ASU Chandler Innovation Center   

Sauces are often considered the pinnacle of a chef’s achievement, requiring study and practice to master. A great saucier must possess a discerning palate and the ability to build depth and harmony into each sauce. Today, global influences from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Mediterranean—combined with the public’s appetite for bold, diverse flavors—have taken sauces in many exciting directions, offering endless possibilities for preparation and pairing. In this class, explore the history of the world’s greatest sauces, learn the fundamentals of sauce making, and discover practical, everyday applications.

Learn the basics of operating a computer-controlled laser cutting machine to create geometric fabric quilting blocks. These machines use computer designs to precisely cut shapes that participants can sew together into a quilt. This class includes one hour of design and machine operation instruction, followed by 30 minutes of open cutting time to cut your fabric. Designs will be limited to basic geometric shapes—such as squares, rectangles, triangles, and other polygons—no larger than 18” x 24” per individual shape. Participants will leave with several laser-cut fabric pieces, each cut to the geometric design and size of their choice.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York holds one of the world's greatest collections of art from the Middle Ages. These objects come from across the globe and tell the story of international trade and travel networks that shaped beliefs, cultures, and artistic practices wherever they reached. This course will examine some of the most spectacular examples of global contact, including a seventh-century Chinese vase in the shape of a Greco-Roman amphora, Chinese lions carved on a twelfth-century capital in a Catalonian monastery, and a Chinese sword depicted on the thirteenth-century tomb of a French knight. Through these and other works, we will explore the often surprising long-distance contacts of the Middle Ages—and how they shaped both art and history.

Come explore linguistics! In this class, we’ll examine the sounds humans can make and the rules that help us link those sounds into words and sentences. We’ll also look at how different languages order words in sentences and sentences into longer speech. We’ll discuss ideas of what “correct” grammar is and delve into how words and languages change over time. Additionally, we’ll explore the unwritten rules of language that everyone knows, how location and other social factors influence how we speak, and how different groups use language differently.

Learn the basics of operating a computer-controlled laser cutting machine to create geometric fabric quilting blocks. These machines use computer designs to precisely cut shapes that participants can sew together into a quilt. This class includes one hour of design and machine operation instruction, followed by 30 minutes of open cutting time to cut your fabric. Designs will be limited to basic geometric shapes—such as squares, rectangles, triangles, and other polygons—no larger than 18” x 24” per individual shape. Participants will leave with several laser-cut fabric pieces, each cut to the geometric design and size of their choice.

The aim of this class is to provide members with a comprehensive understanding of the issues faced by Indigenous Americans, both historically and in the present day. Instructor Greg Hansen, a member of the Southern Ponca tribe, leads the class through an intense and interactive experience delving into the candid realities of topics ranging from: Who is considered Native American, what is federal sovereignty, how one becomes a tribal member, the use of blood quantum, and the pros-and-cons of casinos. We will also cover federally recognized tribes located in Arizona.

How did the divide between science and religion develop? Is this divide maintained only by extremists on each side, or is there middle ground? We will discuss the history of science and the evolution of its role into the modern day. What influences and historical context from Judeo-Christian beliefs contributed to the rise of modern science as we know it today? Does the scientific method preclude faith, or must religion reject science? Is it possible for a scientist to believe in God, and if so, how? Join retired ASU School of Life Sciences research professor Dr. David Pearson as we explore these questions and address some of yours.