Spring Term

Week of April 6

This page shows classes for the current week. The information below is taken from the weekly email that is sent to ALL members. However, here we do not here provide the credentials needed for attending via Zoom. If you are not a member, contact our Program Coordinator to obtain credentials. Each classes uses different credentials.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 – HYBRID
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Transylvania: so much more than Dracula!
Presented by Janet Throop, violin teacher, Patricia Parcells, and Scott Bruslind

Rolling hills remind us of our beloved Coast Range, but there are churches with 600-year-old frescoes and Roman ruins in Transylvania. Hear from 3 pilgrims to a region where horses still work for a living and the country is one of the most recent members of the EU with contrasts: large city, grim communist apartment blocks, delightful old fortified towns.  We enjoyed days in a tiny village where UUFC has had a Unitarian partner church for over 30 years, helping the congregation reemerge after communism fell in 1989. 

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 – HYBRID
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Mozart: A Novel Strategy – choosing humor in the face of much drama
Presented by Amy Hensen, Director and instructor of OSU Lyric Workshop

Despite smallpox, persistent suspicions and petty performers, Mozart composed not one but two operas. Even at the tender age of 12, Mozart had an uncanny ability to compose music expressing fluid and contradictory human emotions. Mozart’s young genius shines brightly through the distinctive ensembles and translucent melodies of La Finta Semplice. Learn about the drama surrounding Mozart’s work and explore themes foreshadowing his later works with members of the OSU Lyric Workshop and opera singer, Amy Hansen.

Thursday, April 9, 2026 – HYBRID
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Cloning Since Dolly
Presented by Prof. Cecily Bishop, Director of Reproduction Lab in Animal Sciences

Dolly, the first cloned sheep arrived 30 years ago, and after the initial hubbub, cloning of livestock for meat or milk, as well as pets of some celebrities has continued. Prof. Bishop will address the more recent developments in cloning, in addition to its challenges, and other breeding techniques used today.

Thursday, April 9, 2026 – HYBRID
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Urgent Questions about Artificial Intelligence
Presented by Laurie Bridges, Professor and Humanities Librarian, Director of AI Literacy Center, and Dr. Kiri Wagstaff, Special Advisor on Artificial Intelligence to the OSU Libraries

As artificial intelligence becomes woven into our daily lives – summarizing our searches, assisting in medical diagnosis, and offering companionship – we face questions about how best to engage with it. To explore those questions and potential answers, we’ll begin with a foundational explanation of how AI works, then examine its real-world implications for values such as privacy, authenticity, and safety. We’ll also discuss current AI policy and regulation and invite your ideas.

May 7, 2026 – Hybrid
9:30 a.m. –11:30 a.m.

Book discussion: Michael Pollan’s “A World Appears”
Hosted by Kurt Swenson, ALL member

This is not a lecture. Read the book before the class so that you are ready to participate in the discussion.