This class will provide an overview of the “Wind Talkers of WWII.” The name “Code Talkers,” or “Wind Talkers” is generally associated with Navajo speakers, enrolled during World War II by the U.S. Marines, to serve in communications units in the Pacific. Code talking, however, was pioneered by Cherokee, Choctaw, and others, during the First World War. The Navajo code talkers took part in every offensive that the U.S. Marines conducted in the Pacific during the war. They served in all six Marine divisions, and transmitted messages in their native language, which was a code the Japanese were unable to translate. But the history of “code talking” has been generalized too much and specifics need explanation.

Join us as we discuss the environmental and man-made threats facing the worlds coral reef systems. We will explore the past, present and future of one of the most diverse oceanic environments and ways we as individuals can help protect our reefs.

The intensifying effects of climate change have given a new sense of urgency as society works to reduce its 200-year dependence on fossil fuel, and a key part of this critical energy shift will be the development of renewable alternatives. This vital energy shift, however, does not come without a cost. Each renewable technology, from wind turbines to solar panels to rechargeable storage batteries will require a wide range in natural resources, and the search for key elements such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth minerals may be the 21st century equivalent of the oil booms of the early 1900s. In this class, we will outline the role of geology in determining the location of important resources, explore different mining and extraction technologies, and discuss some of the environmental costs associated with developing a more renewable energy future.

Join us for a class to learn about the memory processes discovering new techniques to improve memory, and examining ways to maintain and boost memory skills.

Many are credited with laying our mathematical foundation, but what were they like as human beings? Would we label one an “anti-establishment” activist? And another a cult leader? Each was unique but all were academically adventuresome and brave. Let’s visit some of our most prominent contributors and decide, had we been contemporaries, if they were friend-material or gifted eccentrics.