COURSES CONT. Brain Phenomena: What Really is Going on Upstairs? Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30 pm June 19 & 26 Dr. Thomas Bahl has been at Aquinas College since 2002. He earned his Ph.D. in neuroscience from Emory University. Dr. Bahl teaches human biology, anatomy and physiology. Last June, OLLI students enjoyed his class, “Neurological Disorders of the Brain.” This course will explore some fascinating aspects of the brain and behavior. We will discuss some overall brain anatomy and relate the regions to some phenomena. Topics will range from addictions and the neurotransmitters involved, plasticity in brain region functions, and sex and sexuality and the brain. Experimental evidence will be presented including images of the brain, especially functional MRI’s. M: Bronze $35 Silver $30 NM: $42 Location: Browne Center
WEDNESDAY Native Americans of the Southwest Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 am June 6 Mary Ann Valenti Boyer is the publications manager for client marketing at the corporate offices of Bethany Christian Services. Mary Ann has been the editor for the agency’s magazine, LifeLines, for 15 years. Before joining Bethany, she edited Our Children, a parenting magazine in Grand Rapids, and was a middle and high school teacher. Her love for the Southwest began when she attended the University of Arizona. As a participant in the Native American Cultural Tours, Mary
Ann will share photography and stories of her experiences with Native Americans in the Southwest. Through these pictures and tales, she will increase your knowledge, understanding, and respect for the ancient cultures which shape this landscape. M: Bronze $15 Silver $12 NM: $20 Location: Browne Center
Fracturing Shale: The Good, Bad & Ugly of Recovering Natural Gas Wednesday, 1:30-3:30 pm June 6 & 13 Lee Smith, is a certified petroleum geologist who has spent 20 years in the oil and gas exploration business, 16 years as a buyer of large quantities of natural gas. Lee’s most recent OLLI class was “Pain at the Pump: What’s with these Oil& Gas Prices.” As late as 2000, natural gas from shale made up 1% of the U.S. natural gas supplies. Twelve years later, it is about 25% and could rise to 50%. Natural gas-powered plants provide an attractive alternative to the pollution from coal plants and the risks of nuclear power. But “fracturing” a well involves injecting large quantities of water and hazardous chemicals into the ground. How the water is disposed of when it returns to the surface has not been resolved. This class will examine the potential of shale to meet our energy needs and will look at the problems associated with fracturing shale. M: Bronze $35 Silver $30 NM: $42 Location: Browne Center
The Arab Spring: One Year Later Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 am June 20 & 27 Dr. Roger Durham is chair of the Political Science Department at Aquinas. He teaches international relations and comparative politics
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courses and coordinates the International Studies Degree. Dr. Durham has received the Outstanding Faculty Member from students numerous times and is an OLLI favorite. The Arab Spring could have both current and long term effects on international politics, both regionally and globally. This class will focus on the events in Syria, U.S. involvement in the international efforts in Libya and U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran, as well as relations with Israel and the Palestinians. In this context, questions regarding U.S. foreign policy options in the Middle East will be discussed. M: Bronze $35 Silver $30 NM: $42 Location: Browne Center
Lost & Found: Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 pm June 20 & 27 Valerie van Heest is a shipwreck hunter, awardwinning author and member of the Womens Divers Hall of Fame. As director of Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates, she has led the expeditions to discover and document more than a dozen shipwrecks in Lake Michigan. Valerie has won an award for her work preserving and promoting Michigan’s submerged maritime history in addition to writing four books, designing museum exhibits and appearing in TV documentaries. Explore several newly discovered shipwrecks off the shores of West Michigan. These schooners, steamers, self-unloaders and even a pleasure yacht span the evolution of shipping from the early 1800’s to the mid 1900’s. They offer a look at the maritime roots of Michigan. Go underwater with an archaeological team as they document a sunken lumber schooner and reveal the secrets found inside. M: Bronze $35 Silver $30 NM: $42 Location: Browne Center
M = members
NM = non-members