths by light wavelengths and time by atomic clocks. Are we there yet? Ask the global positioning system (GPS).
Presenter: Dr. James Russ, Professor Emeritus of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University
Date and time: Mon., Aug. 28, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

The 1619 Project is a special edition of The New York Times Magazine focusing on the continuing legacies of slavery in America. Legislators in several states have passed laws to ban it from school curricula, along with Critical Race Theory (CRT), a set of premises developed by legal scholars in the 1990s to interpret America’s institutions in the context of race and civil rights. In this course, we will discuss what The 1619 Project says and doesn’t say, and what CRT means for the teaching of American history. We also will examine the subjects around which so many of these debates have swirled, such as the American Constitution and Reconstruction.
Presenter: Dr. Richard Bell, Professor of History, University of Maryland
Dates and times: Tue., Aug. 29, Sep. 5, 12, and 19, 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Cost: $45

This lecture will provide an in-depth look at the City of Boise’s trash, recycling, composting and other solid waste programs. We will discuss municipal solid waste program management, including local disposal options, recycling commodity markets and composting technology and end uses.
Presenters: Lisa Knapp, Gabe Brenner, and Catherine Milner, all of City of Boise Materials Management
Date and time: Tue., Aug. 29, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

This course will walk participants through the journey of language acquisition, usage and decay through the lifespan. The main themes of the course include how children acquire their first language(s); how acquisition of a subsequent language is similar or different in children and adults; bilingualism, language disorders, and language impairments; and the mechanisms of the brain responsible for language.
Presenter: Dr. Michal Temkin Martinez, Professor and Chair, Department of Linguistics, Boise State University
Dates and times: Wed., Aug. 30 and Sep. 6, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25

The beloved, long-running literature discussion series will now be sponsored and hosted by the Osher Institute and held at the Yanke building. This session will focus on The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.
Please note: This program is open to the public; it is not an Osher program. There is no charge, and registration is not required.
Facilitator: Dr. Ann Campbell, Professor of English, Boise State University
Date and time: Fri., Sep. 1, noon-1:00 p.m.

Meet Amanda Turner, author of How to Be Awkward and the Vagabonding With Kids book series, and enjoy an hour with her as she takes us on a journey with her experience of success, failure and myths of the writing life. You don’t want to miss this event as Ms. Turner is sure to be engaging and entertaining!
Presenter: Amanda Turner, New York Times bestselling author
Date and time: Tue., Sep. 5, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case sparked renewed debate regarding reproductive rights for women. This course will examine how the U.S. government regulates an individual’s ability to access contraceptives, engage in consensual sexual activities, marry the person of their choice and balance reproductive rights against the potential life of a fetus. The course is not an ethical analysis, but instead a review of how the Supreme Court interprets the U.S. Constitution relating to these topics.
Presenter: McKay Cunningham, JD, former law professor and Director, On-Campus Experiential Learning, The College of Idaho
Dates and times: Wed., Sep. 6 and 13, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $25

In 1898, the U.S. bought the Philippines from Spain for $20 million.  During this time, a man  left Idaho in 1906 and lived as a teacher in America’s new colony. He was promoted to lieutenant governor of a province where headhunting occurred. He protected the indigenous people against American exploitation. For this, the U.S. government fired him. But 10 years later, he  became  governor of the entire area. This course will explore this man’s fascinating story.
Please note: There will be no class on Thu., Sep. 21.
Presenter: Dr. Shelton Woods, Professor, Department of History, and Associate Dean, Honors College, Boise State University
Dates and times: Thu., Sep. 7, 14, 28, and Oct. 5, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $45

This year marks the sesquicentennial celebration of Sergei Rachmaninoff. Born in Russia, he spent the last quarter-century of his life in the U.S., never returning to his homeland. A disastrous premiere of Rachmaninoff’s first symphony left him in a serious depression that he had to overcome to achieve his artistic destiny. Some of his most famous works followed, including his Piano Concerto No. 2 and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. This presentation will blend narration and a slideshow with a performance of treasured Rachmaninoff masterpieces.
Presenter: Dr. Del Parkinson, Professor of Piano, Department of Music, Boise State University
Dates and times: Thu., Sep. 7 and 14, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: Morrison Center Recital Hall
Cost: $25

Learn or refresh your lifesaving skills in this hands-on instruction and practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for adults, children and infants, including compressions and breathing techniques, and how to deal with choking issues. Automated external defibrillator (AED) training also will be covered.
Presenter: Joel Gunstream, Owner and Instructor, Health Solutions of Idaho
Date and time: Fri., Sep. 8, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $25
Capacity: 35

Recently, censorship and book banning have reappeared in the Treasure Valley with some books being banned in May 2022 in the Nampa and West Ada School Districts. This unauthorized removal of books from school bookshelves involves books addressing and representing voices of women, queer and trans people and people of color. Actions by these school boards and officials represent a larger nationwide push for removal of books from school and public libraries. We will discuss what actions have been taken locally and how citizens can get involved.
Presenters: Laura DeLaney, co-owner, Rediscovered Books; Lance McGrath, President, Idaho Library Association; Huda Saltry, Boise Branch Librarian and Legislative Liaison, Idaho Library Association; and Erin Kennedy, Intellectual Freedom Chair, Idaho Library Association
Date and time: Mon., Sep. 11, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

In 1939, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) experimented with dropping firefighters into forest fires by parachute, allowing them to arrive at the scene of a wildfire in a matter of hours instead of days. Since then, over 6,000 men and women have qualified as “smokejumpers,” the aerially delivered firefighters of the USFS and Bureau of Land Management. This lecture will discuss smokejumping, how it is unique to the U.S. and little-known aspects of smokejumping, such as its use in the “secret war” in Southeast Asia in the 1960s.
Presenter: Chuck Sheley, retired smokejumper and wildland firefighter, U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management
Date and time: Mon., Sep. 11, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

This course will cover the history of London from the Great Fire of 1666 until 2020, focusing on how London grew as an urban space and changed as a cultural force. By 1700, the world’s largest metropolis generated intense literary and artistic responses and provided a case study in the emergence of many characteristic elements of modern cosmopolitan life. We will examine these elements that include the social processes dictating the arrangement of urban space, the emergence of “high culture” and the patterns of policy and governance that developed to deal with the massive city.
Presenter: Dr. Steven Maughan, Professor of History and Bernie McCain Chair of the Humanities, The College of Idaho
Dates and times: Tue., Sep. 12 and 19, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25

Come learn how to improve your family tree, explore new state-of-the-art genealogy tools and methods and discover what has changed over the last 20 years. The use of DNA data and reports has become easier to use and has proved to be very productive.
Please note: No guest passes are available for this event. Registration is required by Tuesday, September 5.
Presenter: Thad Webster, retired, Hewlett Packard
Date and time: Fri., Sep. 15, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Cost: $25 (includes lunch and beverages)
Capacity: 40

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.
Date and time: Fri., Sep. 15, 1:30-3:45 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

In this lecture, we’ll discuss how to write about life’s journeys, considering topics such as relationships, careers, goal setting, dreams and internal dialogue while creating a legacy for generations to come. We’ll learn how to choose styles and the intended audience. The presenter will share her approach to writing and publishing a memoir.
Presenter: Adrienne Poppe, author and retired real estate paralegal
Date and time: Mon., Sep. 25, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Tens of thousands of people followed the Oregon Trail across southern Idaho on an overland journey to the Pacific Ocean. Southwest Idaho has excellent Oregon Trail resources remaining. This lecture will use maps, photographs, and emigrants’ accounts to take participants along the Oregon Trail across Idaho.  Interesting trail sites within the state will be described using  quotations from  emigrants’ diaries.
Presenter: Jerry Eichhorst, author and President, Oregon-California Trails Association, Idaho Chapter
Date and time: Mon. Sep. 25, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin became a bestseller after its publication in 1852. President Abraham Lincoln believed her novel caused the Civil War by intensifying public sentiment against slavery in the North and by spurring a reactionary surge of proslavery feeling in the states that would later secede from the U.S. to form the Confederate States of America. As the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman and her allies built an antislavery escape network stretching from the slave South all the way into British Canada. Join us for an exploration of both of these American icons.
Presenter: Dr. Richard Bell, Professor of History, University of Maryland
Date and time: Tue., Sep. 26, 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Cost: $15

Despite the proven efficacy of geothermal energy as a city- and community-scale heating and cooling resource, it is currently only a niche resource in the heating and cooling sector, though it has significant potential for future growth. This lecture will explore the research into methods of evaluating the potential for low-temperature and underground thermal energy storage to meet U.S. heating and cooling needs. We also will discuss how the increased prominence of renewable electricity sources, such as wind and solar, fit onto city-scale electric grids and has led to new urgency around questions of energy storage.
Presenter: Dr. Erick Burns, Research Hydrologist, USGS Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Date and time: Tue., Sep. 26, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

This lecture will discuss 12 potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia. We will review the criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease and discuss its neurobiology. Real-life case examples will show accurate diagnoses of the pre-symptomatic phase of Alzheimer’s disease and various clinical stages from mild cognitive impairment to severe stages of dementia. We also will explore evidence-based biomedical and psychosocial interventions to improve the lives of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.
Presenter: Abhilash Desai, MD, geriatric psychiatrist, Medical Director, Idaho Memory and Aging Center, and Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington School of Medicine
Date and time: Wed., Sep. 27, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

In science fiction stories, significant technological breakthroughs often appear decades—or even centuries—before they actually occur in reality. Human spaceflight to the moon, hand transplants, long-range communication devices small enough to fit in your pocket, and the ability to directly photograph a planet in orbit around another star are just a few examples.  Referencing classic sci-fi novels, movies and TV shows, we will discuss some of the many cases where science fiction seems to predict or inspire future technologies.
Presenter: Dr. Barry Luokkala, Professor and Director of Undergraduate Laboratories, Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University
Date and time: Wed., Sep. 27, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

The 19th-century rediscovery of Botticelli’s drawings from The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri astounded scholars and art lovers. The posthumous story of these drawings is even more dramatic than their creation. This lecture will discuss not only how the Renaissance came to life, but also how Botticelli’s art helped bring it about and—most importantly—why we need the Renaissance and all that it stands for today.
Presenter: Joseph Luzzi, author and Professor of Comparative Literature, Bard College
Date and time: Thu., Sep. 28, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

This course will tell the story of Reclaim Idaho, a grassroots organization that emerged in 2017 and has since won significant political victories in the areas of healthcare coverage, democratic rights and public-education funding. Participants will  consider lessons learned and challenges encountered along the way. How might the experience of Reclaim Idaho inform future efforts to make Idaho a better place to live?
Presenter: Dr. Luke Mayville, author and political philosophy professor, Columbia University, American University, and Boise State University
Dates and times: Fri., Sep. 29 and Oct. 6, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $25

In the first session of this course, the filmmakers will introduce their documentary, I Married the War, and screen it in its entirety. The profound stories of the 11 wives interviewed from around the U.S. reveal the ways in which families have been impacted and forever changed by the unique personal struggles, trauma, victories and defeats experienced by those we send off to war. In the second session, the filmmakers will host a conversation about how and why the film came to be, with an opportunity for Q&A.
Please note: This program will be presented on two consecutive days.
Presenters: Betty and Ken Rodgers, award-winning documentarians
Dates and times: Mon. and Tue., Oct. 2 and 3, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $25

This lecture will present the history of leather and horses that were brought to the Americas; the journey that leather made from the South and East to the West, where function and beauty set the foundation of leather work today; and its journey back across the sea. Work samples will be displayed for handling. We also will explore the use of tools and processes involved to manipulate green cow hide into leather and beautifully carved and tooled art pieces.
Presenter: Deana Attebery, leather artist
Date and time: Mon., Oct. 2, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Do you ever think about how long you will live? Most of us have the ability to live longer than our genetic code with a little manipulation of diet, lifestyle and attitude. This course covers the nutritional science and stories of centenarians from around the world who have mastered the art of living well into their golden years. We’ll discuss the latest research on healthy aging, including reducing the risks of Alzheimer’s disease, enhancing immune function and decreasing the negative aging-effects of inflammation—all through the foods we eat.
Presenter: Sue Stillman Linja, RDN, LD, co-founder, S&S Nutrition Network
Dates and times: Tue., Oct. 3 and 10, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25

Join two local palliative and supportive care experts to discuss how to approach day-to-day planning, medical care, relationships and more in the setting of dementia. We will explore the stages of dementia, implications for advance care planning and all aspects of quality of life. We will articulate the types and stages of dementia, and ways the disease impacts diverse aspects of life. We will compare focusing on quantity/quality of life and how to plan based on either approach. We also will provide a list of resources for connecting with communities and care teams.
Presenters: Rebecca Robinson, NP, and Jessica Evert, MD, both of St. Luke’s Health System
Date and time: Wed., Oct. 4, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

This lecture will portray a local artist’s journey from accidentally becoming an artist, learning (and loving) the process and navigating disruptions amidst a pandemic to health issues, artist’s block, relationships and life, told through stories and images.
Presenter: Anne Watson Sorensen, Painter and Art Instructor
Date and time: Wed., Oct. 4, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) are the American military special operations’ rescue specialists. They are trained, equipped and deployed to rescue or recover military personnel and equipment in any locale at any time. They also utilize their skillset for civilian rescues when they are so tasked. In this lecture, we will discuss the long-range civilian ocean rescues that PJs have accomplished and the general strategic, tactical and especially medical concepts underpinning the current Pararescue and U.S. military focus on providing advanced medical care far away from advanced medical facilities, a.k.a. Prolonged Field Care.
Presenter: Jesse Mix, DO, Boise VA Medical Center
Date and time: Thu., Oct. 5, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Idaho Candy Company, founded in 1901, is the oldest operating candy company in Idaho. Learn about the history of the Idaho Candy Company and how the company competes today in the national candy marketplace. Samples are sure to be provided.
Presenter: David Wagers, President, Idaho Candy Company
Date and time: Tue., Oct. 10, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

This lecture will discuss the walking trails and hikes to take to see prehistoric fossils from Wyoming to Alberta, Canada. We will explore the formation of fossils through the ages and which national, state and provincial parks contain fossils, trails and guides where you can learn about their history. Information on planning an action-packed vacation with friends, children, grandchildren and anyone interested in dinosaurs also will be provided.
Presenter: Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, former Medical Director and State Epidemiologist, Iowa Department of Public Health
Date and time: Wed., Oct. 11, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

This course will explore several works of the Greek playwright, Sophocles. We will watch or read three plays (Antigone, Oedipus Rex, and Oedipus at Colonus) and will engage in rich discussions of the plays, with a focus on fate, justice, family and politics. Participants will be provided video links and texts of the plays a week before the first meeting.
Here is a link that accompanies the program: Reggie’s Osher site
Presenter: Dr. Reginald Jayne, Clinical Associate Professor in Applied Sciences and Interdisciplinary Professional Studies, Boise State University
Dates and times: Wed., Oct. 11, 18, and 25, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $35
Capacity: 60

We are a rapidly maturing population with a growing interest in aging in place. To what extent are the communities in which we choose to reside ready to accommodate the needs and wants of those who are advancing in years? In other words, how livable or age-friendly are our communities of choice? This seminar will explore the many variables that are used to determine age-friendliness; their significance, how they are assessed, and how shortcomings can be addressed through community action planning in pursuit of maximizing livability.
Presenter: Dr. Tom Trotter, Professor Emeritus, University of Idaho and Affiliate Faculty Member, Center for the Study of Aging, Boise State University
Date and time: Thu., Oct. 12, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

For the last century, the mainstays of cancer treatment have been surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. We are now entering the golden age of immunotherapy, using different techniques to harness the body’s own immune system to fight and eradicate cancer. This lecture will give a quick primer on cancer biology and immune surveillance while covering the most recent advances in using checkpoint inhibitors in cancer clinical practice. We’ll explore the early history of immunotherapy and the initial observations that led oncology on this path. We’ll also review research into vaccines, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells and other methods of stimulating the immune system for cancer treatment.
Presenter: Dan Zuckerman, MD, Medical Oncologist, St. Luke’s Cancer Institute
Date and time: Thu., Oct. 12, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

This course will discuss the relationship of religion and law throughout history in multiple cultures, with an emphasis on U.S. history. We will explore how culture affects the relationship and interaction of religion and law, and there will be a broad application to multiple facets of the law, from personal freedoms to taxation. We also will examine the last 100 years in the U.S. focusing on U.S. Supreme Court cases.
Presenter: Bob Aldridge, JD, founder, Trust and Estate Professionals of Idaho, Inc. and Robert L. Aldridge, Chartered
Dates and times: Fri., Oct. 13, 20, and 27, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $35

The beloved, long-running literature discussion series will now be sponsored and hosted by the Osher Institute and held at the Yanke building. This session will focus on Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Please note: This program is open to the public; it is not an Osher program. There is no charge, and registration is not required.
Facilitator: Dr. Ann Campbell, Professor of English, Boise State University
Date and time: Fri., Oct. 13, noon-1:00 p.m.

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.
Date and time: Fri., Oct. 13, 1:30-3:45 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Worldwide, wildlife populations are declining dramatically. A million species face extinction, and more face significant population loss. Biodiversity decline threatens both humans and animals, as wildlife play an essential role in food and medicine production, soil health, habitat and vegetation. For example, 85% of fruits and vegetables require pollinators. Since 1970, three billion North American birds have been lost, and insect decline is unprecedented. We will learn about the greatest threats to wildlife and what can be done to reverse these trends locally.
Presenter: Suzanne Asha Stone, Executive Director, International Wildlife Coexistence Network
Dates and times: Mon., Oct. 16, 23, and 30, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $35

Boise, Idaho has been welcoming refugees since 1975. In this panel-style presentation, participants will hear a variety of stories from former refugees from different parts of the world, and have an opportunity for a Q&A session afterwards.
Presenter: Idaho Office for Refugees
Date and time: Mon., Oct. 16, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

In this active writing workshop, we will inspire and imagine; create meaningful characters that readers will care about; and develop plots, backstory, character arcs, stakes and consequences. We will cover preparation and perspiration while plotting the structure of the entire story. We also will learn about crafting dynamic openings, engaging middles and satisfying endings. Participants will have an opportunity to work on and share written pieces.
Presenter: Sherry Briscoe, author and founder, Idaho Screenwriters Association
Dates and times: Tue., Oct. 17 and 24, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $25

Learn how to use creative projects to relax, rejuvenate and increase your wellbeing. This workshop will provide participants with an overview of how simple visual art activities can increase mindfulness, reduce anxiety, improve mood and support healthy cognitive function. Each session will blend guided artmaking experiences that are easy, low-risk and lots of fun with information from scientific studies and class discussion. Participants will leave with practical tips and tricks for making creativity a regular part of their lives. All materials are included. No prior art experience is necessary.
Presenter: Terra Feast, K-12 Professional Development Manager and Adjunct Professor of Art Education, Boise State University
Dates and times: Tue., Oct. 17 and 24, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $35
Capacity: 20

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 protecting 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. 19, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Learn about the realities and responsibilities of a local homicide detective as he shares his real-life situations and experiences.
Presenter: Mike Miraglia, Detective, Violent Crimes Unit, Boise Police
Date and time: Sat., Oct. 21, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Discover the history of one of Boise’s finest gems, The Flicks movie theater. The owner will share anecdotes about her journey from reluctant partner to president, learning to be a boss, forming relationships over the phone and via email with people in the film industry, and creating new friendships. Participants also will learn about the selection process of films shown and how the owner worked through the pandemic.
Presenter: Carole Skinner, Owner, The Flicks
Date and time: Mon., Oct. 23, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Based on Dr. John Bieter’s book, Showdown in the Big Quiet: Land, Myth and Government in the American West, this lecture will include events that took place in Owyhee County, Idaho, and demonstrate how battles over the land, the meaning of myths and the role of the government combine to form a powerful identity in Idaho, the American West and the world.
Presenter: Dr. John Bieter, Professor of History and Co-Founder, Basque Studies Program, Boise State University
Date and time: Thu., Oct. 26, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

This panel discussion will feature an unprecedented partnership supporting the first region-wide Treasure Valley Community Health Needs Assessment. Partners will discuss findings from primary data collected from community stakeholders across the ten-county region through surveys, focus groups and interviews matched with secondary data from existing public datasets identifying the most significant health challenges facing our communities. Key community priorities will be discussed, and partners will share how findings will guide alignment of resources and needs-driven, evidenced-based solutions.
Presenters: Alexis Pickering, Health Strategist, Western Idaho Community Health Collaborative; Charlene Cariou, Community Health Program Manager, Southwest District Health; Rebecca Lemmons, Regional Director, Community Health and Well-Being, Saint Alphonsus Health System; Rebecca Sprague, Program Manager, Community and Environmental Health and Health Policy and Promotion, Central District Health; Megan Remaley, Director of Community Impact, United Way of Treasure Valley; and Dr. Vanessa Crossgrove Fry, Director, Idaho Policy Institute, Boise State University
Date and time: Mon., Oct. 30, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

The Russo-Ukrainian War is reshaping the nature and structure of our 21st century world. This course will explore what leading political, military and intelligence experts have to say about the changes it is likely to generate. We will explore the shifting dynamics of geo-strategic military balances in Europe and East Asia, as well as the post-war architecture of the global economy. Lastly, we’ll examine how conflict-related changes to technology, refugee flows and cultural values might disrupt and change the way our nation and the world functions.
Presenter: Ralph Bild, retired CIA Intelligence Analyst and high school economics and history teacher
Dates and times: Wed., Nov. 1, 8, and 15, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $35

Before her death in 1974, Felicia Bornstein Lubliner wrote about her internment in ghettos and concentration camps in Nazi-occupied Poland—powerful stories published by her son, Irving Lubliner. Sharing excerpts from Only Hope: A Survivor’s Stories of the Holocaust, Dr. Lubliner will shed light on his mother’s experiences and her indomitable spirit, and add his own experience as a child of Holocaust survivors.
Presenter: Dr. Irving Lubliner, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, Southern Oregon University
Date and time: Wed., Nov. 1, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

A “mere” 13,000 years ago, Idaho was home to saber-toothed cats, mammoths, ground sloths, giant bears and other extinct (and living) species. The ice age ecosystem serves as a point of reference for understanding modern ecosystems. This course will focus on what is known about these species, their ecological relationships and how they’ve impacted our ecosystems. We also will explore thought-provoking questions about their extinction, and what this can tell us about ourselves.
Presenter: Dr. Eric Yensen, Professor Emeritus of Biology, The College of Idaho
Dates and times: Thu., Nov. 2, 9, and 16, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $35

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a segregated Japanese American unit, is remembered for its brave actions in World War II and is the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in the history of the U.S. military. The Regiment earned more than 18,000 awards, including 9,500 Purple Hearts, 5,200 Bronze Star Medals, 588 Silver Stars, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses and an unprecedented seven Presidential Unit Citations and 21 Congressional Medals of Honor. The presenters will provide insights of the Nisei Veterans of World War II and examine the achievements, personal stories and values of this incredible U.S. combat force.
Presenters: General David Bramlett, retired, U.S. Army, and Shane Sato, photojournalist
Date and time: Thu., Nov. 2, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Learn or refresh your lifesaving skills in this hands-on instruction and practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for adults, children and infants, including compressions and breathing techniques, and how to deal with choking issues. Automated external defibrillator (AED) training also will be covered.
Presenter: Joel Gunstream, Owner and Instructor, Health Solutions of Idaho
Date and time: Fri., Nov. 3, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: $25
Capacity: 35

Climate change has been a topic dominated by the left for many years, while conservatives have a long history of stepping up on a host of environmental issues. More and more conservatives are coming together on the EcoRight to support market-based solutions rooted in free enterprise. This lecture will discuss republicEn.org, a growing group of conservatives who care about climate change and support a free-enterprise solution.
Presenter: Bob Inglis, former congressman and Executive Director, republicEN.org
Date and time: Mon., Nov. 6, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

This lecture will explore the next 20 years of NASA’s space program’s projects. We will review programs that are actually on the schedule—not proposed or speculated—including possible trips to the moon and Mars. We also will discuss progress in civilian space efforts, as well as interesting satellite projects.
Presenter: Paul Nelson, retired Senior Engineer, DRAM Research and Development, Micron Technology
Date and time: Mon., Nov. 6, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Refugees are some of Boise’s most resilient and courageous people. Learn directly from members of Boise’s Artisans for Hope program, where a needle and thread mean hope, learning, creativity and economic opportunity. Discover the history of this local program where hundreds of volunteers and thousands of refugees have connected, learned and created together. Learn the program’s mission and goals, and hear directly from refugees and volunteers as they share their stories and show the products they’ve made.
Presenter: Ellie McKinnon, Executive Director, Artisans for Hope, and former Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Date and time: Tue., Nov. 7, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Edith Wharton’s extraordinary 2,700-volume library is housed at The Mount, in Lenox, Massachusetts, the historic home she designed and built in 1902. Wharton was an extremely prolific and popular author with a library that is a testament to a lifelong hunger for learning. This lecture will explore the Edith Wharton library at The Mount, which is a highlight for visitors and very much alive today. Personal inscriptions by Henry James and Theodore Roosevelt, as well as markings in the author’s own hand, provide a rare and intimate glimpse into Wharton’s thoughts and feelings over 100 years ago.
Presenters: Anne Schuyler, Director of Visitor Services, The Mount, and Nynke Dorhout, Librarian
Date and time: Tue., Nov. 7, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Seasonality shifts, thawing permafrost and the occurrence of extreme weather conditions in the Arctic today have led to cascading effects in the natural and human worlds. Plants and animals are changing their ranging patterns. These changes put increased pressure on the livelihoods of peoples of the North whose dependence on the natural world is tied to the weather. The growing presence of industrial and urban centers also impacts the Arctic tundra and livelihoods of indigenous peoples as never before. Case studies of these changes and their effects will be presented and discussed.
Presenter: Dr. John Ziker, Professor and Chair, Department of Anthropology, Boise State University
Date and time: Wed., Nov. 8, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Deliberate immunization of people and animals began centuries ago, but transformative advances in vaccine development came to fruition in the 21st century. In this course, we will review the structure and function of the immune system to understand how vaccines work. We also will compare historical and modern vaccine technologies, and explore the pros and cons of new strategies such as mRNA and subunit vaccines.
Presenter: Dr. Laura Jenski, retired professor and former Vice President for Research, University of South Dakota
Dates and times: Thu., Nov. 9 and 16, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25

This lecture will focus on the importance of stratospheric exploration and the technological challenges surrounding delivery of scientific payloads via stratospheric balloons into a unique, little-known environment. While aerospace technology focuses on manufacturing vehicles to traverse through the troposphere and outer space, only a few companies have dedicated time and effort to the arduous task of designing and fabricating crafts to explore the stratosphere and improve our understanding of the earth and outer space.
Presenter: Esteban Garcia, Director of Manufacturing, World View Enterprises
Date and time: Fri., Nov. 10, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

The beloved, long-running literature discussion series will now be sponsored and hosted by the Osher Institute and held at the Yanke building. This session will focus on Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner.
Please note: This program is open to the public; it is not an Osher program. There is no charge, and registration is not required.
Facilitator: Dr. Ann Campbell, Professor of English, Boise State University
Date and time: Fri., Nov. 10, noon-1:00 p.m.

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.
Date and time: Fri., Nov. 10, 1:30-3:45 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Fentanyl and fentanyl analogs were responsible for almost two-thirds of the overdose deaths recorded in the 12 months ending in April 2021, and deaths in Idaho are rising. We will examine the modern history of drugs in our region, the challenges law enforcement faces and what is currently being done in Idaho to address this issue.
Presenter: Mike Miraglia, Detective, Violent Crimes Unit, Boise Police
Date and time: Sat., Nov. 11, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Liposomes are tiny lipid structures that mimic the composition and properties of cell membranes. They may be designed to avoid the immune system of the host, specifically bound targets, or to incorporate drugs. This lecture will focus on the use of liposomes for therapy. We will describe the design of liposomes to be used as decoys for sequestering toxins secreted by bacteria. We also will show how liposomes may be used for cancer treatment by reducing the systemic effects of chemotherapy while taking advantage of simultaneous radiotherapy. Dr. Daniel Fologea is a 2022 Osher Faculty Grant recipient for this research project.
Presenter: Dr. Daniel Fologea, Professor of Physics and Biophysics, Boise State University
Date and time: Mon., Nov. 13, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership

Learn about the presenter’s history as a dancer and violinist from her beginnings in Boise through her work  as a teacher and performer of historical dance and violin. This lecture will include demonstrations of  the 18th century dance form and its unique Feuillet-Beauchamps notational system; an introduction to the baroque violin and its differences from its modern equivalent; and an intertwined short performance of both arts.
Presenter: Julie Andrijeski, performer, scholar, and teacher of historical music and dance
Date and time: Mon., Nov. 13, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

Although the ability of the ocean to capture and store carbon has helped to slow the accumulation of atmospheric CO2—and, hence, the pace of global warming—it has come at a cost. Increasing CO2 in the ocean alters the chemistry of seawater, an effect known as ocean acidification. This lecture will outline the fundamental processes affecting the incorporation of CO2, the subsequent chemical changes of this dissolved CO2 and ocean acidity and the potential effects on marine life.
Presenter: Dr. Thomas Weingartner, retired oceanographer and faculty member, University of Alaska
Date and time: Wed., Nov. 15, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership

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

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: Thu., Aug. 17, 31, Sep. 14, 28, Oct. 12, 26, Nov. 9, and Dec. 7
Capacity: 20

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
Capacity: 75

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.
Facilitators: Diane Ronayne and Paul Penland
Meetings: Second Friday of each month, 12:30-3:00 p.m.
Capacity: 20

Mahjongg is a game of strategy, luck, and skill that was developed in 19th-century China and is popular all over the world. Learn how to play this fun game with other Osher members. Registrants will purchase a 2023 National Mahjongg League card for $20 through the Osher Institute. No experience is necessary, and all levels are welcome.
Facilitator: Toni Fontaine
Meetings: every other Friday, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Capacity: 8

Meet with other Osher members to discuss common questions and issues involved with family history research and genealogy. Discover new ways to find solutions to your research challenges, hear other members’ experiences, and share your own findings with the group.
Facilitator: Thad Webster
Meetings: First and third Tuesday of each month, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Capacity: 25

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: 646 W. Fulton St., Boise

Take part in a casual and exploratory book group — something different than the typical format. Each month, SIG members choose two books that have something in common such as era, location, or theme. Members can choose to read one book or the other, and both works are discussed at the next meeting.
Facilitator: Carol Delaney
Meetings: Third Thursday of each month, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Capacity: 25

Join the Osher Director for a monthly meetup at area restaurants to sample various cuisines for lunch. Members will identify a subsequent restaurant, food truck, or other dining option for each month. Lunch is at members’ own expense, but the company and conversation are included at no charge. Registration is required. Information on the restaurant, address, and link to the menu will be provided at least five days in advance. Please wear your Osher name badge while attending. 
Facilitator: Dana Thorp-Patterson
Meetings: Thu., Sep. 7, Oct. 12, Nov. 3, and Dec. 8, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Capacity: 15