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- 025 | The Birth of Democracy: Athens, 1300-500 BCE | In-Person
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Democracy is a staple of American life. The idea of democracy was born in ancient Athens, supposedly under the mythical King Theseus, generations before the Trojan War. The first shoots of democracy began with Draco’s law on homicide in 620 BCE, continued through the reforms of Solon in the 590s, and came to fruition under Cleisthenes in 508 BCE. Over the next two centuries, Athenian democracy became increasingly radicalized to the extent that it was rejected by the U.S. Founding Fathers. This class examines the development of Athenian democracy and the flaws that made statesmen, like Hamilton and Madison, reject it in favor of the more moderate Roman model of a republic.
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- 027 | Piper Distinguished Visiting Writers Series: Andrew Porter & Sally Wen Mao at Changing Hands | In-Person
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Fee: $0.00
Day of Week: Th
Dates: Sep. 25
Times: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Sessions: 1
Building: Changing Hands Bookstore
Room:
Instructor: Community Partner
Presented by the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University at Changing Hands Bookstore, OLLI members are invited to a special reading and conversation with noted novelist Andrew Porter and renowned poet and writer Sally Wen Mao. A recent review of Andrew Porter’s work appeared in The New York Times (“A Novel That Takes On Life’s Greatest Mystery: Our Parents,” April 15, 2025). Sally Wen Mao’s debut novel was recently featured in The Washington Post’s “11 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2024.” Please join us for this special event to hear from these outstanding writers.
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- 029 | Enchanting Wonders: The World of Hummingbirds | In-Person
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Fee: $0.00
Day of Week: M
Dates: Sep. 29
Times: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Sessions: 1
Building: Westward Ho
Room: Concho Room
Instructor: Kathe Anderson
THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
This class, led by Kathe Anderson, community scientist and conservation educator, will feature a 30-minute video created in Southeast Arizona—the Hummingbird Capital of the U.S.—which highlights the different kinds of hummingbirds found in Arizona and their behaviors. In addition to the video, you'll have the chance to see a hummingbird, a hummingbird nest, and a hummingbird feather up close. Learn about their unique anatomy and lifestyle, as well as where and when to find these amazing birds. Please note that parking is the responsibility of the member.
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- 035 | Healthy Aging Panel Discussion: Impacts of Connectivity, Social Embeddedness, & Lifelong Learning | In-Person
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Join an engaging expert panel exploring how social connection, community involvement, and lifelong learning contribute to healthy aging. Moderated by OLLI at ASU Director Jared Swerzenski, this session features Dr. Aaron Guest, renowned gerontologist and Assistant Professor of Aging at ASU’s Edson College, alongside Sandra Freyer from ASU’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation. Together, they will share insights into how staying socially embedded and intellectually active can enhance well-being and longevity, offering evidence- based strategies for thriving in later life.
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- 044 | Watts + OLLI Everybody Eats | In-Person
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THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
Annual Member Event Only - Watts IDEA Office and the Osher Life Long Learning Institute (OLLI) invite you to join award winning Chef Sasha Raj for fresh plant based food and fellowship!
Chef Sasha will help us all discover how to make healthy, fresh meals that are easy and practical—no matter your lifestyle. Whether you're a student in the dorms, a busy professional with limited time, an empty nester adjusting to cooking for fewer people, or retired and looking for fresh inspiration in the kitchen, this workshop is for you. This event is for Watts staff, students, faculty, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute members who are interested in building community. This FREE Annual member event is limited to 30 registrants. Please register early. OLLI will cover the cost of parking at a designated parking location.
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- 060 | The Buzz on Crime: Unlocking Mysteries with Forensic Entomology | In-Person
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Join Dr. Jonathan Parrott, Assistant Professor of Forensic Science, to explore the fascinating world of forensic entomology—the use of insects in solving crimes! Discover how tiny clues left by insects can provide crucial insights to crime scene investigators and scientists. Dr. Parrott will also share innovative research from Arizona State University, demonstrating how forensic experts—including DNA specialists—are unlocking new ways to understand and solve mysteries involving blow flies, maggots, and other insects at crime scenes.
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- 062 | Four Cold-Weather Travel Destinations to Help Break the Arizona Heat | In-Person
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Looking to vicariously escape the 100+ degree Arizona temperatures? Let’s take a trip through the eyes of a travel writer to four chilly, off-the-beaten-path destinations—Greenland, Spitsbergen, Iceland, and the White Continent of Antarctica. Learn about the indigenous cultures and wildlife living in these territories and see some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet. You might even get some inspiration for your next vacation. Our presenter, Dan Fellner, has written about and photographed all four destinations for the Arizona Republic’s Travel section and will share his recommendations on how best to experience these fascinating places.
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- 081 | Arizona Stories: Hidden Histories | In-Person
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Join Dr. Eduardo Pagán, a professor of history at ASU, as he leads us on a historical journey through fascinating—and often overlooked—events and individuals that illuminate different aspects of Arizona’s past. The stories will include how national debates entangled Arizona’s quest for statehood and introduce you to the most accomplished Arizona pioneer you’ve never heard of. As Dr. Pagán delves into these riveting histories, we’ll gain a firsthand look at some of the struggles and triumphs that have shaped our great state.
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- 105 | Poetry as Medicine: An Undergraduate-Led Dialogue on Aging & Healing | In-Person
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Current students from Dr. Rosemarie Dombrowski’s Medical Humanities course at ASU (HON 394 Poetry & Medicine) will lead this intergenerational session exploring the efficacy of reading and writing poetry as a means of navigating aging, illness, and loss, while promoting wellness and healing. Students will share excerpts from studies, lead discussions of selected poems, and engage attendees in short reflective writing exercises.
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- 110 | French & English: Two Languages with a Shared History | In-Person
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This lecture will explore the history of the French language from its Latin origins to the present, with a focus on the relationship between French and English. We will examine maps, monuments, manuscript illuminations, and paintings to establish the historical context of each era of linguistic development. Next, we will discuss the major phenomena that shaped both spoken and written French. Much of our discussion will focus on the French influence on English in the late Middle Ages, as well as the influence of English on French since the nineteenth century. Other topics include the transition from Latin to French, the reasons people began writing in French, how French dialects were replaced by a standard language, and the future of the French language.
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