Tempe   

Deterring war and other levels of aggression between states in our highly interconnected and interdependent world is more complex than ever before. China and Russia not only have modernized and expanded their nuclear forces but have made common practice to challenge the interests of the U.S. and its allies around the globe. This class will explore the risks, vulnerabilities, and opportunities associated with aggressive geopolitical competition and examines the strategy implications for nuclear weapons, cyber, and information warfare as well as the rapid onset of new technologies.

In June 2022, about eight months after Stephen Sondheim’s death, Ben Brantley of The New York Times “wearily” attended yet another revival of Into the Woods and noted that it was as though the audience “had been transformed into trembling pilgrims gathered at a sacred meeting spot—sighing, gasping, sobbing.” Brantley then reflected on the fact that by that time, audiences everywhere were deifying Sondheim, even though, over the course of his seven-decade career, the composer was often misunderstood, and many of his shows had failed financially. In an era when Broadway was dominated by musicals such as Hair and Godspell, Sondheim made his entrance with the groundbreaking “concept” musical Company, and each new project marked a radical departure from the last, often puzzling audiences accustomed to more traditional fare like Annie and Oliver. This course examines some of Sondheim’s most iconic works, including shows like A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, and many others, and explores the innovative craftsmanship he brought to his art.

Here are two titles – a quirky coupling of topics that seemingly have no relation to each other. The first refers to the Atomic Bomb that ushered in an age of nuclear anxiety and existential angst. The second relates to Disneyland, that “Utopian” experiment that could serve as a tonic and retreat from life's troubles. You might be wondering how a bomb and an amusement park could have any connection to religion? We shall see, if you wish to go where few have gone before.

Dreamscape Learn is a collaboration between Arizona State University and Dreamscape Immersive, a former VR entertainment company. During your visit to Dreamscape Learn, you can look forward to being fully immersed in a narrative story-telling experience. Throughout the hour visit, guests will see both educational VR content used in courses for real students at ASU along with a fun, free-roam entertainment VR experience. Our mission is to merge the most advanced experiential pedagogy with the entertainment industry’s best cinematic storytelling to deliver unique virtual reality and 2D labs as well as full course experiences which are effective, readily scalable and emotionally engaging.

Have you ever felt like scientists are constantly changing their minds? Do you feel unsure about whether and when research can be trusted to help you make good decisions about health, behavior, or the environment? This class offers a deep, behind-the-scenes investigation of a world often inaccessible to those outside the scientific community. You will learn how modern science came to be, what scientists really do, and what makes findings reliable. Your tour guide won’t pull any punches when it comes to exposing weaknesses in the scientific process, and you will leave armed with a list of “red flags” that allow you to spot pseudoscience and untrustworthy research in the wild. Simply put, this course confronts the messy realities of scientific methodology, and—in so doing—forces us to abandon any sense of faith in science, and instead find trust.

NASA's Galileo mission provided valuable insights into Jupiter's moons, Io and Europa. Now, a new chapter begins with the launch of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission in October 2024. What can we expect from this spacecraft? Dr. David Williams, ASU Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration and director of the NASA-supported Greeley Center for Planetary Studies, helps us offer some answers to this question. By revisiting Galileo’s discoveries, we look forward to Clipper’s exploration of "Ocean Worlds"—planetary bodies in our Solar System likely harboring salty, liquid water beneath their icy surfaces. This includes Jupiter's moons, as well as icy moons of Saturn, Neptune, Pluto, and the dwarf planet Ceres. Clipper will also collaborate with the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission.

This class will provide an overview of Arizona Tribal water law and policy and its interconnection with Federal Indian Policy and history. It will include a look at where Arizona Tribes stand in securing their water rights within Arizona and the Colorado River Basin as well as emerging issues related to protecting those rights. Cora Tso is a research fellow who analyzes and develops recommendations related to Tribal Nations' water interests, collaborating with both Tribal leadership and government agencies and stakeholders.

Have you ever written an email that you regretted? Responded too harshly or defensively? This is all too common in the workplace, and in life generally. How can we be strategic in our writing to mitigate conflict and move our goals forward? ASU Lodestar Center's Kristyn Carmichael brings her expertise as director of Mediation Training to answer these questions and more. There are techniques you can learn from conflict resolution experts to master emails and other written communication. You will feel confident to hit send on any email and know you are putting your best foot forward.

The relationship between science and faith is often perceived as conflicting, especially when it comes to evolution and creationism. In this participatory, interactive class led by Dr. David Pearson, we will discuss the logic of why some scientists claim that faith is anti-science, and the basis for why some religions prefer to ignore science when it runs counter to their beliefs. Together, we will explore: is it possible to be both scientific and religious? Is this conflict more a perception than reality?

The relationship between science and faith is often perceived as conflicting, especially when it comes to evolution and creationism. In this participatory, interactive class led by Dr. David Pearson, we will discuss the logic of why some scientists claim that faith is anti-science, and the basis for why some religions prefer to ignore science when it runs counter to their beliefs. Together, we will explore: is it possible to be both scientific and religious? Is this conflict more a perception than reality?

We live in an age of constant "sharing," where our lives are often on display through social media and other platforms. In this environment, we rarely take the time to pause, listen, and ask meaningful questions. This class will focus on how we can become better listeners, ask better questions, and master the art of questioning as led by ASU's Kristyn Carmichael, Director of ASU's Lodestar Foundation Mediation Training program. By developing these skills, we can build stronger personal and professional relationships. Ultimately, learning to ask the right questions helps us move from just "sharing" our lives to truly "experiencing" them.

Dreamscape Learn is a collaboration between Arizona State University and Dreamscape Immersive, a former VR entertainment company. During your visit to Dreamscape Learn, you can look forward to being fully immersed in a narrative story-telling experience. Throughout the hour visit, guests will see both educational VR content used in courses for real students at ASU along with a fun, free-roam entertainment VR experience. Our mission is to merge the most advanced experiential pedagogy with the entertainment industry’s best cinematic storytelling to deliver unique virtual reality and 2D labs as well as full course experiences which are effective, readily scalable and emotionally engaging.

The eruption of Thira (modern Santorini) around 1600 BCE was one of the most powerful volcanic events in human history with far-reaching consequences for the flourishing Minoan civilization on nearby Crete. This talk explores the eruption’s impact—tsunamis, climate disruption, and societal collapse—while examining archaeological and geological evidence that sheds light on this ancient catastrophe. Was Thira’s eruption the beginning of the end for Minoan Crete, or did other factors seal its fate? Join us for a fascinating journey into the past, where science and history intertwine to reveal how natural disasters shape civilizations.