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Escaping the Nazis Sunday, May 18, 2025 2:30 PM PACIFIC TIME |
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Meet the Beatles You Thought You Knew Steve Lopes Sunday, April 13, 2025 2:30 PM PACIFIC TIME ******************************************************** This is a Zoom meeting. https://livepresentation.link/APR Look for a confirmation email from ZOOM ********************************************^************ |
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Meet the Beatles You Thought You Knew The Beatles were a cultural tsunami that forever changed
fashion, manners, humor, media, values, and style, while influencing musical
genres and future musicians long after the group’s demise. Kansas
University’s professor of rock and lifelong educator Steve Lopes will
lead us in a review of their origin story and Beatlemania, and study how they
became so fabulous. Steve Lopes was a technology educator for 15 years before becoming a
union organizer. After 30 years with the Kansas National Education
Association, he returned to teaching, this time leading history of rock
classes for lifelong learners at the University of Kansas, University of
Missouri-Kansas City, and Washburn University. Steve enjoys researching rock
’n’ roll history and sharing it with his students. He also
donates his organizing skills in support of progressive causes and
candidates. The presentation is open to everyone.
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Exploding Stars and Their Impact on Life on Earth Dr. Brian Thomas Sunday,
January 19, 2025 2:30 PM PACIFIC TIME ********************************************^^^^^^************ This is a Zoom meeting. https://livepresentation.link/JAN Look for a confirmation email from ZOOM *********************************************^^^^^^************ |
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Exploding Stars and Their Impact on Life
on Earth Scientists have long
speculated that the history of life on Earth may have been influenced by
cosmic explosions such as supernovae.
In recent decades the combination of astrophysical data and
computational models have allowed detailed study of the potential effects of
nearby stellar explosions on Earth’s atmosphere and biosphere. Impacts range from destruction of
stratospheric ozone, exposing life to extreme levels of solar UV, to direct
damage to organisms by high-energy neutrons and muons. I will summarize what we know today
and discuss connections to mass extinctions and the evolution of life over
the last few hundred million years. Dr. Brian Thomas is a
Professor in the Physics & Astronomy Department at Washburn
University in Topeka, Kansas.. Since 2003 he has worked on various problems
related to understanding how the history of life on Earth may have been
affected by high-energy astrophysical events such as gamma-ray bursts and
supernovae. He and his collaborators from multiple disciplines have together
produced the most detailed and state-of-the-art studies of the effects on
Earth by nearby stellar explosions. Dr. Thomas has a BS in physics from the
University of the Pacific, 1999, and a Ph.D. in physics from the University
of Kansas, 2005. The presentation is open to everyone.
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The Einstein Effect: Benyamin Cohen Sunday, February 23, 2025 2:30 PM PACIFIC TIME ********************************************^^^^^^************ This is a Zoom meeting. https://livepresentation.link/FEB Look for a confirmation email from ZOOM ********************************************^^^^^^************ |
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The Einstein Effect Albert
Einstein’s genius continues to impact our everyday lives – from
science and technology to his status as a pop culture icon and his legacy as
a humanitarian rescuing refugees and fighting in the civil rights movement.
For his book, The Einstein Effect, journalist Benyamin Cohen spent
years tracking down lesser-known stories about Einstein (did you know the
pathologist performing Einstein’s autopsy stole his brain?) to reveal
an intriguing – and often hilarious – look at how Einstein is
more relevant today than ever. Journalist
Benyamin Cohen is the author of The Einstein Effect, a book about the
modern-day relevancy of the world’s favorite genius. He manages the
official social media accounts of Albert Einstein, where he posts every day
to the 20 million fans who follow Einstein across Facebook, Instagram and
Twitter. He is also the news director of Forward,
America’s oldest Jewish newspaper. He is based in Morgantown, WV, where
he lives with his wife, three dogs, a cat, and a flock of chickens known as
the Co-Hens. The presentation is open to everyone.
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Beyond the Microscope Identifying Microorganisms Brett McCutcheon-Vigil Sunday, March 16, 2025 2:30 PM PACIFIC TIME *******************************************^^^^^^************ This is a Zoom meeting. https://livepresentation.link/MAR Look for a confirmation email from ZOOM *********************************************^^^^^^************ * |
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Beyond the Microscope Identifying microbes, especially human
pathogens, is a primary function of the science of microbiology. In this
session, you will learn about morphological and metabolic methods of
identification, as well as newly discovered genetic-based methods, that enable
us to effectively identify microorganisms. Brett McCutcheon-Vigil joined Mensa in high
school, then went on to study microbiology at Ohio State University. He
worked in the healthcare documentation industry for 20+ years as a trainer,
education director, and project manager. He also served on the board of the
industry's professional association. He lives in North Dakota with his
husband, Robert, and two cats. And this year, at 57 years old, he is
returning to finish his bachelor's degree in microbiology at The Ohio State
University. The presentation is open to everyone.
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Meet the Beatles You Thought You Knew Steve Lopes Sunday, April 13, 2025 2:30 PM PACIFIC TIME ********************************************^^^^^^************ This is a Zoom meeting. https://livepresentation.link/APR Look for a confirmation email from ZOOM ********************************************^^^^^^************ |
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You Thought You Knew The Beatles were a cultural tsunami that forever changed fashion,
manners, humor, media, values, and style, while influencing musical genres
and future musicians long after the group’s demise. Kansas
University’s professor of rock and lifelong educator Steve Lopes will
lead us in a review of their origin story and Beatlemania, and study how they
became so fabulous. Steve Lopes was a technology educator for 15 years before becoming a
union organizer. After 30 years with the Kansas National Education
Association, he returned to teaching, this time leading history of rock
classes for lifelong learners at the University of Kansas, University of
Missouri-Kansas City, and Washburn University. Steve enjoys researching rock
’n’ roll history and sharing it with his students. He also
donates his organizing skills in support of progressive causes and
candidates. The presentation is open to everyone.
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Escaping the Nazis The Untold Story of
the Kindertransport A conversation with Josef
Eisinger Jason E. Camis Moderated by Benyamin Cohen The Nazi government
started its program of ethnic cleansing in 1933. In the months prior to the start
of WWII, 10,000 children left their parents and escaped the Nazis on the
Kindertransport, a series of train rides to safe havens in Europe where good
Samaritans took them in. Those that still live are at least in their
90’s, our speaker, Josef Eisinger, just celebrated his 101st birthday! He was 15 years old when he
left Vienna on a Kindertransport.
The ability to hear
from someone who actually rode on the train is fast disappearing. This
presentation may be the last opportunity to share this experience. The presentation will
include the grandson of another Kindertransport survivor, in a conversation
moderated by journalist Benyamin Cohen. The presentation will
include the grandson of another Kindertransport survivor, in a conversation
moderated by journalist Benyamin Cohen. ********************************************^^^^^^************ This is a Zoom meeting. https://livepresentation.link/MAY Look for a confirmation email from ZOOM
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The Untold Story of the Kindertransport Josef Eisinger Josef Eisinger was 15 years old when he left Vienna on a Kindertransport,
only to arrive in London without a valid sponsor. With the threat of being
returned to Vienna, he managed to escape the authorities and embarked on a
challenging life, first as a farm 'lad' in the English country and then as a
hotel dishwasher. He was later
interned as an enemy alien and shipped to Canada where he was briefly
confined with Nazi prisoners, learning new skills as a lumberjack and
carpenter. He served in the
Canadian Army and, after the war ended, he was able to visit his parents in
Palestine, who had their own harrowing escape from the Nazis, by becoming a
seaman on board a ship bound for the Mediterranean. His eventual career as a physicist and molecular biologist
was impressive, resulting in the publication of some 200 scholarly articles
and books ranging from nuclear physics and molecular biology to the history
of medicine and music history and culminating in being a professor emeritus
at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. He has also written two books on Albert Einstein, one of
which is based on Einstein's candid travel diaries that Einstein kept of his
voyages between 1922 and 1933, and he assisted his wife by contributing
translations and transcriptions of several hundred letters of Johannes Brahms
for her notable work on the composer. Jason E. Camis Jason E. Camis is the grandson of the late Ilse Camis (Gross), a
Kindertransport survivor from Vienna, Austria. Jason shares Ilse's story as a
Holocaust survivor in order to educate people on the positive impact of
immigration. Jason is a non-traditional Jew, residing in Jural Kansas
with his wife and two daughters. He serves on the board of the
Kindertransport Association, a nonprofit dedicated to the support of
Kindertransport survivors and education about the Holocaust. Professionally Jason
is the Executive Director of Sertoma International, one of the oldest
service organizations in the United States, based in Kansas City. He has a MS
from Michigan State University and BS from Eastern Michigan University Benyamin Cohen Journalist Benyamin Cohen is the news director of Forward, America’s oldest
Jewish newspaper. His first book was called “My Jesus Year: A Rabbi's
Son Wanders the Bible Belt in Search of His Own Faith,” a memoir about
Benyamin spending 52 weeks going to 52 different churches – and how the
experience made him a better Jew.For writing it, he received the Georgia
Author of the Year award, and it was named one of the best books of the year
by Publishers Benyamin has a bizarre side job Managing the official social
media accounts of Albert Einstein, where he posts every day to the 20 million
fans who follow the world’s favorite genius across Facebook, Instagram
and Twitter. He is the author of “The Einstein Effect: How the World's
Favorite Genius Got into Our Cars, Our Bathrooms, and Our Minds.” He is based in Morgantown, WV, where he lives with his
wife, three dogs, a cat, and a flock of chickens known as the Co-Hens. The presentation is open to
everyone.
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The Evolution of
Audacity Maria Miller Sunday, June 15, 2025 2:30 PM PACIFIC TIME *******************************************^^^^^^************ This is a Zoom meeting. https://livepresentation.link/JUN Look for a confirmation email from ZOOM *********************************************^^^^^^************ |
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The Evolution of Audacity This
lecture proposes an engaging exploration of the groundbreaking experiments in
music composition from the Baroque period to the early 20th century. It aims
to celebrate the centenary of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue"
by tracing the lineage of musical innovation that led to its creation.
Through a lively narrative and live keyboard accompaniment, this presentation
will offer a fresh perspective on the history of classical music,
illustrating how yesterday's audacious experiments have become today's classical
masterpieces. Maria
Miller blends her career in actuarial consulting with a deep
passion for music. A lifelong piano player, she also ventures into the realm of
theremins, crafting them herself. Her artistic pursuits don't end there; she
sings, composes, and arranges music. Maria's creativity flows into theater,
design, and art, showcasing her as a multifaceted talent and an engaging
speaker across disciplines. The presentation is open to everyone.
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Spy School Don Grayson Sunday, July 20, 2025 2:30 PM PACIFIC TIME *******************************************^^^^^^************ This is a Zoom meeting. https://livepresentation.link/JULY Look for a confirmation email from ZOOM *********************************************^^^^^^************ |
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Have you ever wondered what “Spy School” was like during the
age of the Cold War? Find out from someone who was there. Don Grayson has a in BS in Physics ‘54 and obtaind
an MS in engineering at Purdue in 1972. His 30 year career as a
civilian engineer for U.S. Navy in engineering management at Naval Avionics
Center Indianapolis. His assignments include U.S. NATO rep to Sweden,
classified courier, project manager and technical analysis to various
military radar & weapon guidance systems. Don is a sailboat hobbyist |
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Pending confirmation Sunday, August 17, 2025 2:30 PM PACIFIC TIME *******************************************^^^^^^************ This is a Zoom meeting. https://livepresentation.link/AUG Look for a confirmation email from ZOOM *********************************************^^^^^^************ |
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Why the Scopes Trial
(1925) Eugenie C. Scott Sunday, September 21,
2025 2:30 PM PACIFIC TIME ********************************************^^^^^^************ This is a Zoom meeting. https://livepresentation.link/SEP Look for a confirmation email from ZOOM ********************************************^^^^^^************ |
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is Still Relevant| “Trial
of the Century”: Tennessee vs. John T.
Scopes. The first major sally against the teaching of evolution in the US,
and, mostly because of the fictional play and movie Inherit the Wind, Scopes
is wrongly perceived as a victory for evolution over the forces of
obscurantism. The full story is much more complex and interesting, involving
science, religion, law, education, politics, celebrities, modern
communications, and the politicization of science. Dr.
Eugenie C. Scott is an expert on the creationism and evolution controversy
and science denialism. The former director of the National Center for Science
Education, she is the recipient of numerous awards from scientists and
educators, and has been awarded ten honorary degrees. Asteroid
249540 Eugeniescott was named for her but she assures us it is not aimed at
Earth. The presentation is open to everyone.
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